Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-12
Recess in the Manassas Trial Until
Afternoon.
COUNSEL MAKING A STUBBORN FIGHT
People lrritated at the Obstacles to
Justice.
WHAT THE PRISONERS SAY

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
MANASSAS. Va. Feb. 12.-Again escorted
by the Alexandria Light Infantry, seventy
one strong. Jim Robinson and Ben White,
the two young negroes charged with crimi-
nally assaulting Mrs. Hef1in and her sister,
tn-law, Mrs. Elliot, near here on the night
OF the 18th Of last month were brought
here from the Alexandria Jail on the train
arriving at 9-25 this morning.
While . great throng witnessed the de-
parture Of the prisoners from Alexandria,
very few persons congregated at the sta
dons on the way. large number, how
ever, met the men on their arrival here.
but looked on quietly as they were hurried
on to the town Jail
When Judge Lipscomb directed the sheriff
TO declare the court opened the court room
was again packed by a surging mass Of
men and boys, white and black. between
whom and the prisoners stood a score Of
soldiers with bayonets fxed and cartridge
boxes filed
Commemorative Attorney Thornton, in
answer TO the courts inquiry, stated that
commonwealth against White, charged
with raping Mrs. Elliot, but before the
case was proceeded with Mr.. r. Campbell,
counsel for White, explained that he had
since the conviction on last Thursday OF
Jim Robinson OF assaulting Mrs. Heffiin
been also engaged counsel for Robinson
He then entered a motion for a new trial
In the case of Robinson, basing the mo-
tton upon two grounds. first, that the
court erred in compelling the defendant to
go to trial three days after Indictment, the
Indictment being returned while the pris-
oner was imprisoned in another county
(Alexandrta) for safe keeping, and, second
that the court erred in not granting a
change of venue.
Judge Lipscomb promptly overruled the
motion and MIR. Campbell noted an excep-
tiore explaining that he would petition the
Court Of Appeals for stay of judgment,
in order to carry Robinsons case to that
court Mr.. Campbell then presented Mr..
John Green Of Alexandria to the court, ex-
planning that he would be associated with
him in the defense of White.
Motions for further continuance of the
case followed on the part of Whites coun-
sci. enc of the grounds for a continuance
being that Mr.. Henry Green, citizen of
Alexandria, was a most material witness
for the defense, without whom the defend
ant could not well go to trial
Judge Lipscomb, however, cut the matter
short by remarking that he would have the
witness on hand during the day.
Then, defeated in their efforts to obtain a
continuance until the next term of the
court counsel made personal plea for a
recess until 2 O'Clock, assuring the court
that they would then surely be ready to 20
ahead with the trial
With that distinct understanding the court
declared recess until that hour.
What the Prisoners Say.
cess the prisoners were taken back to the
little brick Jail across the road from the
court house, and there. through the cour-
tesy Of Sheriff Leachman, The Stars rep
resentative had talk with the prisoners.
The jail is brick building about forty feet
square, the front being two stories high and
occupied as a residence by Jailer Payne
and his family. The rear part of the Jail
IS one large room, in the center of which
is ou1lt two steel cages or cells, open on all
sides and at the top, with hammocks swung
up instead of beds. One of the cages was
occupied by the colored boy awaiting trans
portaton to the Richmond penitentiary, to
serve a three years sentence for forgery,
ana %. IN tne other were Robinson and White.
Ihey were sitting beside each other on
one or the hammocks. heads bowed and each
mechanically tearing bits from an old news
paper For some time each replied in mono
syHaoles TO questions asked them by The
stars representative. but they afterward
became more communicative Both of the
wretched prisoners stated that 1t was pretty
hard to be punished for what they did
But didn't you assault the women 7'
asked the reporter
NO, strive didn't do nothing of the kind :"
there for" said White, "and we didn't harm
'em tall The women was willin'" he as
serted, so / doesn't see as how they can
hurt US for just doin' that"
Both prisoners insisted that they had gone
70 the house of the women with their
knowledge and consent, and, while thew
freely admitted the object of their visit both
declared that no violence was attempted or
done by either of them. White stated that
he expected to be convicted, and believed
that he would receive the same sentence as
that decreed in Robinson's case and anx-
fously inquired how long time they gave a
man before hanging him.
Both men said they had worked in Wash
tngton. White for four years and Robinson
dor i've or six months. White said he had
never been arrested before this trouble hut
Robinson stated that he had often been ar
rested, mostly for fighting.
Robinson inquired of Jailer Payne IL II
was true that he was building the scaffold
for him. explaining that some one had told
him so this morning
mo, we haven't begun Il yet" replied the
TALLER: but / can tell you one thing. bows
that II they hadn't taken you away from
here when they did. you wouldn't have been
here now"
This remark of the taller cast a still deem
er gloom over his charges, from which no
further question could arouse them, and
they were then left to themselves
Dissatisfied With the Delay
The slight delay which Whites counsel
secured this morning, together with the fl
ing OF motion for a new trial in Robin
sons case caused the crowd In attendance
at the trial no little uneasiness. Not that
any one here doubts that both of the pris-
oners will be punished eventually, but every
delay, however slight, serves only to in
tensify the feeling entertained here and in
the surrounding country against the prison.
ers, and the opinion was openly voiced dur
Ing the recess of the court that their coun-
sci. by delaying the trial, would secure the
lynching OF their clients. military or no
military
1t Is undoubtedly the desire Of the people
OF the county that the prisoners shall re-
CelVe a full. fair hearing, but. feeling that
there cannot be the slightest doubt of their
guilt the people claim that the hearing
snouid be had without delay. Therefore
tney become all the more angered and set
against the miserable wretches. every
time the hearing is delayed.
linen, too. the fact that the conviction
OF the men will be contested in the appel
ate tribunal OF the state. judging from the
ecuon or their counsel today, has also
aroused great Indignation among the peo-
pis, especially among those who live out
side OF town, for II is a remarkable fact
Shdl tnose most bent on avoiding the laws
oeldSs oy summary proceedings are those
VINO reside outside Of this immediate yicin-
ny. Ihere is. however, little fear of trouble
as iohs as the militia guard the prisoners
- no one needs TO be told that but for
ther presence the prisoners would soon be
Swinging from the nearest tree or pole
me tr1al of White can hardly be conclud-
81 OeIore tomorrow. unless the court sits
Idte tohlght and the soldiers will remain
Until IL Is over. In the very Drobable