The New York herald., 1876-03-03
THE HANGMAN IN VIRGINIA.
ISAIAH GRIFFIN SUFFERS THE EXTREME PEN
Atty ron MANY CRIMEs-A CHRONIC RAW
Usher SENT TO HIS AccoUNr-PEcULIARITIE
OF HIS FOUR TRIALS

OF HIS FOUR TRIALS
NORFOLK Va, March 2, 1870
The alarming prevalence OF the bestia crime OF rape
throughout the South is one OF the most marked and
melancholy features OF the social situation In this sec
iion OF the country The perpetrators usually-al
most always-negroes. whose found freedom
expresses itself only often this form OF horrd
and outrageous license The criminal dockes OF South
ern courts are crowded with Of this aad Kindred
crimes, while, in still numerous instances, nat
ural shrinking from publicity prevents complaint ana
prosecution Hundreds OF respectable and well con-
necled white females all through this region, have
been subjected to this outrage which is worse than
death Other hundreds OF intended victims have barely
succeeded IN escaping. The pardonins power, whethef
from political considerations or mistaken leniency Is
freely exercised by the republican executives Of the
Southern States behalf OF negro offenders, who are
thus practically encouraged in their evil doins.
Isaah-aiias Asbcry-Grifn seems TO have been
chronic ravishor During the ten months Immediately
prior to his death sentence he was tried vc times Tor
rape and attempts at rape
A sERISs OF CsIMzs.
The first Indictment against him for rape was 'odnd
March 1875 in the Circuit Court for Norfolk county,
Judge George Blow presiding The trial TOOK place on
the following day. Y. O. Casscll was The prosecuting
officer Tho accused defended by J. G. Holiday.
1t was alleged that the offence committed upon ooc
Adcnc Bell aged nineteen on November 3, lS'l
Through detect OF ovdcnce-therc being no testimony
but that OF the complainant-Grin was acquitted On
the 10th of September, 1875, Griffin indicted in
the Norfolk County Court Tor rape on a negro woman
named Idavia Grin, who wos his oro,bcr's wife, and
at the same for indecent assault with intent to
ravish high respectable white lady, Mrs. Or. West.
Upon this latter indictmen-ior assault upon Mrs
Wcst-hc tried hrst Ills Honor Judge I.cGh r.
Watts presided Colonel W. IL. Stewart appeared Tor
the commonwealth. while the prisoner was
defended by Major A. 5, Waits and r.
il great grandson OF tho late Chief Justice Marshall
on 2lsi September 1875 Grilnn found guilty, and
his punishment was liked by the jury, which convicted
him at twelve years Improvement in the Penitcn
tiury September IS lSi5 he was put ON Trial IN the
house in Porsmou III Tor the crime which he was
destined TO cxpate upon the Gallows This was the
rape OF ldava his brothers vile Tue prosecution Was
conducted by the Commonw ealths Attorney, Mr. stew
art, and the defence by Mcssrs Watts and Marshall Inc
jury could agree and after SIX or seven hours de-
liberation their part the withdrawal OF Juror was
directed oy the judge, with consent oil counsel Tor both
State and prisoner, thereby causing mislral, and
Griinn was rcmanded to the Jail Ii appears by the
records the Court that October s. 1873, the prs
onor was led so the bar custody OF the sheriff when
on motion OF tho Commemorative Attorney, Judge /.
r. Watts ordered him back TO Jail, and pronouncement
of Judgment upon the verdict OF twelve years i'm
prsonmcnt IN The West OF Indecent assault
continued generally" or indefinitely postponed. 1t
is perhaps, popularity OF the criminal Jurisprudence
of Virginia that the penalty for crimes rs asccr
taincd by tho jury which convicts, but thor
sentence docs not become effective until confirmed by
answer the capital felony of rape IL was not deemed
advisable pass judgment upon the verdict sending
him to tho Pcntentary Tor the less offence OF which
he had been found gnilty.
Pursuing Grinn's record upon the court rolls OF Nor
folk county, lind that, on November H. 1879 he was
indicted tor rape Violet Stone colored. His trial
occurred the day, resulting IN acquittaL This
was due, told, to the grossly obscene language in
which Violet tho complainant, gave her testimony.
