Evening star., 1894-02-08
DEATH THEIR FATE
Virginians Enraged Against White
and Robinson.
ONLY ONE VERDICT. ACCEPTABLE

Any Other Will Be Disregarded by
lynchers.
COURT GUARDED BY MILITIA
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
MANASSAS. Va, Feb. S.-The unusual
spectacle was presented, in the county
court Of Prince William county at this
place this morning of two miserable wretch
es being tried for their lives under the
virtual 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 pleasing
to the citizens Of the county, judging from
expressions heard mere last night and to-
day, yet expressions were not infrequently
heard which confirmed the wisdom Of Gov.
OFerrall in directing the Alexandria Light
Infantry to escort the prisoners from the
Alexandria Jail, where they were taken
for safe keeping, ~ this place for trial this
| morning.
| 1t was believed here yesterday that the
prisoners two young colored men. Jig Rob-
iLson and Ben White. would be brought
here last evening. and when the train
| reached here at $40 o'clock a great crowd
Of notwithstanding men surrounded 1t.
Their purpose was plainly evident, but the
| en- were not on the train. and the disap-
pointment of the crowd was very marked.
1t 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. Sheriff
Leachman having requested such an escort
of the governor because Of his belief that
| the men would be lynched unless they were
so protected.
All night long the action Of the sheriff
was discussed about town, and it was sub
sequently generally determined that SO far
as the people of the immediate vicinity were
concerned no attempt at violence would be
attempted should the verdict Of the jury in
f1ict the death penalty. But 1t was init
mated that the guilt of the prisoners was
SO plainly evident that any other verdict
would be followed by violence. and no doubt
was left as to an intention to see that the
prisoners were hung. either at public ex-
pense or otherwise.
Arrival of the Prisoners.
|
| many strangers came into town from the
surrounding country and when the train
| from Alexandria reached here at 9:25 a
greater crowd of men than that Of last
evening gathered about the cars. The
train was a long one. and in the last car
| were sixty-iye men of the Alexandria Light
Infantry, under command of Capt. George
| A. Mushbach, and sheriff ]. p. Leachman
of this county with the two prisoners Sc
curely handcuffed together The crowd
about the car numbered two or three hun
dred. but not the slightest attempt at vio-
| lence was made the throng pleasantly
guying the soldiers.
The latter took it all with good grace
| but they could afford to do so, for Capt
Mushbach grimly informed The Star rep
| resentativs that each man carried a rife
loaded with ball and in their cartridge
boxes were twenty rounds of ammunition
| Capt. Mushbach also explained that he had
| received instructions from the governor to
| fully protect the prisoners and the COVER
nors instructions would be obeyed at all
| hazards.
The car carrying the militia was cut
| loose from the train, and then the soldiers
with bayonets fixed filed out and formed
| company front. moment later the two
| prisoners, trembling with fear, were led
| out by Sheriff Leachman. They were re-
| ceived by the crowd in perfect silence, the
throng merely pressing forward out of Gu
| riosity.
The line Of march for the jail was at
1 once formed, and, followed by an ever-in-
creasing crowd of men and boys, the men
were hurried to the Jail adjoining the court
| house at about a quarter of a mile distant
The march to the jail was without incident
| and the men were seen locked UP within it.
Then the crowd adjourned to the court
house to witness the trial of the men.
Beginning the Trial.
The trial was begun at once before Judge
VIM. E. Lipscomb, Jim Robinson first be-
ing tried. The trembling wretch sat be-
| side his counsel assigned by the court
Messrs. R. E. Thornton and A. w. Sinclair
while sixteen men Of the Alexandria Light
Infantry, with loaded guns, stood betw cen
| him and great crowd of angry and de-
termined men. which filled the court room
back of the rail facing the Judge A jury
was quickly obtained and Commemorative
Attorney ]. B. Thornton in making the
| opening address to the jury stated that the
men were charged with criminally assault
| ing two white women, the Widow Heffiln
| and Mrs. Elliott at their home, about two
| miles south of Manassas. on the night of
| the 18th Of last month. The women had
| come to this county from Fauquier q few
weeks previous to being assaulted, Mrs.
| Elliott being very attractive young
woman of about twenty, Mrs. Hefflia being
| about forty-fve years of age.
The assailants of the women are each
about twenty years Of age and were born
in this vicinity. Ben White was often
| taken for a white man, so light-colored is
| he. He had been a faithful waiter at the
| CanEon Hotel here and bore a good repu-
| tation, having a wife and child. Jim b.
| Robinson lived with his mother here, is
unmarried and bears anything but a good
| reputation.
| Story of the Crime.
About midnight Of the 18th Of last month
the two men called at the house of the as
saulted women, the male members of the
family being absent. and knocked for ad-
mission.
The women inquired who they were and
what was wanted.
| Robinson replied that they wished to en-
ter. and said to the frightened women that
he would break the door in unless they
opened it. The women at length opened
the door. and White entered first lie told
the women to put out the lamp they had
| lighted. The women had never seen White
| before. and supposed he was bent on rob
berry. They told him they had nothing.
| when Robinson came In, and, with an oath
he said to the women: You know what we
| want"
The young devils left after accomplishing
their purpose, and as soon as they had
gone the terrified women ran half-clad to
/ 1A ~ 1Now