The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-25
THE FREEDMEN
How Virginia Courts DOle out jas.
Ilce'-MhAL Sort Of stuff iI Is. Etc.

How Virginia Courts DOIe out jas.
tlce'-What Sort OF stuff tC IL, Etc.
LETTER ADDRESSED TO FRIENDS ASSOCIATION OF
PHILADELPHIA AND ITS VICINITY, FOR THE RE-
LIEF OF CoLoRED FREEDMEN
FRIENDS MISSION House, YORKTOWN, Va. 5th
Month 10, lS66.-The Court OF this county held
its session to-day. | was present when the toll
lowing scene occuIred:-A colored man by the
name OF Robert Lewis, who resides al AcretoWn,
was pedceablY standing near tie door, outside
OF the Court House. when a white man by the
name OF Jones, under the influence OF lIquor,
walked up to him, ana pushing him 80 violently
that he fell, said, You are white man. amt
you now?' at the same time making pass at the
falling colored man with his fist, but missed his
mark. The colored man at once regained his
footing, and with one blow knocked his assailaut
down, when the colored man was Immediately
seized by other white men, and dragged into the
courtroom, Jones following, striking and kick
ing the colored victim, who in return kicked
and struck Jones in the presence OF the Court,
when the colored man was overpOwered by the
Sheriff, lawyers, ana others, and placed at once
on trial, for contempt of Court, and, on COM
plant OF Jones, for assault and battery.
Lewis the colored man, SAID Jones began on
me and struck me first" The Court at once
stopped HIM, saying, 'You are not to open your
mouth in this Court" Jones was the principal
witness; another man, so much intoxicated that
he could not repeat the oath after the Justice,
and only kissed the Bible Tor the OATH testified
that he saw the "nigger strike and kick Jones.n
The negro again attempted to say, "He struck
Hl6 UISl.' 1OWeTB, I0e CnleI justice, and other
magistrates on the bench, told the negro to stop
speaking. You are not allowed 20 speak here.n
number OF white and colored men said they
saw Jones begin on the negro but none were
called to testify in his behalf.
The negro was ordered to recognize in the sum
OF five hundred dollars (S5OO), Tor his appear
ance before the grand jury AT the next Court.
The negro said he had no friends, only a
mother, and she had no property At this a
white man rushed up with large, knotty
hickory stich, and struck with all his might at
the head OF the negro, but the negro sprngng
backward, avoided the blow; AGAIN the white
man struck with all his force at the negro's
head, who, again Jun ping sideways, ESCAPED
the blow; again the white man struck at the
negro, now cornered, but two or three, seizing
the arm OF the assaiant, turned this third blow
aside from the negro, and his assalant walked
out OF the door unmolested.
Some one remarked: at will hardly do to let
this pass without notice" The Judges then con-
suited together, and ordered the striker to be
brought IN, and put him on trial for contempt
OF Court. A lawyer pleaded his case, and SAID
The man did not intend any dlsTespect to the
honorable Court; he only gave expression and
ne thouent right expression, to the highly out
raSed leeIngs OF the Court and of every honor
able man IN the room, towards that contempti-
Die niger, who had committed upon an honor
aole citizen OF their county an outrage sufficient
10 excite uncomfortable passion in every GOOD
citizen; and the only wonder was. that every
man who saw 1t did not set upon the nipper
and demOlish HIM on the spotn
Inc Judges, aver consultation, decided
however, That 1t was a contempt OF Court and
decreed that the fne should be 81, when Homes
VINO orst assalled the negro at the door stepned
up and paid the ine anG the man thus released
walked out curslng and swearing at the Court
the Sheriff, and the nlgger. The negro mean.
While stood in muCeDastonlshment, waiting to be
disposed OF. The Court, after a long time sent
LOT military guard from the United States
soldiers, who took bim to the United States
Guard House, where he now lies, waiting for
the county 70 provide s. jail Of their own.
Respectfully
JACOB H. VINING, superintendent
Friends Freedmen's School, Peninsula, Va.
OElICE OF ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT BUREAU
d. ~, AND A. IL, YORK Co.--YoRKToWN Nav o.
las6.-l mo'thearuly and fully endorse the above
& statement Being informed that d disturbance
~0I some character had taken place at the Cours
h9use. vent tneGe and witnessed most of the
huturs apoYe-me ntiOned I can but denounca
she entiie trlal as farce on Justice equity and
Aow Inc whole Transaction from it, commence.
Hent 70 us terminus, was nothing less than
hRh-handed Outrage, vlndictiVe aud crnel nm
IT'S characte~. A full and official report will he
forwarded Immediately.
(Sgned) FL MAsspvs
ist Lieut.. 5th Reaiment. V. R. O. y Iss,t ,tart
superintendent Ninth District, Va. Bareau r.
F., and A. I. ~"
The above extracts and endorsements true
copies OF the original, respectfully furnished for
me In 'ormauon OF MaiOr-General o. O. Howard
Commlssloner Bureau r., f., and A. l..
Since wrote the above, have been to Bart
Ietps, and tound our new schooI-bouse, built nv
our Association, from material mostly furnished