Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21
NOT pREMEDITATED.
THE JORDAN HATCHER CASE.
R,m,uiscrncss OF Famous Richmond
Murder Interesting Details.
flor the Dispatch.l

HfHfuthtfu'fH W
Murder Interesting Details.
flor the Dispatch.l
On the 10Th of March, 1852, one
Jordan Hatcher was tried in the Rich
mond Hastings Court before Samuel
T. Pulliam (Recorder), James Caskie,
Joseph c. Wingfeld, Edwin Farrar,
and James Bray (aldermen), and the
following judgment was rendered in
the case
"Jordan Hatcher, a slave, who
stands charged with q felony by him
committed, IN this, that he did, on the
25th day Of February, 1852, in the
city of Richmond. feloniously and of
his malice. kill and murder William p.
Jackson, was this day led to the bar in
custody of the Sergeant and William
Wallace Day being assigned his coun-
sci, he was arraigned and pleaded not
guilty to the charge and the Court,
having heard the evidence, are
unanimously of the opinion that
the said Jordan Hatcher is guilty
Of the crime with which he stands
charged; and it being demanded
Of the said Jordan. Hatcher if he had
anything to say why the Court should
not now proceed to pronounce judg-
ment on him, according to law, and no.
thing being offered in arrest or delay Of
judgment, it is considered by the Court
that the said Jordan Hatcher be hanged
by the neck until he be dead.
And it is ordered that the execu-
ton Of this sentence be done upon the
said Jordan Hatcher by the Sergeant Of
this city on Friday the 23d day of
April. 1852, between the hours of 10
o'clock in the forenoon and 2 o'clock
in the afternoon of that day, at the
usual place of execution; and the said
Jordan Hatcher is remanded to Jail.
1.-The Court fix the value Of the said
slave Jordan Hatcher who is proved
to the satisfaction Of the Court to be
the property of Mrs. p. o. Godsey, of
Chesterfield county, at six hundred
dollars, it being the opinion Of the
Curt that he would sell for that sum
if sold publicly under knowledge OF
his condemnation"
A few days after this trial and judg-
ment the following petition was pre-
scented to his Excellency Joseph John
son, ESQ.,, Governor Of Virginia
1.-THE petition of the undersigned re-
specially represents that negro slave
named Jordan Hatcher, aged about
seventeen years, was, on Friday the
10Th day Of the present month March,
tried by the Hastings Court Of the city
of Richmond, charged with killing one
Jackson, found guilty. and sem
fenced to be hung OH the 23d day of
April. 1852. Your petitioners repre-
sent that the following are the facts
developed upon the trial
The boy Jordan was hired at tobac-
co-factory in the said city, and the said
Jackson was an Oyerseer in said fac
tory; that on the morning on which
the fatal blow was given Jackson came
to the boys bench, where he was
at work. and found fault with a
bundle Of tobaccO-stems put up by the
boy, stating that it was the second oc-
casion on which he had TO COM
plain of the boys work. The boy
begged his forgiveness, and promised to
do better for the future. Jackson re-
piled that if he did do better it should
be after he was chastised, and com
menced whipping him with cowhide.
After a number of lashes had been
struck the boy caught hold of the COW
hide. Jackson then ordered him to
leave his bench and walk out with him
into the floor near the stove. Jackson
again began to whip him, and after
some lashes had been inflicted the beg
again seized the cowhide, whereupon
jackson kicked him. The boy then
picked up an iron poker which was i'm
mediately under his feet and struck jack
son blow on the forehead. Jackson fell
to the floor. The boy dropped the poker
and left the room Immediately; that
the boy did not attempt to repeat the
blow, although he might easily have
done so, as no one attempted to pre-
vent him, many being present at the
time. In a moment or two jackson
arose and pursued the boy, but did not
overtake him. A physician was imme-
diately called in, who found Jackson
sitting up, and for certain professional
reasons did not make any examina-
ton Of the wound. The same ply
stefan was called in again the next
morning, when he found his patient
laboring under a compression Of the
brain. Other physicians were then
called in by his advice, and the wound
was explored. Upon an exploration it
appeared that the skull had been frac-
tured, an aperture having been made
in it and the brain wounded. An ope-
ration was then deemed necessary, and
was performed; but the patient only
survived few hours.
These are all the material facts de-
yeloped at the trial. But at the trial
one of the eyes Of the boy was exceed
ingly inflamed, by reason, he alleged,
of blow on the eye, given by Jackson
on that occasion; but of this there was
no distinct proof.
"Your petitioners frankly admit that
there can be but little doubt but that
jackson came 10 his death by reason
of the blow inflicted by the boy; but
that that consequence was neither ex-
pected nor deserved by him. All Of
the facts Of the case tend to establish
that the blow was struck under circum-
stances tending greatly to aggrayatc
the boy, without generalization, and
with no design to kill. There is nc
malignant, wilful, or deliberate pur-
pose developed by the proofs to COM
nit murder.
"Under these circumstances, while
your petitioners do not complain of the
conviction as being contrary to the
strict letter of the law, they are humbly
of opinion that this is precisely one Of
those cases upon which a sound dis.
erection would induce the exercise Of
some degree of Executive clemency,
The youthfulness of the party may