The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-05


/ John e. PoFnaexter. convicted OF ,Yolun.
tary manslau2 2hter In the killing OF Charles
! e.. Curtis on the Sd of March, was brought
ing for sentence. He was neatly dressed,
as usual, in black Prince Alhrt suit, and
seemed not much depressed. II IS evident
that be has great self-control. From the
time OF his arrest until the moment when
the verdict was brought In he was able to
appear to the world calm, and ,ofteptimes
lchecrfuk. When, however, he heard The
verdict he gave away. completely and sunk
10: his seatvery much as Curtis is described
as sinking to The, floor after the last, shot.
Mr. PoindexteE is twenty-nine years Of
age and Is probably six feet in height, but
4 besis very slender, aud the testimony was
that be ordinarily Eei chs, an faspatsl
& baS dat ~ HF8Wn hair; blue eyex, sandy
smohstae aebe, aud s liz Hts side ewhiske kerssoi tbc
same shade. his appearance Is so good that
the iiembers SAID. and three or four others
standing by cbimed in their assent, that
1 his face pleaded better for him than all the
Lawyers in Richmond could have DONE" :
:, THE, PRISONER spGAKs FOR HIMSELF. p
1t was en- hour or more after the court
was called TO order before PoindeXter was
4
the mean time he twas: s:e1gaged IN reading.
over and altering q paper ,iF pencil, The
Clerk having told him to stand up, and he
having arisen, in answer to the question, II
be had any thing to say why sentence should
mot be: pronounced, ,Poindexter read the
following: :o%af*
/ May 1T please your honor, IL I bowed d'rny
head to this sentence and did not protest
| against the injustice, Of this yerdict--a YER
| dict which, il ratified by: this community,
makes me the irst victim Of revolution In
the traditional sentiment Of my native State,
| that has educated me to believe that the de-
fence OF woman is one of the first duties
man: owes to himself and society," should
be false to myseE--ialse to every feeling
| that goes to form the strongest conviction
| Of Innocence iu my oWD breast. III -
No one more deeply deplores this sad and
| most unhappy tragedy and the unfortunate
circumstances that led thereto than myself.
My FEELINGS viii not permit me now, nor
have l the strength, bowed down with sor-
Erow as. my .hesrtpow is, to go into any. ex-
tended defence Of my course. =" =
| do not claim to be faultless. 1 am but
human,, and moved by those. passions with
which God in His judgment hath seen lit to
I'LL the souls Of men. =.
| AS to: the charge that / was moved
by malice in taking the life of the de-
| ceased, I do, In the name of Heaven,
again plead NOT GUILTY. Let me say It..
/ in ehe fear OF God and as value my souPs
salvation. had no desire or,wish to take
hIs life; md every feeling which may
have hsd was crowded from my mind by
the all-absorbipg thought that my life was
at stake. and toe God-given law OF SELF
| defence alone controlled my actions.
:WilIingIy- and gladly would give BALI
nv dsys to return to bis sorrowing sister
and friends the life which lies on my hands,
andraise from their heart the grief that no
less oppresses mine. ,.,.,e,:;y.,. Ill" I,li "
| I viii say nothing against any ont. I sim,
tnlaxseiss3 Aat bf exte6HsH tfe6' me
and others which + SO willingly accord to
ALL. !! !..t.. i.i"!. = ,!..;i...,D 80 #tbN" i.
Is 1t not enough, your Honor, that the
very foundation OF my life will ever be
slowly fretted away by this deep sorrow
that must accompany me even to my grave
This chastisement is surely sufficient, the
bitterness of which no heart can know but
my own. ..'....,..
L do not complain OF the number OF years
contained in this verdict. Sir, two are as
GOOD as twenty. Suffice it TO say il this
verdict is ever carried into effect, the SEN
tence you are about to pronounce is death
| sentence that cruSheS out OF my life all
hope, all happiness, and only leaves me
what mans law cannot take from me/ o.
l. | feel no sense OF guilt or disgrace, but
! carry this verdict into execution, and, with
my nature and the thought of those loved
ones who are so dear to ne, / should be
utterly crushed. 80 '..-. IT,
;. In closing thank your Honor from my
1 heart for your sincere and feeling express
'Fsons OF sympathy. ....' 81. s. . e..
THE READING. IT,. .. .,..-
In the beginning Poindextcr read in a
firm and distinct voice, which could be ca
sily heard in all parts Of the courtroom.
When he got to the sentence 81 doyIn the
name or Heaven, again plead NOT GUILTY."
i. his voice rang out in clear, strong. and en-
phatic tones. There was pathos IN uttering
s.eladly wouldF give halle my days." and
II ask that charity may be extended 10 me
and Others" But when he came TO speak
OF the heavinessi Of the cbaslisement bis
+ was greatly agliated, and it was only by eN-
traordnary effort that he was able to pro-
ceed.- .Asitwas, a few words were stified in
utterance.2 .-:.@nE:i4 - 1877 :.le.sGt.I +,
This paper. was prepared by prisoner,
without any help from counsel. ., 81
Hats and bands were placed before many
faces as the prisoner closed and stood with
head bowed, awaiting The dread sentence.
THE SENTENCE OF TIE COURT.
i Judge Christian-his voice husky:-saId !:
+ Mr.. Poindexter,-In a life somewhat
chcuuered, and certainly one enured to cx-
i periences Of sorrow and suffering, / can
truly say that I have never been called
upon. to perform a sadder, duty than that
which the law now imposes on ME. as the
Judge OF this court. God grant that the
"deep waters" Of sorrow through which
YOU have been called to pass may yet in the
| n,uStorious wars oF provilpnce rebound TO