Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-10
SEEING FOR HIMSELF.
GOVERNOR LEE VISITS A BOY con-
DEMNED TO DEATH.
After Conversation with the Prisoner He
Grants n Respite for
Thirty Days.

Simon Walker, the condemned negro
boy in the Chesterfield ounty Jail, will not
be hanged to-day.
The execution of the sentence is post
poned thirty days.
For some time Governor Lee has had un-
der consideration petitions for the commu-
tation of the sentence, and in order fully to
investigate the statements made Walker
was reprieved until tomorrow.
VISITS THE PRISONER.
So much has been said TO Governor Lee
about the youth of the prisoner. his igno..
rance and lack Of proper appreciation OF
his crime and its responsibility, that his
Excellency decided to ascertain for HIM
self the exact mental condition OF the
prisoner, as well as his age, etc.
TRIP TO TIE COURTHOUSE.
With this object in view and accOmpa-
MED by his messenger, Mr.. Thomas B.
Jones. the Governor yesterday morning
drove over to Chesterfield Courthouse:
The morning air was cool and bracing and
the ride across the country pleasant one:
The trip was made in three and halt
hours, thirty miles having been travelled.
TALKS WITH wALEER.
Arriving AT his destination the Governor
WAS shown into the presence OF negro
boy of ordinary appearance.
When told that his distinguished visitor
was the Governor Of Virginia and the only
person who could save him from the gel-
lows. Walkers face frightened up and he
conversed very freely with the Governor
about the charge against him, relating
from his (the prisOner's) standpoint how
the affair occurred.
RRPRIEyED AGAIN.
Upon his return to the city tho Governor
decided TO postpone the execution of SEN
tence for thirty days in order 10 allow hum
fully to consider all the facts presented IN
the case.
The petition for commutation is signed
by the grandmother and grandfather ana
the mother of the little girl who was as
saultei. Il is also signed by an uncle and
aunt OF the girl, and these are her only
living relatives. 49,,
have also signed the paper. II Is under-
stood that the remaining two could not
be found when Walkers counsel called 10
see them with reference to signing the
document
THE PB1soNHR's STATEMENT.
The prisoner did not testify in his behalf
at the trial. Yesterday, II the belief that
he was 10 die tomorrow, he made state
ment 10 the Governor which differs ma
terially from the evidence at the trial.
II is also said in the boys favor that the
dav after the crime ~ alleged TO have been
committed he was found at work IN the
immediate neighborhoOd and made no at
tempt to escape.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
Mary Ann Tull, the twelve-year-old
white girl whom the condemned youth was
convicted Of assaultlng, Is n member OF
family Of respectable settlers VINO nave
not lived in Chesterfield very long.
The offence IS alleged to have been COM
mitted on Wednesday the lst OF May, and
Walker was arrested two days later by
Michael Morris, and when taken before
the girl the prisoner was fully identified a
her assailant. Indignation ran high among
the white people Of Ettrick, near winch
place the crime was committed, and there
was strong talk OF lynching.
Walker was taken before Maglstrate II.
ID. Perkins and sent on for trial, and was
then carried 10 Petersburg and put in jail,
AZ the Magistrate did not think II safe 10
send him TO the county jail
When the County Court met on the Sc
cond Monday in May the grand jury found
a true bill of Indictment Before the grand
iurv the girl stated that the negro who as
saulted her was baretOOtcd at the time.
When arrested Walker had on shoes, but
his father in his testimony stated that on
the day Of the assault Walker was bare
footed, and when he left home he the old
nan) told him that # he was not particular
he would lose the shoes which at the time
Walker was carrying on his shoulder. The
girl identified Walker in a crowd Of SIX or
eight negro men.
Theprisoner was convicted two or three
davs after his Indictment and was sem
tencod at the same term of the court,
Judge Clopton refusing TO grant new
trial. Walker was then sentenced to be
hung on the 3Oth of August.
THE STREET-CAR CASES.
A. Acra.u,cnt to Adtourn Them Over To