The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-12
were brought out relative to the engage

Mr.. ROyall: Miss Coifreli, VIII you stat
what are the relations between yourself an,
Mr.. Poindexter? Are you engaged to b.
married to him? or course, IL is disagree
able to have 10 speak on this subject. but !
Is necessary 10 place all the fsas before th'
jury?
Miss Cottrel colored up and hesitated
After some urging she replied:
Yes. SIR; we are engaged.
Mr. Royal: How long have you been en-
gagged?
Miss Cottrell: About two years.
r. .Nr. Royal: How long since he declared
bis attachment?
Miss COltreIl: About three years.
Mr. Royal: How long baye you known
him?
Miss Cottrell: said before [that is, at the
first trial. eight or ten years, but think il
Is twelve years. | have known him inti'
mately all that time, and he has always been
an intimate friend OF our family.
lAt the first trial Miss CottrelI had asked
counsel for defence not to ask her IL she was
engaged to Mr.. Poindexter. They com-
piled with her requcst.l
The Commonwealth Attorney asked
Miss Cotirell several questions with The
view OF showing that Curtis.ip desiring 10
! lace her shoe, and in other conversation os
similar character. was doing nothing un-
usual. but following the custom OF the busi-
ness. But she didn't concur in that view.
She declared that it was the first time shoe
clerk had ever behaved in that manner to
! her.
The Comnonwealth's Attorney: Miss
CoiirclL bow old are youy
Miss CottreIl: You asked me that ques-
/ tiOn before
Commemorative Attorney: | know it.
But answer it this is different jury.
Miss CottIeI: At the former trial, under
/ the embarrassment OF the moment, / SAID
that was twenty-five. | am twenty.slX.
P0INDEXTER's REMARKS TO THE COURT.
Friday. 2Gth, the jury came into court
and rendered a verdict Of guilty OF yolun-
! tary mpnslaughter. and fixed his term OF
/ Imprisonment at two years in the penlten-
! tiary. Counse! for defence moved for new
! trial, which was refused. May 4th PoindeX-
| ter was brought up TO be sentenced.
When asked ii he had anything TO say
why sentence should not be pronounced, he
responded by reading the following, which
| he had written there in the courtroom
! May il please your Honor, ii bowed my
head to This sentence, and did not protest
against the injustice OF this yerdict-a yer-
diet which, il ratified by this community,
makes me the first victim OF a revolution in
! the traditional sentiment OF my native state,
! that has educated me to believe that the de-
fenc, OF woman i one OF the first duties a
man owes 10 himself and society," should
he false 10 nlyseli-false TO every feeling
that goes TO form the strongest conviction
Of innocence in my own breast. NO one
more deeply dcpIores thi. sad and most un-
/ happy tragedy. and the unfortunate err
camstances that led thereto, than myself.
Nv feelings will not permit me now, nOi
have The strength, bowed down with sor-
row rs nv heart now is, to 90 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&1Iis Judgment hath seen lit to NIL the
souls OF men.
As TO the charge that | was moved by
malice IN taking the life OF the deceased,
do, in he name Of Heaven, again plead
NOT GUILTY. Let me say It in the fear ol
God, and az | value my >0u's salvation,
had no desire or wish to take his life; and
every feeling which | may have had was
crowded from my mind by the all-absorbine
thought that my life was at stake, and the
God. .9eiven law OF self.defence ala'c con
troled nv actions. Willingly and gladly
would give half my days 10 return to hi'
sorrowing sister and friends the life wh!ci
hes on my hands, and raise from their hear
the grief that no less oppreSs's nine.
| will say nothing against any one.
simply ask hat that charity may be EXTENDED
TO me and others which 50 Willingly ac
cord 10 all. j. it not enough, your Honor
that the very foundation OF my life willeYel
be SLOWLY frettcd away by this deep sorrow
that must accompany me even TO my grave
This chasiisement is surely sufficient, tn
bitterness Of which no heart can know Du
Inv own. do not complain Of the number
OF years contained in this verdict. sir, tW'
are a. good az twenty. Suffice 1t TO say /
this verdict is ever carried into effect, tb'
sentence YOU are about 10 pronounce Is
death.sentence that cru>heS cut OF my III
all hone. all happiness, and only leaves M
what mans law cannot take from me. Zee
no sense OF guilt or disgrace, but carry thi
verdict into execution, and, with my natur
and the thought Of those loved ones VIII
are 80 dear 10 me, | should be utteri.
crushed.
In closing thank your Honor from m.
heart for your sincere and feeling expires
sons Of sympathy.
/. THE SENTENCE OF IhE tOChl'
Judge ChriStian-his voice husky-said
Mr.. PoindeXter,-In life sOmewha
chequered, and certainly one enurcd to eX
perlences OF sorrow and suffering, | ca
, truly say that | have never been calle
upon to perform a sadder duty than tina
, which the law now imposes on me as In
t judge OF this court. God grant that th
/ "deep waters" OF sorrow through whic
YOU haya been called to pass may yet in tn
: mysterious ways OF Providence rebound t
2 your temporal and eternal welfare, and
the same time deter others from incurrin
the terrible lot that has Oyertaken you, ano
, fear, blighied young life on which wer
t reasonably founded so many hopes OF haI
; piness and usefulness. The judgment {
The Court is that YOU shall he taken TO To
, penitentiary by the Sergeant OF this city
and there confined for two years-the N
riod by the jurors in their verdict asceI
tanCd-and treated in the mode prescribe
, by law.
PoindeXter was sent back to Jail, an
efforts were made to secure him new tra
The supreme Court rendered its decision
, January 8, 1880. and unanimously aitirme
the Judgment OF the Hastings Court.
4 new trial being refused, a petition wa
sent 10 bONtIuUI IlOilihhg l'i lt NNH
Poindexter. or cOmmutation OF sentence
The Governor refused TO interfere.
The PRISONERS JAH-LIYE.
PoinGeXter. since his confinement in iai
has occupied the room over the upper lie
OF cclls-better known as the Cril,ende
room-and adjoining the hospital. 1t is on
of the most pl, asant rooms IN the building
and before the last addition was put to III
} iail was used as q bedroom by the deput
sergeant in charge.