The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-19
SENTENCE OF DEATH.
SALLY ANDERSON CONDEMNED TO BE
HUNG.

The County Court of Henrico on yes
terday passed sentence of death upon
Sally Anderson, negro girl recently con-
victed Of arson. The sentence Of the court
was very impressively pronounced by Jus
tice G. W. Petherbridge in the following
words:
"Sally Anderson, you have been tried
and convicted by an impartial jury Of the
country of the crime of arson. This crime
consists Of maliciously burning dwelling
house in the nighttime, and is considered
SO wicked as to demand for its punishment
the penalty of death. The Commonwealth,
by inficting the penalty, only discharges
its sacred obligationsto society. The coun-
sci enlisted in your defence were able, and
secured to you your every right. The jury,
after patient hearing of your cause, had
not reasonable doubt of your guilt, and
under the solemnity of an oath so rendered
their verdict. The duty now devolves on
me, as the organ Of the court, to pronounce
the sentence. 1t is the most disagreeable
duty that has ever rested on me. The
feelings of Christian heart will not allow
me to perform it without first giving you
the comfort of kind word. | pity you.
pity of the Eternal God who is enthroned
on high, and to whom belongeth mercy. l
direct you to that mercy as the last ray that
fingers to light up your gloom.
" The sentence Of the court, therefore, is,
that you be taken from hence to the Jail OF
Henrico county, and there be placed in soli-
tary confinement until the 18th day Of jan
uary 1869, upon which day, between the
hours of II a. NJ. and P. NJ, you shall be
taken by the sheriff of Henrico county to
the usual place of execution, and there be
hanged by the neck until you are dead.
And may God have mercy on your soul"
The circumstances attending Sally Ander-
sons crime may have been forgotten by
some Of our readers. In February last she
set fire to the dwelling g-house of Mr.. Richard
Magruder, at Fulton Hill, about one mile
from Richmond. The house was burned to
the ground, and some of the occupants bare
ly escaped with their lives. The girl actu-
ally kindled q fire under bed upon which
the infant child of her employer was silent
ly sleeping. The crime was committed ina
fit of anger, caused by gentle reproof from
Mrs. Magruder.
Sally is very black girl, not more than
eighteen or twenty years of age. Her de-
meauor during the several trials which she
has been allowed has been composed and
reserved but by no means characterized by
indifference. She has been tried three
times, and twice found guilty-the verdict
of the jury being set aside on former oc-
casion. Every advantage allowed by the
law has been afforded her, and able counsel
have worked nobly in her behalf. Finally,
the court has been obliged to pronounce the
penalty which the law prescribes, and which
is certainly in this case deserved. The
time Of the execution was delayed on ac-
count of the physical condition of the con-
vict, who, in the opinion Of her medical at
tendant, will probably become q mother in
about six weeks.
There are now two persons in the Henrico
Jail under sentence Of death-Jeter Phillips
and Sally Anderson.