Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-22
NICHOLAS WILL HANG
ONLY THE SUPREME COURT OR THE
GOVERNOR CAN SAVE HIM.
,.s.. Wexford In Passing Sentence Speaks
with Great feeling-rhe Prisoner
wceps Notice Of Appeal.

phiiip Norman Nicholas was yesterday
sentenccd by Judge Wexford in the
1fcnrlco County Court 20 be hung on
Thursday. February 1. 1884,
Nicholas was convicted october 18th OF
the double murder OF William Judson
Wilkerson and James Mills by drowninH
them In James river. opposite Tuckahoe
Island. December 5. 1892.
The motion for new trial mace by his
counsel on the ground Of the discovery
% Alditiona' testimony for the def~nct
was oVcfrusei by the Judge, and the
sheriff vas f,tIc1 TO bring Nicholas
into court 90 hear his sentence.
lie came In a few moments thereafter
hooking hagsaid and pale, but maintain
ioe "a degree O: composure which WIS,
under TIE Cil Cumstanccs. rathcr re-
markable.
THE VERDICT A JUST ONE.
As he took ais scat. the Judge said %
him:
'I have given your case the mature
consideration Of which deemed Il worthy
ana I am reluctantly driven TO the con-
clusiou that / must override the motion
made by your counsel for r new trial
I see nothing IN the aftcr-dlscovercd evil
drnce which would lead me 10 grant a
new trial. and ] must inform you that
I'm my Judgment the Nefdlct OF me
Jury Is a just one
Nicbolas sat Ike stone through this
announcement his eyes riVeied IN an
exprcssionlcss stare on the Judge, ana
the only visible sign OF emotion exhibited
bv him was n nervous movement OF his
right hand with which nc tapped slowly
on the bar In front OF him.
DECLARES HIS INNOCENCE.
Al motion OF the Judges head. the
Sheriff commanded tho prisoner 10 stand
no. and when asked by the Clerk II he
had anything o. say why sentence should
not be pronounced on him. replied IN a
nervous. disiointed manner as follows;
Il swear before my Almighty God that
nm as innocent Of the deaths ~ these
two mon MS YOU are
As he concluded this protest the tears
velled 90 his ewes. and he started TO
resume his seat but suddenly remem-
herinR that ne had been commanded TO
stand uu. jumped with "a spasInodic mo-
ton 10 his feet.
THE JUDGES SENTENCE.
judge Wexford then. in solemn and
feeling manner. which manifested the de-
gree az sympathy that ne felt for the
prisoner. pronounced the sentence Of TN"
court in the following words:
Ie .a"s ....,,,.. '',i,t"r, ,,,,,osc ,,yon
r.o ms, ,sinf1 dutv OF nv life
. o., ,o,,.,, ne tho Spokesman of
So. - vi,,i,i, in uronounciug the
f.rf.uee of the Jaw.
"You hav" had as fair a trial as man
ever Tad YoI have been ably defended
by counsel who have expended their
every energy I'm your behalf Their heads
and hearts have been in the case from its
inception. The jury which tried your case
was an omincntly fair one. IL was com
rc.s1 of men of unusual Intelligence, who.
alto listening at'ItiNrN aHn Niih every
uriit,ut desire O. c.fc ..I benefit ot
every doubt. were trND1 go verdict
which WAS as usirlm tp them L. pro-
nouueG as 30 IS painful Cor me TO ap-
ls,vc.
"You and arc both fastening 20 stand
before the bar "i justice from WHlch
there IS uo app" ]. ana from Wnich our
fn7. Judgment i- received. Ia view OF al
This. erd also in VIE" "' n cat'Iu tK-
animation az aii evidence addu'cI IN lhl7
'I.'. j am forced 10 lhc conclusion ,l''
.,..I 60 49,, ! .t',,'IJ ada a,v ,,ord
,c,.,r, ,.,ict ,...,,l5 or.r,t. ~ cause .ot,
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go, g ,.,,,, cod and ..,cornI,. trust trlt
go, a., ~, on. LII, ~, ,,r,,,',rs for ,.o,r
,,.,,,at1a .,,,,,
ny,,. ar. an ~ ,,- eoorcr or lotcr 80
.,,rd -, ,,. sam. lar and pono of ms
.,,, b,,'o 80 eec,,. the awards of Justice
,or onr m,nv sins or shori-comin -
t,ro,gb ar,, NOR, Of our own But ono
nm flci.nt atouc,ncnt has been made
- an of me who win heartily and aarn-
~ ,,c.,,, :, and ,,rgontIv md uraver-
IN, co,,,,,,,d vo,, ia maj only source Of
80 A., "a. ,,r,,, hereafter
I'm or,, - rho ,I,ine, tbiof reached his
,ar, go, ,ho crose ,nJ ro,,,1 ,cc.ntanc,.
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,,.,,,ai ,,.,,h tLa sa,,o '..e,,I.
IN, nc DOO,,
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Morning more remains lVi ny ma" u