Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-19

THEY ARE TO suFFEa DEATH.
In the Criminal Court Judge Montgomery
this morning imposed the death penalty in the
cases Of Albert Green and wm Briggs for muir
der, sentencing them to be hanged on Friday.
April 5, next. Green was the FIRST person con-
victed of murder before Judge Montgomery
and the case was known M
TIE BRooN-pRuL HOMICIDE.
from the fact that IL was committed on the
evening OF broom-drill entertainment at the
Rehoboth Baptist church, Sept. u, 1857. It
was alleged that Green and Fenton Webb be-
haved in q disorderly manner i'm the church.
and Lucas expostulated with them. 0utside
the church Green used some profanity and
Lucas again speaking TO MIN, an alteration
occurred in which Green fatally stabbed Lucas.
The court assigned r. Byrd Lewis and L.
Browning to his defense, and he had two trials
resulting in verdict Of guilty in each.
Mr. Lewis asked that the sentence be post
The court said that the custom was that
Judgment be entered before the case is re-
viewed by the General Term.
THE PRISONER SAID HE WAS DRUNK
Green, who has grown stout since his con-
fnement, was asked il he had anything to say
why the sentence should not be imposed upon
him. He answered: Il don't know that
have anything TO say. was drunk at the time,
and don't know much about the case. The
witnesses have sworn and testified. and what
they said may be SO as far as know"
THE DEATH SENTENCE.
The court then referred to the trials, saving
that the first verdict was set aside, but both Of
them had been fair trials, and then said il was
his duty to impose the sentence OF the law.
de then, in an impressive voice, imposed the
sentence that you be taken hence 10 the COM
mon jail OF the District of Columbia and be
there kept in confinement till Friday, the 5th
day OF April, 1889, and between the hours Of
~ O'Clock noon and O'Clock ?. m, be taken TO
the place prepared for your execution and be
hanged until you are dead, and may Almighty
GOD have mercy on your soul"
Green seemed to expect the sentence. and
nodded his head as the last words were uttered,
and walked with the bailif TO the marshals Of
fce and afterward returned to the dock
THE CASE OF WIN. BRIGGS.
VIM. Briggs, a stout colored man, convicted
Of the murder Of VIM. Jones, colored. on May
last, was called up. Messrs. J. Mcdowell
Darlington aid Jno. Cruikshank asked a post
ponement, which was denied. The circum-
stances in this homicide were that the parties
were engaged as laborers on Columbia road:
that there were some words about a hat and
blows passed, when Briggs went Of and re-
turneo Win pistol ana shot Jones'
TRYING TO DEFEND HIMSELF.
When asked if he had anything to say he re-
piled to the court: "Your honor, was trying
to defend myself. and am sorry that the true
evidence was not given, for I would not have
been here expecting death sentence"
DANGER OF CARRYING DEADLY wEApoSs
The court said that il was deplorable posi-
ton in which the prisoner was placed, and after
referring to the crime, he said that there was
one lesson in this case which should be i'm
pressed on this community, viz: the danger Of
carrying concealed weapons. 1t prevailed i'm
this community more than in any other he had
known, and it seemed that i'm four-ffths Of the
cases before this court the crime grew out of
the fact that weapons, pistols or razors. were
carried. If the weapons had not been handy
the crime would not follow, or at least would
not be SO serious. He then remarked that it
was painful duty he had TO perform and re-
peated the sentence imposed in the case of
Green. as above.
Briggs seemed scarcely to appreciate the
gravity of his position. and doubtless has
hopes that his counsel will save his life.