The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-08

tan, of the Hastings Court of Richmond, on
Friday last, refused to set aside the verdict
of the jury finding John E. Poindexter gull.
ty of voluntary manslaughter in killing Chas
c. Curtis, and fixing his term of imprison-
ment at two years in the penitentiary. The
composure. He was evidently prepared for
the worst. The counsel for the defense have
prepared a bill of exceptions, and execution
of the sentence will be suspended until time
is given to apply for writ of error to the
Supreme Court. The scene in the court
room when Poindexter was sentenced was
very affecting. The clerk having told the
prisoner to stand up, and he having arisen,
in answer to the question if he had anything
to say why sentence should not be pronounc-
ed against him. Poindexter read with great
feeling the following:
May it please your honor, if l bowed nv
head to this sentence and did t protest
against the injustice of this Verdict YER
dict which, if ratified by this community,
makes me the first 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 a
man owes to himself and society," should
be false to myself-false to every feeling that
goes to form the strongest convictions Of in
nocence in my own breast
No one more deeply deplores this sad and
most unhappy tragedy and the unfortunate
circumstances that led thereto than myself.
My ;elugs will not permit me now, nor
have the strength, bowed down with sor-
row as my heart now is, to go into any eX-
tended defence of my course.
do not claim to be faultless. am but
human, and moved by those passions with
which God in His judgment hath seen fit to
fill the souls OF men.
As to the charge that | was moved by
malice in taking the life OF the deceased, |
do, in the name of heaven, again plead NOT
GUILTY. Let me say it in the fear of God
and as value my SOULS salvation, | had no
desire or wish to take his life; aud every
feeling which may have had was crowded
from my mind by the all-absorbiug thought
that my life was at stake, and the God-given
law OF self-defence alone controlled my ac-
tions.
Willingly and gladly would give half my
days to return to his sorrowing sister and
friends the life which lies on my hands, aud
raise from their heart the grief that no less
Expresses mine.
| will say nothing against any one. | SIM
ply ask that charity may be extended to me
and others which [ so willingly accord to
all.
Is 1t not enough, your Honor, that the
very foundation of my life will ever be slow
ly fretted away by this deep sorrow that
must accompany me even to my grave
This chastisenent is surely sufficient, the
bitterness OF which no heart can know but
my own.
I do not complain OF the number of years
contained in this verdict. Sir, two are as
good as twenty. Suffice it to say if this ver-
dict is ever carried into effect, the sentence
you are abolt to pronounce is death-sen
tence that brushes out OF my life all hope,
all happiness, and only leaves me what man,
law cannot take from me.
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 me, | should be utterly
crushed.
In closing [ thank your Honor from my
heart TO, your sincere and feeling expressions
OF sympathy.
In pronouncing the sentence, Judge Chris
tian, his voice husky with emotion said:
chequered, and certainly one enured to eX-
periences OF sorrow and suffering, can truly
say that / 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 mysterious
ways of Providence rebound 10 your temper
al and eternal welfare, and at the same time
deter Others from incuring the terrible lot
that has overtaken you aud | fear, blighted
young life on which were reasonably
founded so many hopes OF happiness and
usefulness. The judgment Of the Court is
that you shall be taken to the pententiary
by the Sergeant OF this city, and there con-
fined for two years-the period by the jurors
in their verdict ascertainsd, and treated in
the mode prescribed by law.
The execution of the sentence was suspend
ed until August 10th. The Supreme Court
meets at Wytheviile July 10th.