The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-02-09
WAS PROMPTLY CONVICTED,
Jim Robinson and Ben White Escorted to
Manassas By The Military.
TEE FIRST NAMED WAS FOUED GUILTY.
VIII Suffer Death for His Infamous Crime.
White to be Tried Friday-Iroops fre-
vented Their Being Lynched.


court of Prince William county at this
place this morning of Two negro men
being tried for their lives under the nr-
tual protection of an armed company OF
the State militia. More than that, the
prisoners were brought here from Alex
andria on the morning train under the
same military protection.
The spectacle was one not at all pleas
ing 10 the citizens of the county, judging
from expressions heard here last night
and to-day, yet expressions were not IN
frequently heard, which confirmed the
wisdom OF Governor O'Ferrall in directing
the Alexandria Light Infantry TO escort
the prisoners from the Alexandria jail,
where they were taken for safe keeping
to this place for trial this morning
Might Have Been Lynched.
The prisoners were Ben. White and Jim
Robinson. who assaulted Mrs. Hehn and
Mrs. Elliott on the night Of January 18TH.
IL was believed here yesterday that the
prisoners would be brought here last even
ing, and when the train reached here at
$40 O'Clock a great crowd Of determined
looking men surrounded it, Their pur-
pose was plainly evident, but the men
were not on the train. and the disappoint-
ment Of the crowd was very marked. IL
soon became known that the prisoners
would not be brought up until this morn
ing. and that they would be brought up
under a strong military escort. sherih
Leachman having requested such an
escort Of the Governor because OF MS
belief that the men would be lynched un-
less they were so protected.
The two negroes were guarded by COM
panv +. Of Alexandria. under command or
al 4
Immediately upon the arrival or the
| train. the prisoners were conveyed 10 the
| iail to await the assembling Of court.
TIE court convened at II o'clock, Judge
| William Il. Lipscomb presiding
Robins ms Irini.
II was determined to try Jim Robin
son first The court assigned Messrs. "A.
| W Sinclair and X. T.. Thornton as MS
| counsel The prisoner was brought INTO
court. Counsel for the defendant de-
murred 70 the indictment. Demurrer was
overruled. The counsel for the prisoners
then moved to quash the venire facins
This motion was also denied. and Jim
Robinson was arraigned for the dastardly
outrage he committed or a defenseiehs
woman. Mrs Hehn. the lady upon
| whom the wretch committed the out
| rage. was the first witness called for the
nrosecufjon. She gave a clear and con-
| else statement of how the prisoner III
company with Ben White, came TO hef
house at midnight. in the absence OF her
! father and brother. and Claimed 10 De
| friends. and begged TO be shown the way
| to Mr. connor's where they SAID they
| wore going TO work the next day. In
| This wav they managed TO get the ladies'
| to omen the door As soon as the door
was unlocked. both the hends rushed m
with pistols I'm hand and demanded
! money. on being told by the women INA,
they had no money the wretehes sel1eu
| and assaulted them. The next Witness
was Mrs. Elliott. who corroborated the
statement given By Mrs. HELM Inc
| .hird witness was Joseph Mayhush. re
testified that he was the nearest neish-
bor of the ladies'. and that they came 20
bis house between ! and o'clock In the
nioht in a half-clad and terribly excited
condition and told the piteous t9ie %
how they had been dealt with. Not
,,,,d u,a~ sp0ken against the character
" ot,bor or tba ladies. All the witnesses
for the prosecution were put through u
,,ost rigid cross examination. bur IN,
clsar statement Of facts as first detailed
h,, Mrs Hefiin and Mrs. Elliott, was m
imDeached. , =, .h.f,
The mothers OF the prisoners, in theu
ain an1eavor TO 10 something for then
cons testified that they knew nothing
Whatever relevant 20 the case
Found Guilty.
y Jenries. the able Commonwealth
,t,o,-,e,, Of Fauauier county. assisted
y. Thornton. Commonwealth's attor
,ev NJ this county. Messrs. Sinclair an.
Thornton defended the prisoners WIZ
,hilItv. and submitted the case witnou
argument. -. ,.,,.,. ,,,.o,,oh
nd
alty at death.
The Jury was polled.
white viii be arraigned tomorrow. an'
will be defended by II. r. CampDeH' o
Narrenton. Both prisoners are uhue
heavy guard tonight. o,
soon after the arrest OF the TWO iheu
| White confessed TO having partcipa''u
in the crime. explaining that he had Deen
led into It by Robinson. Rooinsoh' Vi
the other hand. stoutiy denied every
thing. claiming that il was a case OF li.l'
taken identity The men We're coIlii'ii' 'e1
10 ian here for the action Of the grand
iurv the day Of their arrest. There theS
remained until last Saturday night, Whei
,bev we're taken 10 Alexandria for saf'
lreening the county officials fearing tina
they would be lynchsd
The Alexandria Military.
ALEXANDRIA. VA. Feb. Especial
The Alexandria Light Infantry was assem-
bled at the armory last night and pu
under arms. 10 move at moment no
tice. the order being from the Governo
through General Anderson, and mean
that the company would guard and pre-
tect here or elsewhere, Robinson an
White the Prince William negroes VII
usrs tailed here Saturday night for safe
keeping and were TO he tried beiof
Iudre I,ipscomb at Manassas to-da,
After sleeping on their arms and keepin
| within the armory twelve hours. Capital
| Nfusbhsch with seventy men, marched [
. | tho iaiI for the sheriff and prisoners an
| thence TO the depot. where a great crow
saw them on for Manassas Junction, a
. | ,,ror an occasion Of some thirty year
hsck The prisoners were in shackles an
, | chained To Sheriff Leachman. and "er
( nlaced where a rattling tight would ensu
~ the reported body Of county cavalry
| men ATTEMPTED 10 intercept me traii
| There was no trouble. however.
! They we're received al Manassas Wit
moro cheers and smiles than jeers Th
urisonors were jailed and guarded ny IN
infantry with fixed hayonets.
About five thousand people az Manas
sas. quiet tonight. and mean weaIne
for amateur soldering. even win 'e'
,nderson's new great coats
uyc FIGHT OYER SMALL JOb.