The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-15
TRIAL BY A NEGRO JURY.

y ~ i
4 fPRObEEDINGs IN THE CASE oFhEwIs, THE
CHESTERFIELD MURDERER-a NOVEL
sIdHTaTHE EVIDENCE ENDED AND THE
ARGUHEETt t:UasfENC D-THE PROBABLE
/ VERDICT, &C., &C. 4,a,.S%.,f i. III. III
a large number Of spectators were in at:
tendance at the Chesterfield county ,conrt-
house yesterday, TO, witness she trial. OF
George Lewis (colored(. charged WITH The
murder OF bis grandnhother,. Judy Robin
son.. an old woman nearly eighty years, oi
age. on Sunday the stu OF january list, at
midlothian, in the heart q the gresst Goals
fields Of Chesterfield g. ..sss.;;,,
The great crowd fpresent were attracted
chiefly on acsountof the fact that a .nssro
Jury had been summoned to, try the cass..
The Courtroom was! liternIIy packed,
Many who were unable even to gain aauak-
lance crowded on the outside. 1ear tire.
windows, and remained patiently during.
the progress OF the trial. ASH vas gem
orally known that The prisoner would OBJ.
lect TO being tried by negro Jury, much
interest was manifested as to thefesut. ss 80
Thescourt convened. at / Iz0aclock. LeWis
was Brought ,into.the court.toDm in aeusto-.
Eflys 9sldnty sSSefi iif 90g5iH ana
guard. The prisoner was allowed TO sit
within the bar with his counsel, Charles
Page, Esq. Of Manchester.
The venire-iist being called by the sheriff,
tWenty-fOur negroes answered to their
names. The original list contained forty
two names, only twenty-four being sum-
moned.
TIE PRISONERS OBJECTIONS.
The counsel for Lewis, in raising his OBJ
icctions TO the prisoner being tried by
colorcd jury, read the following to the
Court:
"This day-to wit: Monday, July IA,
1S79-came the Commonwealth by her at
torney, h. a. Hancock, and came also the
prisoner and panel OF twenty-four jurors
duly summoned by order OF Court, con-
sisting solely and exclusively Of colored
men; and the said prisoner having been
arraigned Of the premises and pleaded not
guilty to the indictment exhibited against
him, doth challenge the array OF said jurors,
and for cause Of challenge showcth that the
said panel of jurors, consisting solely
and exclusively OF colored men; and
have been summoned that jury for
the trial Of him the said prisoner
might be selected thcreirom, consist
ing solely and exclusively Of colored
men; that said panel OF jurors have been
summoned as and because they were such
colorcd men, and the Court well knew that
they were, one and all, such when ordering
them to he summoned; and summoned
them on that account when issuing his
Uenire tncidS to that end. Wherefore the
prisoner says that the said panel OF jurors
is not such an one as the law OF the land
counteuanceS, recognizes, or allows In the
premises, and that he is therefore preiu-
diced in his trial; wherefore he prayS the
Judgment Of the Court and that the SAID ar
ray be quashed.'
THE MOTION oyEERULED.
After listening to the reading Of the afti-
davt the Judge decided that colored men
were eligible to be jurors, and overrued
the motion made by counsel obiccting to the
prisoners being tried by negro jury.
While selecting the jury the usual ques-
ton was put by the Court as to whether or
not any OF those examined had any con-
scientious scruples 10 rendering verdict
tie penalty OF which is death. This ques-
ton somewhat perplcXcd some of the yc-
nircmen, and several explanations had to be
given before satisfactory answer was OBJ
tanned.
The following arc the names Of those who
were
CHOSEN As JURORS,
all being from Manchester township: Mat.
Eggieston, William Evans, Jacob Hancock,
William Harris, Wilson Hewlett, Thornton
Hughes, Tilman Jeter, Richard johnson,
John johnson, Jack Lawson, Alfred Mum
ford, and Henry Rawson. Those examined
| and stricken from the list by Lcwis's coun-
sci were Robert Archer, Giles Haden,
Charles Logan, and Daniel Brown.
Several witnesses for the Commonwealth
were examined after the jury had been Sc
| lectcd before the Court adjourned for din
ner.
The iurymen were taken to Bialen's Ho.
tel, near by,in charge Of the sheriff and de-
putty, and dinpd in seperate room from the
one used by The regular guests.
| From the moment the jury was sent out
| to their dinner 10 adjournment OF the court
at night that Jury was "the observed OF all
observers" A negro jury was a novel
sight in old Chesterfield, and they were so
| besieged by spectators that they were hardly
allowed TO eat their dinner.
Squire Hewlett;
TIE LTCURGUs OF. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP,
occupied the head OF the table, and pre-
sided on that occasion with the gusto and
dignity peculiar to himself when officiating
in his judicial capacity in his own district
| When the court convened after dinner
other witnesses for the Common wealth
were examined. Among them was white
man to whom Lewis haa made free con-
fession. IN making the confession Lewis
stated that the devil COS the upper hand Of
him and he could not resist the Feelings
that impefed him to commit the crime for
which he was being tr!ed-a remark which
Hillary Page made to 4 Dispatch reporter
before be was executed.
During the progress OF his tsas LeWls
seemed to be utterly careless as 30 his late.
Frequently he wosld catch the eye OF az
acquaintance, and 4 smile would light Up
his couutenance.
| The scene between the prisoner and DIS
father at the Jail, before he w;ss conveyed: tc
the court for trial, was very touching.
The prisoners father is 4 very old man
and in ill-heastb. In fact, disease shows II
sell upon every feature. He leaned upor
the bars Of the old prison close TO the eel
!where his sen was confined and wept like
child while talking to his recreant son.
THE FIRST NEGRO JURY TO TRY CAPITAL
'..-, OFFENCE.
The 5nry which was yesterday empan
nelIed to try Lewis is said to be the first tha
ever sat in this State to try prisoner To-
q capital offence, and the first coored jury
that Chesterfield has had for many day.
The crime OF which Lewis is charged i
q most revo!tine one. He was not conten
70 slay his victim, but fairly blew OFT he
head by a heavy charge from an old army
musket, and scattering her brains over th'
room where the terrible offence was com
mitted. II was stated that he attempted t.
hide the body after the murder by conceal
inc il in the ashes, the tire on the hearth