The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-01
SAVED FROM THE GALLONS.
Assassination and Robbery I'm
Virginia.
A Citizen Of Prince George County
Slaughtered at His Own Door.
The Murderers Arrested, Tried, Convicted aud
Sentenced to be Hanged.

Respite Of the Culprits While Pre-
pairing fer the ScaffOld.
PRINCE GEORGE @ H., Va, June 80 1871.
On the evening OF the oath Of March last Mr..
Charles Friend an old citizen OF Prince George
county, Virginia, was walking on the track or the
City Point Railway quietly pursuing his way home.
1t was dark and raining, but the venerable gentle
man had often gone that way before without FEAR
a. his life had been such that he not conscious OF
having single enemy in the world. He had grown
up from childhood in that neighborno0d. was a man
Of wealth. Of distinction In the county. and humane
and klnd.hearted Christian. Before dying, for he
lived long enough to describe the manner OF his
murder, he told has friends and the magistrate who
took the dying declaration that having been to
Petersburg attend Lenten service 1t the
church. OF which he was an omcer. he
lett about dark for home. decling several
invitations to remain over night with
brethren OF the church. He lived three miles out
When about half way on has Journey he discovered
that he was followed by q man to him unknown.
but he had no apprehensions OF danger. This man
subsequently overlook him and struck him blow
on the head. which felled him to the ground and
rendered him insensiDIe.
The assaulting party seems to have been fright.
ened on at this juncture by the approach Of train
for he left his victim for the time without further
molestalion. The train passed IN few moments,
and before MIR. Friend recovered from the stunning
effects OF the blow, though 1t recovered him some-
what. as he was lying very near the edge OF the
track. After the cars had passed. Mr. Friend said,
negro came TO him and raised him to his
feet, and then assisted him across
trestle bridge OH the road. The negro led
MI
here turned upon the poor, stupeaed old man and In
1icted several blows with club cutting and bruisng
his head and face in frighful manner. He was left
for dead in this condition. out subsequently revived
sufficiently to crawl to the foot OF hill on hich
his residence was situated and attract attention by
his cries. His servants came to his assistance and
carried him up to his house, where ne died about
eleven O'Clock on the same night after making his
statement to the above effect.
AT the inquest on the following day nothing was
elected that was calculated to lmplicte ans person
In the murder. One or more witnesses testified to
seeing TWO men on the railroad near the place OF the
murder one supporting the other and concealing
both BY an umbrella hOiSted over their heads, and
to having also heard cries Tor mercy.
The 1endish character OF the murder and the high
which it was involved. created deep feeling IN the
neighborhOOd, which extended throughout the
state. The indignation or the people TOOK practi:
offered by the Governor. This was an incentive to
the police and the detectives even OF Richmond.
and several went over to Prince George to work up
the case. conflict soon arose between them aud
the petersburg officers, which mas not yes been set
tied, and which mas resulted In casting doubts upOn
the guilt OF tine TWO men who paid the pendIty OF
the law with their lives to-day, although nearly
everybody. except tine detectives OF Richmond, Is
satisfied mat they have suffered Justly.
THE ARREST OF THE MUEDERERs.
negroes OF BAD repate-one Of whom ad been in me
Penitentlary but was pardoned out by the Military
Governor, Wells, anu the other had been engaged IN
a robbery, AMI It Is said even In another murder
arrested several days alter the murder Dv cap
talns Geniry aud Sydnor OF the Petersburg police,
SUSPICION and the circumstances pointing to
the guilt were very strong. Green was tall black
man. very muscular, and answered to the descrlp-
ton given bv Mr.. Friend OF the fellow VINO assaulted
him. Johnson was smaller man stature and OF
mucn better Intelligence than Green, and The
only on the records OF the Jail but OF the Peni-
tertiary. t
THE TRIAL.
The evidence elfciied on their trial showed that
two men answering their description were fol-
lowing MIR. Friend, ana two were engaged IN the
aroma the scene Of the cruel decd. He was rst u.s.
saulted by the taller OF the two, who prevented
some person. as shown by his tracks ne LETT the
railroad, going away some i've or hundred wards.
ho
small man. by whom ne was assisted across the
renewed and se was
Friends cries VI 'COme here come here I' wniie
being beaten attracted attention AZ the house, and,
being quickly responded TO, the murderer WAS
frightened away before time was allowed
to complete the robbery which was undoubtedly the
object HTS hat, basket containing clothing, and
q rev other articles were, however carried on The
murderer left the spot and ran across field, and
joined the party making the large tracks, q few
hundred yards away. the Two then separated, and
both went by different routes In the direction OF
Petersburg, The larger one going by the CITY Point
THE ALARM GIVEN.
Shortly after the messenger VINO rode rapidly to
Petersburg Tor medical ald, had reached that city,
Richard Green was seen by an officer OF pOiice hur-
rlediy entering the town from the direction Of the
was seen in company win Johnson IN
earnest conversation. They. went 10 house
Outside wSs Green IN ana washed
blood from his clothes. He stated TO the inmates
that ne had had fight the evidence showed, how
rictng statements as TO their where's bouts on the
out OF his house after six O'CLOCK +. A., whereas
several witnesses saw. them out at a late hour.
Their efforts to establish diot wholly un.
successful, and after far trial, with strong ma
tive radical for prosecuting attorney and ten negroes
=" '"' '"''' c CON- OF THE MURDER
and both sentenced TO death.
The belief their quit is general In the county
where they were tried, and, although the EVIL
dence was purely circumstantial, there is no
doubt ON the mind or any reasonable Or
They were interviewed IN jail by reporter OF the
press, but persisted asserting their innocence
during the past week. Catholic cleryyman--thc
Rev. Mr.. Keiiey--was IN attenda zee them during
the interval between conviction and execution and
gave them spiritual comfort. lie had some doubts
as to their guilt, and good deal SAID IN the
local press aU0uG IT, growing out OF the JcalouscS OF
the officers who did not get share OF the reward.
The discussion OF tle matter led the Governor 10 n-
guire into tho case, and he sent his private
tary Petersburg TO investigate It, and this led to
the rum0r during the earlier part OF the week tnas
there would he respite: but the report OF the Sec
reary was satisfactory 10 the Governor as 10 their
guilt, ana he declined TO Interfere with the execu-
ton Of the law. They were told that there was no
hope and accordingly they prepared ior thor awful
doom. ..IrI
THE GALJ.ows WAS PREPARED
for the murderers Of Mr.. Charles Trend, and the
had gathered around It ready for the tcrriblo
and In this ncighbOrhoOd unusual spectacle OF the
execution. William Henry johnson and Richard
Green, the two condemned felOns, were prepared
and resigned 70 meet their rate though still ca,mly