The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-22
SENTENCED TO DEATH.
pHgLTP NORMAN NICHOLAS 10 BE
HANGED ron MURDER.
The Date Of tho Execution FIXED for Feb.
ruar, 1. 1894 The Charge by Judge
WeIliord-The Crime.

l,v of February. 1885 Some days agc
Nicholas appeared before Judge Wexford
., receive his decision Ia regard TO grant
,,g blm new trial. The counsel for the
..,i.oncr moved at that time an arrcst of
'.8emcnt on thc ground, FIRST that the
,.urt had mo Jurisdiction 20 try the pris-
s..and because the verdict was con-
..r, fo thc law and the evidence.
mind ou the ground Of afier-dis-
,.,.l evidence. rendering the afiidaSits
.W D. Phillips and others
INDIE Wexford received the bills OF eX-
..rf1r. and after mature deliberauon. he
.,.rfsv announced his decision. over
,.rin. au the motions TO which the pris-
..er had taken exception Al l2.W Nicholas
MS brought into court by Sheriff i. l..
l,,,r,u lIe took his seat beside his coun-
40 ID a. Richardson Near bY sat
,f- conway Sands and Mr. George II.
carter representing the Commonwealth.
>.tct.las WAS told boy the clerk. Mr..
Jobn p Eroaddus. to stand mp. IL did so.
Nr Rraaddus then said 90 him. Have
,.o1 ANYTHING t0 Say why the sentence OF
ds,tb should not Boz pronounced upon you.
apcofdIug io I1wt
.f.lr firm voice the prisoner re-
,l..f. "I swear before Almighty God that
sm as innocent of the murder of those
fvo men ass YOU arc'
judge Wexford then delivered the fol-
louIie charge to che prisoner:
"The laws Of Virginia. 90 which YOU and
/ are equally subject. impose upon me
the most painful duty of my life. You
have had as fair trial as any man could
ask You We're defended by able and
experienced counsel. who devoted 20 your
service AN the energies Of their heads and
their hearts. You were tried before
jury of unusual intelligence. who listened
patiently and conscienucusly tO all the
evidence without the slightest manifesto
uon of Impotence or any manner Of
prejudice and they were driven reluct-
anuy and i have no doubt conscientious
lr t0 the conclusion at which they ar
rived j have carefully and fully eX-
ami1ed am the testimony. and / am COM
PEELED 90 say that ! approve OF their
verdict III The Court OF Appeals shall
take different view. and award you a
new trial. which should result in your
discharge ! would be gratihed al your
release. but ] cannot hold out TO you
arF hope of such "a result. You stand
fa.c 10 face with dcath-an ignomnious
and dIseraceful death. God forbid that
j. should slv one word which should add
fY thc terrible burden upon you But
4 earnestly commend 20 YOU. earnestly
urge you To- prepare FOR the inevitable
future You and ! and an who par
t.Ipated iu your trial must soon stand
together before the great Tribunal where
fHe secrets OF AN hearts are made mani
f'-t and where uncrring Justice will be
administered None Of as can expect TO
escape that ordeal from reliance upon any
merits Of our own. But there is one
iI|-Suhcient at0nement for all Of our I
offending. which is freely oNc-cI for !
"a ~ al
ana prayerfuly commend YOU 20 that one /
only hope in the great hereafter.
The prayer OF the dying thief reached /
DIS open ear ON the cross. and God grant /
mat YOU may make like appeal with |
Hka success
lt only remains for me 10 pronounce
the sentence of the law: that YOU be re-
mdnded 10 the custody of the iailer Of
II'nrlcO county. 90 be there detained i'm
close confinement until Thursday. the
M-t DAY OF February 1894 and that ON
MAT day. between The hours of ten I'm the
morning and Sis boz the evening. Won Doe
laneed by the neck until YOU are dead.
Ai may God in His infinite grace. have
ly upon your souli'
iHe following is "a description of Nicho-
a, and also of his crime.
Phillip Norman Nicholas ie n white
man about forty years OF age. pale face
dark eyes and hair tie was charged
with the murder of James Mills and Jud-
SON Wilkinson. on December 5. 1892. The
murder occurred in the upper end of
iienrico county near what is known
as Iuckahoe Island. Nicholas and The
deceased went out hunting on the dav
in question, and while crossing The
river which is very deep I'm that neigh
horhood the skin sprung leak and be-
San 20 rapidly ill with water Am three
men jumped out. and Mills and Wnkin-
300 lost their lives in the stream while
'he accused SWAN ashore and was saved I
W Then he reported the drowning of his I
'mpanions. the suspicion of his neigh /
hors was aroused. ana upon Investigation .
two holes. apparently bored with an au-
rr were found in the boat TO add TO
he theory Of murder two pieces o. corn
obs which exactly fitted the holes. were
lscovered near by. and This naturally
ei 10 the belief that there had been foul
play. The supposition. Of course. was
hat Nicholas decoyed the men, who
'uld not swim. into The boat and then
pushed out the shoppers when he got into
he middle of Che stream
The evidence at the coroners inquest
developed the fact that the prisoner had
ten ON familiar terms with Mrs. Mills. {
md that there was n0 love between ,
Nicholas and the Woman's husband. The I
Prosecution found no good motive for
DE supposed killing of Wilkinson
The accused was arrested on the night
f the 10Th. and as no bail was allowed.
'e has been confined in JAIN for over a ,
.ear. !
Commonwealth s-Attoruev Sands. assist
a by Air. George d. Carter conducted j
he prosecution very ably and both
.andled the ease with grcat deal of !
dll Mcssrs. Harry 50. Smith Jr. and
D. e.. Richardson have defended the
prisoner Win much ability
TIA Is Wth tn Fri ooer.
D interviewed Nicholas after De had
been taken back to DIS CELL When
irst saw him iu bis cen. he was sitting
lp0n his bed with his head bowed. resting
.u his hands.
! spnte TO him. he arose and came TO- 2
ard me- When ] asked him If he had any
hing 10 say. De replied. while his ewes
He'd with tears. "No. I ann AN broken
~ I did not expect this; / was certain
f new trial ~ 1 had been granted d
rev trial" Doe continued "l think a
v chances for acquttal would have
son good
Did YOU hear the verdict. when Judge
Wexford pronounced it," I asked. &
80" he answered Il only caught ]
Hi here and there n
Nicholas Us entirely deaf I'm one ear. .
Tie seemed entirely broken down. and e.
nder the impression that every one O
- against him. a
lie was trembling violently from emo 81
on. and seemed 10 have entirely lost 60
: usual calmness and self-possession.
asked him If there was any state
Any ne cared 20 have published; he re-