National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-17
BRUTAL CONTRACTORS.
ALLEGED MURDER OF A NEGRO CON
NIINT IN VIRG1NIA

ALLEGED MURDER OF A NEGRO CON-
Wet IN VIRGINIA.
The following letter bears marks Of genuine
ness and, despite its humble origin, Of truthful
ness. Its given verbatin ct lterGtim. Tho writer
is probably laboriug under prejudice regarding
the administration of law in Virginia:
STAuNToN, Va, April IA, 1874.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: Allow me o small space in your journal to
express my thoughts concerning the outrageous
act that was committed about twelve miles from
this place on the sth instant. There are q number
Of convicts (colored) employed on the Valley rail-
road by Messrs Mason & Hoge. There was one
by the name OF Joseph Wilson, who was con-
victed and sentenced to the penItentiary about
four weeks ago for the alleged crime Of attempt
ing to commit a rape on a white woman. The
evidence was not sufficient to send him there but
under the present system q colored man has no
show in the courts here, especially when against
white person. He was sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary for two years; In Virginia they have a
way of their own. All colored convicts arc sent
or hired on some public works. There is no law
to warrant such; Il mean to send colored only.)
Mason Hoge are old oyerseers OF virginia plan;
tations, aad OF course they like the old way Of
whipping colored people. Joseph Wilson was
told TO go on the works but he said he was SICK;
SO the man who had him in charge sent for DIR.
with him. They then took him and whipped him
numerically and sent him him in the cut again.
tied around a.barrel and whipped again. He and
the barrel both rolled over the embankment into
the cut. He then seated himself upon rock and
shook as If he had an ague DR.. NV. GilkersOn,
who by chance passed by, was called to his relief
and he afterwards testified that the negro was in
O dying condition. Using his words: 81 had him
taken into o cabin and ordered whisky to be ad-
mipistered. Before It GUILD be done the soul Of
poor Wilson had gone to the God that gave It."
The verdict Of the eoroners jury was that he came
to his death from physical causes. saw him n.y.
self about three weeks ago, and he was q Her
cules In Appearaice. This Is the way We colored
people Of this State Ore treated. We are sent
to the penitentiary FOR the least offence; They
say we vote against their interests. After We
are sent there tken We arc sent to some
public works, and under some Of the meenest and
poorest white men Of the state; men who, them
Selves have served out their time In the peniten-
tiary, who would rather whip o colored person
than do anything else. There is no law IN o
Christian land that will justify such act. It IS
worse than the bloody code Of Draco. There is no
law which sanctions that after o man has been
sent to the penitentinry he can be whipped, under
any circumstances Whatever. They may say this:
II obedient they will shorten his term and II not
prolOng II. This is the law In Q nutshell. Cover
nor Kempers administration is like Andrew John
sons. He Is pardoning all the white men and
removing their political disabilities, but nothing
Is said or done about the poor black man. White
men never go on public works.
All papers are requested to copy this.
] am your obsdiept servant, w. II. ScoTT.