Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-05-07
From the Richmond whis'
SenfeHckA.
JOHN Z. PorSDExTER SENTENCED 10
TWO YEARS IN THE PENITENTIA-
RY IN THE HUsT1NGs COURT.

ht1thAoaf Vos OWihS w thO
absence Of Commohwealth's Attorney
Wise it was nearly IL before any bust
ness wa tran sacted.
Poindexter and Baceigalupi, both Of
whom were to he sentenced TO the peni-
Tertiary in accordance with the verdicts
of their respective Iures, were brought
in court some time before III o'clock
Mr.. Poindexter took his accustomed
seat in front of the Judge, and occupied
the greater portion Of his time in writ.
Incorporating probably, or altering,
the manuscript of the remarks he pro-
posed to make in response to the in
quiry, why sentence should not be pro-
nounced.
His brothers, Messrs. Charles.
Thomas and George Poindexter were
BY his side.
The prisoners counsel, Colonel John
B. Young, Captain John 5. Wise. Judge
+. c. Minor aud Mr.. William L. Royall
were in court, and occupied seats near
him.
THE TRYING MOMENT.
About IL O'Clock Captain George D.
Wise came in. Immediately the clerk.
Mr.. Andrew Jinklns, directed the ac-
cused to stand up and receive his SEN
tence; and if he had anything to say
why sentence should not be passed up
on him to speak then. In response 10
that inquiry, the prisoner stood up. and
in a clear voice commenced to read
from a paper he had prepared, as fol-
lows:
May it please your Honor If l
bowed nay head to this sentence, and
did not protest against the Injustice OF
thi. verdict-a verdict which, if ratified
BY the community, makes me the first
victim ofa revolution in the traditional
sentiment OF my native State, that has
educated me to believe that the defence
of woman Is one of the first duties a
man owes himselfand society," should
be false 10 myself, false TO every feeling
that goes to form the strongest con-
yiction OF innocence IN my own breast.
No one more deeply deplores this sad
aud most unhappy tragedy, and the un-
fortunate circumstances that led thereto
than myself, NY feelings will not per-
nit me, nor have l the strength,
BOWED DOWN WITH SORROW,
"a nv heart now is, TO go into any ex-
tended defense Of my course. | do not
claim to be faultess. 1 am but human,
and moved by those passions with
which God, in His judgment, has seen
HI to Gil the souls OF men.
A. to the charge that | was moved
by malice In taking the life OF the
deceased, do, 10 the name ofHeavcn,
AGAIN PLEAD mot GUILTY."
Letme say it in the fear of God, and as
| value my souls eternal salvation, l
had no desire or wish to take his life;
and every feeling may have had was
from my mind by the all-ab-
sorbing thought that my life was at
stake, and the GOd.given law OF SELF
defence alone controlled my actions.
and gladly would give half
nv days to return TO his sorrwing sisters
and friends the life which lies on ny
hands, and raise from their heartRthe
grief thatno less Expresses mRe. l
will say nothing against any one. l
simply ask that the charity may be ex-
tended to me and Others which | so
willingly accord to aJk Is it not enough
your Honor, thsttRe very foundations
of my life wiJltyer be slowly FILTERED
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. do not complain
of the number OF years contained IN this
verdict. two are as good as twenty.
Suffice it to say. if this verdict 10 ever
csrrsed into effect, the sentence you are
about to pronounce
is A DEATH SENTENCE,
that brushes out Of my life all hope, all
happiness, and leaves me what mans
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 dear to me, l should be
utterly crushed. In closing, l thank
your Honor, from my heart, for your
sincere and feeling expressions Of SYM
pathy.
THE PRISONERS EMOTION.
Before he had read hut few llaes
from the paper, Poindexter's eyes be-
gan to fill with tears, his voice grew
husky and his frame shook with emo
ton; but he struggled on manfully to
complete the task he had imposed on
himself He managed TO read nearly
through the two sheets OF letter paper,
when his emotion was too much Tor
him. He WAS forced TO stop moment
until he could regain his composure
some what, after which he read through
if. At the conclusion he broke down
and had to lean upon the shoulder OF
Judge Minor, who sat near him, Tor
support.
AFFECTING SCENE IN THE COURT.
The scene at this moment WAS We
~ affecting one, the brothers OF the ac-
cused sat beside him aud mingled their
Tears with his Tor moment. One OF
the counsel for defense wepl;the officers
Of the court, and old grey-haired men
in the court room, shed tears freely and
any effort to conceal their emo
lion.
There was scarcely person IN the
court room who was not moved, and
who did not, TOR The time at least, deep
" sympathize with the unfortunate
Young man, who, in the morning of his
Iife. was about to be blighted, it might
be. BY the words that would be uttered
Dy the Court in accordance with the |
verdict Of the jury.
SENTENCE PRONOUNCED.
Judge Christian was yisibly affected.
The prisoner, by great effort, soGD
-egained something, of his usual compo-
,are and continued to stand while Judge
Christian, in a voice Of deep tenderness
md feeling, pronounced the sentence
If the court, as follows:
Mr.. poindexter: A life chequered,and
certainly one enured to experiences Of
- 4 %, t,,,,,p,, can frulv soy