The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-09-01
SHORT SHRIFT.
WHY SIMON WALKER CANE NEAR
BEING HANGED.

Ills Eepneyc Kept in Tho Pocket Of q
Friend who FAILED 10 Deliver IT. 10
the ~hcrif-Narrow Escape From q
Premature Death Other Local Ne,'-.
The TINES told Yesterday how Simon
Walker. the negro youth who was sem
fenced 20 death for outrageous assault,
which was fully proven. came mighty
near 10 being hanged because OF the
failure Of the custodian Of the legal
document signed by Governor Ice
granting n reprieve from Friday. Au.
gust Both. the day he was sentenced 90
be hanged 10 Friday. September 9th
t. deliver It to the sheriff.
The repreivc was In the pocket Of
John Mitchell. Jr.. man ~hO i5 one OF
the most prominent Republicans In the
city. and who Is now the head OF one OF
the governments most important de-
rartments ia this city.
Mitchell. with the reprieye ia his
pocket. tantllizod the unfortunate
negro under sentence OF death by visit
ing him i'm ms cell the day before the
hanging. and asking him such ques.
tons as would make any man fright
ened.
You'll hans. Walker, tomorrow.
will youfn said he. addressing the
sheriff ir the prisoner hearing. Then
speaking 10 Walker himself. the Gus
todias Of his rcpricVc. with 1t stu M
his pocket. played with the doomed
man in the following manner
What il your namet'
The name was given by the condemn.
ed man. who wondered what 70 all
meant. Suil the reprieve signed by me
Governor vas kept in the inqusitot s.
pocket. ...
Are you afraid 10 die p was the
next tan.alizing question.
The reply from the doomed man was
yes. sir.
"Well. what are YOU going to DO
about itYn asked Mitchell. still keeping
tho doomed man ignorant Of the TACT
that he had been rcprieved for a month
IL can't do ANYTHING about IT., was
the helpless mans reply.
DO you claim that you are hno'
cent Yn was the next question that inc
brilliantly ignorant custodian oil the
Governor document precious TO
Walker asked.
YES. SIR. was the reply.
Has any steps been taken % carry
the case TO the Supreme Court Of Ap.
peals ?" again asked Mitchell. The re-
ply was mo.
Then dramatic scene ensucd. Strik-
ING picturesque attitude. with should
ers drawn back, the great and only
John Michel slowly drew from ms
pocket the legal document, signed by
the Governor aud countcrsigned
b, the Secretary Of the Commonwealth
and sealed with the lesser seal Of the
State. which said that Simon Walker
should not die August 5Oth' but
should die September 9th. The.
negro criminal. whose heart had
been in his mouth all the
time that Mitchell was carrying on has
speciaI inQuisitiou. heaved a sigh Of re-
lief. aud did not bless Mitchell at all for
keeping him 20 long M the dark.
But the persecution. 1t seems. ana
not siop here. Instead OF seeking the
shcnf and giving him the repfleFe'
Mitchell placed 10 back m his pocket.
aud ia consequence, the shefii received
no Official iutimation OF the Governor 5
action until Just before the hour for
the execution. aud then only by seek
ing out Mitchell aud asking him II what
he tho officer had read in the paper
was true. Had nc not done so. and had
Mitchell kept up his fun much long
or, Walker would TO-DAY have been
dead man. "a the sheriff would have
been forced 60 execute the sentence OF
the court unless before the time set for
the execution he had been officially IN
formed Of the Governor = action.