The Washington critic., 1889-01-19
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
ALBERT GREEN AND wM. BRIGGS
SENTENCED.
A Solemn Scene in Justice Montgomery's
Court This Morning How the Con
demned Men Received the Sentence.

Judge Montgomery this morning pro-
uounced his Grst death sentence since his ac-
cession to the bench in this District, the penalty
being imposed upon two murder convicts,
Albert Green and William Briggs. The first
was Green, a young colored man, who walked
up TO the bar of the court thoroughly self
possessed, and, when asked whether he had
anything to say before sentence, Green re-
piled:
"Well. Judge, your honor, don't know as
] have anything to say. OF course l was
drunk at the time this was done. i don't
know any more than what heard from the
witnesses about the case. OF course the way
they said 1t | am guilty, but as far as know /
haven't anything to say about IT. myself"
Judge Montgomery said few words to the
prisoner before passing sentence. lie had
been twice convicted Of the murder. While 1t
might be possible that circumstances for which
he was not TO blame were to some extent as
possible for his condition, yet the laws of tn c
country made II the duty OF the Court to inn
pose the gravost punishment prescribed by the
law.
SENTENCE PRoNoUScED.
The Court then proceeded In the usual form
for such sentences. The prisoner must be
taken to the common jail and on Friday,
April 5, between the hours OF IL noon and
p, m, be hanged by the neck till dead AS
these last words We're pronounced Green, who
had kept his eyes liked on the face OF the
Judge, nodded his head as If to express a
readiness for his fate.
"And may Almighty God have mercy on
your SOUL" concluded the Judge, and Green
walked back TO the dock. lie has expected
the sentence, and was apparently glad to have
IT, over with
A bill of exceptions is in preparation in the
case.
STORY OF GREENS CRIME.
The murder for which Green was tried was
peculiarly brutal one. His was the first
murder case ever tried before Judge Mont
gomery, aud the evidence showed vicious
ness which is almost incomprehensible.
lie was indicted with another negro named
Feuton Webb, for having, on September IL,
1887, murdered James Lucas, There was no
evidence against Webb, except that during
the encounter he had shouted to Green to
'give IL to him." and he was acquitted and
discharged.
The murder was n peculiar one, and came
TO be known TO the public as "the broom drill
| homicden
1t .was the result 'of disturbance at the
Rehoboth Baptist Church during an exhibition
| called a 'broom drill,n given by the ladies of
| that congregation. Green and Webb had gone
into the church, nsulted some Of the ladies
and conducted himself in an improper manner
generally. Lucas reproved him, and this
]
| during which Lucas was cut In the abdomen.
1t was testified that after the cutting Green
| jumped on the PROSTATE body.
Green has had two chances, the first verdict
of guilty being set aside and u new trial grant
| ed. The new trial also resulted in con
victon. X. B. Lewis conducted the defense
of both Webb aud Green, being assisted as tc
the latter by L. Browning.
WILLIAM BRIGGS ARRAIGNED.
The same penalty was imposed In the case
of William Briggs, convicted of the murder OF
William Jones on May 8, 1887, by shooting
him. There had previously been quarre
over q hat. Both were laborers on Columbia
road.
Briggs is powerful negro Of a low type in
tellectually. He scarcely seemed TO appreciate
the gravity Of his situation.
Briggs said the only thing he had to say wa
that he was trying to defend himself TIL
evidence that convicted him was not true AM
he was in hope that true evidence might b
got to save his life.
''There is one lesson In your case" sal
Judge Montgomery, ''that wish could reac
all the people of your class You have bee
brought to your untimely end by the unlaw
ful carrying of concealed weapons abou
your person. There is no communit
where the law against this crime Is so persis
emily violated. Four-ffths of the vioen
crimes are occasioned by the fact that ma
is carrying weapon about his person.
The Court went ON to state that the objec
of the law was not vengeance, but warning {
the community at large.
The same time was named for Briggs execr
tion as In Green's case. Beyond Il nervou
clasping of his hands, Briggs showed but littl
agitation. His voice trembled slightly as b
spoke, but he was evidently fully prepared fo
the ordeal.