The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-30
DECKER APPEALS TO THE COURT.
Wrote n Letter to Judge Bernard Asking
For New Trial. But Was Refused.


PETERSBURG. VA, Sept. Especial.
Charles V. Decker convicted in the
Hastings Court Of this city Of bigamy,
and his punishment fixed at eight years
I'm the State penitenuary. was brought
from the Jail into the courtroom this
morning when he was sentenced by
Judge Bernard. When asked by the
Court if he had anything to say why
sentence should not be passed upon him,
the prisoner drew from his pocket docu-
ment which was handed TO Judge Bernard.
The following is a verbatim copy Of Il:
Your Honor Judge Bernard. Dear
Judge AS l write these few lines to you,
It gives me great pain and my heart is
filled with sorrow. l plead 10 you 10
please give me a new trial, and / will
prove to you, your honor, that the wit
nesses that was against me told untruth-
ful words against me, and this l can
prove by witnesses. l had witnesses sum
moned here and they did not appear.
and / wanted my lawyers 10 put the case
off and they said it was all right, so
you see how, your honor, it has turned
out. So plead TO you 20 please grant ne
a new trial. / know yon do not want to
send a man TO the penitentiary who is not
guilty Of the crime that is against me. Your
honor you do no know my feelings but
God knows / am not guilty, and / am
trusting TO Him, as my dear Saviour to
bring this charge to the light OF the
world. SO l ask you, your honor, 10
grant me this one wish, and 1 am in
hopes you win do so, as I prayed to my
God and Master that you. your honor.
would do this day. But If your honor will
not grant me new trial, ] ask you, in
the name Of my God, TO let me fix the
day to leave here for the penitentiary.
and to be kept privately from the public
at large. and ! will go to the penitent-
larry willingly and peacefully, as Daniel
went TO the lions den. AS God, and
whom / believe in is a Just God, and will |
right the wrong that is done against |
man that Is not guilty and that is be- |
lever In His works and I'm His holy name |
God bless you, your honor. that you will |
not let n man that is not guilty 20 to a |
disgrace on earth, but ] thank God II |
will not be a disgrace before my God I'm |
Heaven. l am yours obedient,
CHARLES v DECKER.
Sept 2Sth, 1898.
To the document is added the following
postscript:
Your Honor. is II not in your power TO
let me see my child or TO have II brought
to the jail, so / can see it? have longed
TO see 1t and II would give me great bles-
olhS " bee ITO ucdr lace once more. |
Can't you, your Honor, see that II is
brought, so l can bless It and kiss It. for
1t is hard not to see your child. when it
Is so close to me as mine is. I await
your request your Honor in regards 10
this Yours obediently.
c. V. DECKER.
Judge Bernard told Decker ne could not
grant him a new trial: that the CITY
Sergeant would take him to the peniten-
tiary after the adjournment of the court.
and that as little publicity would be
given to his departure as possible
Major j. A. Johnston and family. who
reside on Jefferson street, are absent from
the city. At an early hour this morning |
while police officer was patrolllng his
beat in the neighborhood, he found the
front door Of the residence opened. The
officer, accompanied by another gentle
man. went into the house but saw no one
there. The silver ware was scattered
about. but whether or not anything was
stolen is not known.
A party Of ladies and gentlemen left
hero this morning for the Worlds Fair
IT consisted Of Mr.. Robert T. Meade and
wite. Mr.. James C. Robertson. Mrs. !
7. Hobson, Miss Matte Arnold Miss
stella Gordon, Misses Lucy and Matte
W atson. Mr.. r. l.. Watson, Jr. Mr. Har-
~ Witherspoon, Mrs. w. ]. Jarratt and |.
Miss Annie Dunlop