New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-03-26
From wyoming.
CHEYENNE WYO., Feb. %,

CHEYENNE Wyo., Feb. %, 1874.
To the Editor Of he ye,e Nciional Era:
Death, the king Of terrors, is sad event,
whether il occurs in the kings palace or in
the beggar's howell, in the happy home circle,
or within the gloomy confines Of prison
walls. But there are some deaths sadder
and more tragical than others, which agitate
the hidden fountain of our feelings with the
profounlest emotions of grief and sorrow.
Such was the death OF James Hill, who died
on the 2Sth of January, 1874, in the States
prison at Canon City, Colorado.
This unfortunate young man became en-
gagcl in an angry quarrel with another
young colorcd man, Elijah Williams, in n
billiard hall, on Blake street, in Denver,
Colorado, in the month oc July, 1871, and
in the melee Hill shot Williams dead on the
spot. Hill was promptly arrested, and, after
4 preliminary examination, was bound over
TO answer at the ensuing term of court to
the charge of murder. At that term he was
tiled and convicted of deliberate and pre-
medtated MURDER and was sentenced to be
hung.
Owing TO the many palliating and miti-
eating circumstances connected with the
case, the verdict of the jury was received
with great surprise and deep regret by the
symnaliizing friends of Hill, white and col
ored. The verdict of the jury and the SEN
tcncc of the court were bitterly denounced
by an indignant public, and declared that
manslauShter WAS the only and greatest
crime of which the prisoner was guilty, and
that il he were hung, il would be nothing
more or less than a foul judicial murder.
Gen. :. L. Browne, counsel for the pris-
oner, (who is one Of the most eloquent advo-
Gates at the Denver har,) moved for a new
trial for the prisoner, but il was not granted.
lie was not TO be outione, he carried his
case 10 the Supreme Court, where he secured
n new trial for his client. The second trial
resulted in simple verdict of murder, and
the sentence Of the court was imprisonment
inr life. Hon. Samuel l.. Browne deserves
great credit for his untiring and unsellish de-
votion To his colorcl client he devoted a
great deal of valuable time and legal labor
10 the case, without the least hope of any
adequate compensation whatever. But he
has the thanks and gratitude of the colorcd
people Of Denver, who will hold in long and
grateful remembrance his intlcE!tigable efforts
10 save the life of his colored client, against
whom there was SO much prejudice Oh ac-
count of his color, which rendered his efforts
more arluous and doubtful. The writer did
All in his power Tor the poor prisoner Dy an
earnest appeal TO the members OF the Legs
lature of Colorado in 1872, and n large con-
course of the citizens Of Denver for means
TO aid in securing n new trial; but the amount
obtained was utterly insufficient, but his
counsel, Gen. Browne, proceeded with the
case anyhow, with the result above stated.
1t was the intention of his friends to petition
the Governor for his pardon after he had
served 4 year or two in the pcnitentiary, but
death forestalled their action, and kindly
granted his pardon, and released him from
prison, and all earthly woes and sorrows.
His immortal soul has winged its flight to
the land of spirits, where il viii meet the
great Judge of heaven and earth, who is no
respecter Of persons. His body has been
consigned to the cold bosom of Mother
Earth, who receives all of her children on
the same level, regardless Of all distinctions.
lie is gone TO the silent and peaceful grave,
the only asylum and refuge of the colored
race from the cruel ostracsm and barbarism
of American prejudice and injustice.
Oh tombs! the silent mansions OF the
dead! How eloqucntly do they proclaim to
all mankind the sacred dogma of equality.
In their silent abodcs the king and the
peasant, the rich and the poor, the white
and the black, lie down in tho dust together.
Then, why should vain and pompous man
look down with irownng contempt and with
cring scorn upon any of his fellow men:
If this letter should meet the eyes of the
friends and relatives Of The deceased, most
Of whom reside in st. Louis, Missouri, they
will be consoled to hear that he was kindly
cared for during his illness, but the writer is
not informed as TO the nature of the dis
ease.
He died in prison in distant land far
from home and friends. No kind mother
was near him to wipe the cold death sweat
from his brow, no aiiectionate sister to cool
ms HaiSheu hlS, Ho .cIuSI Hdhuo W SioSe
his death-staring eyes, and no tremulous
voice to utter deaths sad farewell.
He was buried in the cemetery at Canon
City, amid the wild and sublime scenery Of
the Rocky Mountains, whose towering snow
crested peaks look down from the bright
Italian sky of Colorado, in sad and gloomy
grandeur upon his lonely grave. The soil
that wraps his mortal remains may never be
trod his relatives or friends, nor moistencd
by their friendly tears of grief and Sorrow
VIM. j. HARDIN.