Al the same term of Court, November "A, Griffin was
put upon his second trial ior the rape of ldaviIla
GRIMM. He had no counsel the gentlemen who had
1t for i'm
become thoroughly dsgustcd at his utter lack OF graft
application Of their gratutous services in
his behalf and abandoned him to his fate The pris-
led TO the bar, arraigned, and pleaded not
guilty.
The witnesses for the Commonwealth were three in
number--ldavilla, the complainant David Grinn, her
husband, and one Mcridy Holland all negroes! From
their testimony, which was uncontradicted, there bc-
ing witnesses for the defence appeared that the
offence was committed p March, 1915, at David Grif
fms house, near Deep Greek, small village about
twelve miles from Portsmouth, IN the Virginia section
THE GREAT DISMAL SWAMI,
aud hard by tne romantic ,L LaAe prummonul r I'M Inn,
Grnin at tho time away from home at work In
the swamp. His wife, Idavlla, was at Deep Creek
Isaiah Grimm tho house. He had made
nre upon the hearth. He prevailed on her
to let him remain night and lie
by the fire. before which he disposed himself
upon these chairs while she retired to the bed The
cabin had but single room In the course OF the
night the crime pcrpeiraed Mcrdy Holland heard
the woman cries and her husband, David Griffin, de-
posed to seeing the marks and scars his wife received
In her struggle with the ravishcr The case was sub
mlttcd without argument TO the jury, who retired and
almost Immediately returned with the following
dict indorscd upon the bill OF ndlcnent:-"we, the
Jury find the prisoner guilty, and sentence him TO
DEATH Griffin was then sent back to Jail vcxed
question In The West case oil attempt at rape
rin had been sentenced by the jury 10 twelve years
imprisonment II the PcnItcntiary He had now
been sentenced 10 death. BY Virginia statute law
criminal sentences are made cumuaIivc-that is, they
are added together and second QUO commences upon
tho cxpiratlun of the first. IL a puzzing
drum. As one jocuar gentleman stated It, the ques-
ton was whether GrIfn should out his twelve
years and then be hanged or be hanged first and
serve his term IN tho pcnitcnary aficrward IL was
only the first horn OF the dilemma, however, which
occasuned any serious discussion Pending the solu
ton OF the problem the prisoner brought 10 tho
bar OF tho court nj following monthly Term, and
Judgment IN the two cases continued generally.
No similar question had before occurred in the
Jurisprudence OF tho state and the decision was post
poned order that iuil time might be given Tor q
thorough examination OF
THE POINTS INVOLVED.
The text books searched IN vain Tor precedent
as were also reports OF most OF the other states OF
tho Union. The Judge of the Norfolk County Court
OF the Virginia Court OF Appeals who IN turn con-
suited his associates upon the Bench The conclusion
Was at last reached that 'all other punishment Is
merged In The capital punishment OF death" IL was
held tha; any postponcmcnt 0t the execution OF the
death penalty operates AS rcprieve and Is, conse-
aucntiy moderation rather than an increase OF tho
runIshincnt wcrc the prisoner adjudgcd 10 inst
serve out his term of Imprisonment he might, by
dying natural death, escape the hansman altoeeIhcr
Judge Watts held furthcr-and II is good specimen OF
the rciuc;io al dbSuriRni-that II person were con-
vctcd OF offence punishable by confinement for life
aud aitcrwar,! of capital crImc, the second sen
tcncc would DC nulty " It's execution
were 10 d, postponed until the expiration Of
The nrst. II was, therefore, on January T. 1876
decided that the punishment for inc MINOR offence was
merged in that FOR tho greater, and the judgment OF
the Court formally pronounced On ihat day the
prisoner was brought into Court heavily ironcd But
icy persons present, a. tho unfortunate cnprt
had no friends sympathizcrS To the question OF
the Clerk III anything tor himself he had or knew TO
say why the Court here TO judgment and execution
against hm, oi and upon the premises, should not pro-
cccd he replied thai he Gd not think hc had received
iusticc. Judge Watts then pronounced sentence upon
the prisoner rccapiulang the various episodes III his
strange career OF unbrdcd lust admon.shing him 10
repentance and prayer and hxng tho day Of execution
for Thursday Marcn 1876, between the hours OF ten
O'Clock A. NJ. and Two O'Clock 7. NJ.
Several weeks subsequent TO the confirmation or the
sentence OF Isaiah Grinn OF the twelve Jul VINO
convicted him and condemned him TO death signed a