Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1894-02-17

Not Guilty"
beaten, Hanged ana OhOC, a
Jury of His COuntrymen
A { q UITTED HI N
4 Hard Fight.
A { Q UITTED HIM
4 Hard Fight.
FINAL TRIUMPH-ABLY DEFENDED

The case OF Isaac Jenkins, colored.
charged with poisoning the horses of
Johu Cartwright, was called in the Coun
ty Court of Nansemond Co. in session nj
Suffolk, Va, Judge w. j. Kilby presid-
ing.
The defence was conducted by ex Judge
r. ii. Rawles, Merritt Briggs, ESQ and
w. III. Arlington, Esq.
The witnesses were examined after
which the case was submitted without
argument.
and jenkins received congratulations
Of his friends.
This case is one OF unusual interest.
Isaac Jenkins was arrested in July, 1893
upon a charge of selling whiskey uulaw-
fully. He was taken from the officers by
a mob aud beaten, hanged and shot.
Thinking him dead. his would-be mur
derers retired, whereupon he made his
| way to Norfolk, distance of thirteen
miles.
He had nine wounds in his head and
two bullet holes in his neck.
The lynchers, not satisfied at not hav-
ing killed him, proceeded to persecute
him with On ingenuity that was devilish
in it's conception.
He was indicted for setting FIRE to Jno.
Csrtwright's house and again for poison
| ing his horses and lastly for selling whis
| key uDlawfully. He was acquitted upon
the first and second charges, and il is
| highly probable that p nolle prosequi
| will bn entered in the last case and Jenk.
| ina will be a free mat.
lie has wife and three litt,o children
| who are helpless.
The editor of the PLANET interested
himself in this Gaze and raised funds to
1 =. -. Col l..4
explain itself
SUFFOLK, Va, Dec. 4, 1898
Dear Sir:-
Your letter received containing
check for ten dollsrs-making in all oul
whole fee of one hundred dollars in th
Jenkins case. l desire to return my
thanks to you for the interest you hav
shown in this matter, and for your kind
ness and courtesy in our behalf. But 70
your zeal the poor EIan today might b
awaiting the sentence of death. W
have so far endeavored to do our Who'll
duty, and shall continue to do so unit
the end.
Hoping that justice may at last tr
umph l remain
Very Respectfully,
X. Ii. RAwLEs.
SUFFOLK, Va, Feb. 10, 1884,
Mr.. JOHN MITCHELL, Jr.,
Richmor d, Va,
Dear Sir
The trial of Jenkins came O
yesterday and after hard fight prime
pally on the admission OF medical test
mony, the case was submitted to th
jury without argument. They prompt
brought in a verdict of acquitt tai
about fifteen minutes. The chief witnes
es for the prosecution were John Car
wright, DIR. j. Z. Baldwin, q veterinar
surgeon of Portsmouth. and old Isas
Sellers, the conjure doctor detective. Or
witnesses were DIR. w. T. Jordan an
DIR. John Il. Philips. The common
wealth's attorney entered a nOlle pros
d. qui in the other case alleged poisoning
' tie was then tried for selling liquor wit
out license. and here we had no defenC
as the evidence was very positive againE
y him. The jury fined him $500. We asl
ed the Judge to let him go free as he hs
been punished sufficiently. he took Il
# matter under consideration and l thin
!. he will grant the request. 1t gives n
q pleasure to say that the Judge and Il
{ jury were both very fair. We tried
I. do orr whole duty in this case, and fe
gratified at it's favorable end. You W
please accept our thanks for the ooh
e aCJ'ol 700 az crfe mater.
II / you ever have any business Of
r way 10 the future we shall be very glS
to serve you again. The verdict of o
Z quittal meets with general approval
this community.
/; Very truly yours,
= RAwLEs & BMGGs