Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-12-20
lSsUFrlcrgSrlyIDEscs.


with the burning of the warehouse
at Recky Mount, Va, October 7th,
1889
GEoRGE E RLy, WILLIAM Brown,
BIRD WooDs and Mamie WooDs
were convict a and sentenced to be
hanged. An appeal was taken in
their cases, but the judgement of the
lower court was affirmed in all ex-
cept the case OF BRowN, who upon
tie 'hnical grounds was granted
new trial. GEoReE EARLY and BIRD
WOODS were hanged August %, 90.
Governor Mckinney committed the
sentence OF MAMIE WooDs to life
imprisopm. WILL1AM BRowN /
upon his Sc, ia trial was again con-
victed and entenced to be hanged
on the 19t ,riast September He
again tc an appeal, and the
Supreme Co 20 OF Virginia set aside |
the verdict Judge FAUNrLERoY |
rendered Il p opinion. In it is the
following
, The consideration OF the evidences
tor the C0mmonwealth alone convinees
IA that Il IS wholly INSULT :ient TO war
rant the vtriict OF the jury, which is
plainly Wfo1g The corpus delicti is
not proven Il must be beyond rea-
sonsble doutt ike every 0'her fact
material q establish the guilt OF the
? accused. Tie facts stated by the Com
monweai'h's witnesses Go not fully and
g. ~.
}, burned the warehouse and from Il was
e communicated to the buildings In the
: town was Of lncendlarv origin. and they
u do not exclude the hypothe sis that the
Ere may have originated from accidental
n causes" (Stsrke's Evidence, Volume
l.. psge 81
j This is q terrible arrangement of
e the jury who passed upon these cas-
,e es It tells in no uncertain tones
t. the prejudiced conditions existing in
,e that Community, and makes one
/ wish in vain for tie resurrection OF
N those human beings hanged for a
as crime WHICH possibly they never
AZ committed.
or This imp rtinl and fearless Judg,
va supported - he is by ell his col
leagues Win one exception tells il
! plain laneuage that the Common
wealth had failed TO make out il
- case, and what seemed to have beel
- OF an incendiary origin, may hav
been produced by accident.
-. It is not snrprising then that wi
"a nessee VII, were foremost in sweat
- 5; iugsawky 5Te-cS ;lit~c icl- IL
80 people admitted that they had pei
5, iured them seIves.
Two human beings have been sa,
!, rifeed. MINNIE wooDs should b
= set free.
,tr The far-reaching decision rendere
~, by the Supreme Court makes it in
80 possible to convict WILLIAM Brown
80, With the evidence now adduced, n
: jury win be allowed to convict hin
This is virtually the decision OF tina
e. august tribunal which presides ov,
49, the destinS Of the innocent and IL
80 guilty in this Commonwealth whe
80 the cases are appealed.
49, What kind of justice can there |
- in this sta e when such telling r
,os buke is properly administered n
- one questions the justice in hangin
-. guilty parties for the crime of ALSO
- - but tits alasting stigma on the sta
when innocent ones are arraigned al
-, hanged whsn the evidence adduce
e is Insufficient to support the charg
- The cry NJ Rocky Mount was +,
80 human blood. Some one must
80 hanged. 9'he decree was carried OF
~ aud GEoRaE Early and BIRD Wool
were ushered into eternity. Tn,
80. both protested their innocence
III the last
80 it's selious thing to hang ma
: The cruel rope, the ghostly bIac
- cap, the terrible gallows, and &
~. horror producing coffin serve
,a+ make q smpathizing public trel
~ BILE With fndignation when there
: even q r. liability of an innoce
49,, : man pas lg through the ordeal
- We DO lot know what steps W
-" be taken, put if the evidence was
90 suffi lent IN BRowN's ease, it is CT
ns tainly a strong plea upon which
- base an application for pardon
80, the case of the unfortunate Ma
gnu ME WooDt,.