Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-02-09
,rnr MANASSAS OUTRAGE.-As stated

yesterday, Robinson and White, the COL
6red men charged with criminally as
san]ting Mrs. Hefiln and Mrs. Elliott at
Manassas, reached that place on the
0 y o'clock train i'll charge Of Sheriff
Ieachman and guarded by the AleXan-
dria Light Infantry. The prisoners
and guard occupied the rear coach,
which was cut loose from the train OF
lis arrival and side-tracked. The milf
tarv formed in line on the platform at
the station, after which the prisoners,
landculicd, We're brought out and con-
Quoted in front of the guard to the
county Jail, followed by IN immense
crowd, which had collected in town
from all parts Of the county.
The court convened at 10 O'Clock,
Judge William E. Lipscomb presiding.
Robinson was brought in, arraisned,
and pleaded not guilty. Common
wealth's Attorney Thornton opened the
case in clear, concise, and forcibe
presentation to the jury of the facts,
while Robinson SIT appai emily uncon-
cerned as to the outcome.
L. e. Thornton, esq, made the open
ing argument for the defence, the gist
of which was the admission of the guilt
OF his client, but presented eXtenuat-
ms circumstances TO mitigate his pun
jshment
The first witness was Mrs. Virginia
IIelIiu, who testified that ON the night
OF the 18th ultimo, two men came to
her house and demanded admttance,
which was refused That the men
stated they had been employed by a
Mr.. Conner, who lived ar-hy, to
chop wood, and as it was late
nj night. they did not want to
disturb him. and would be willing to
sit bv the stove until daylight if that
privilege was allowed them that she
again positively refused to allow them
TO enter the house, when an attempt
vas made to force the door that she
pleaded for their lives ard stated That
there was no money in the house that
the men said they did moi want mo8ey
or to harm them that upon this state
ment being made she turned the key
in the door and Ben White rushed in
upon her and exclaimed Your money
or your life c. d YOU
Noticing that he had q pistol in his
hand, she again pleaded with the negro
10 spare their lives and persons and
take anything else they choose; that
Robinson, who stood outside, demand
ed that the light be turned down, where
upon White ordered her to turn down
the lights. This through fear she part
ly did, but White grabbed the lamp
and turned it so low as to almost eX
tinguish the light.
Robinson then rushed into the room,
seized her, and accomplished the object
for which he came, while the same out
rage was being committed by White
upon her sister-in-l law, Mrs. Elliott.
When the two men left the house Rob
inson said TO White: Hurry up: You
know we must be in New York by to-
morrow
As soon as the footsteps of the men
had died away she and Mrs. Elliot,
with her two small children, all half
clad, and nearly frightened to death,
made their way with all the haste their
exhausted condition would allow TO the
house of their nearest neighbor, Mr..
Joseph Mayhugh, and told the story of
the outrage to his wife, They were
taken in and given shelter for the re-
mainder of the night. She continued
to stay at nights at Mr.. Mayhugh's
house until her father, who was absent
from home on business in Rappahan-
mock county, returned.
On cross-e1amination Mrs. Hetllin's
testimony in every essential particular
was mistaken, although all sorts of
embarrassing questions were asked by
counsel for the defense.
Mrs. T. NJ. Elliott was the next wit
ness. Her testimony was largely cor
roboratiye of that given by Mrs. Hef-
Hin.
Joseph Mayhugh testified to the
women coming to his house on the night,
and under the circumstances and con-
ditions stated. He described the local
ity of the scene of the crime, and knew
nothing against the character of either
of the women.
T. ii. Lion testified TO having assist
ed in the arrest of Robinson and White,
and to Robinson's great strength, to
show that the combined efforts of the
women would not avail against man
like Robinson. Mr. Lion further stat
ed that Robinson admitted to him that
no inducements had been held out to
him by either of the women to visit
them upon the night mentioned.
At the afternoon session of the court
several witnesses were introduced by
the defense to show that Mrs. Hehlin
had made associates of the Robinson
family.
The case, at 4:l5 p. M, was, upon
agreement q counsel, submitted to the
jury without further argument, and at
i:35 o'clock ;hey brought in a verdict
of guilty and placed the penalty AT
death. When the verdict was render
ed Robinson showed no apparent emo
tion whatever
While the jury was out in the Robin
son case Mr.. r. r. Campbell, attorney
for Ben. White, made motions for
change of venue and continuance. This
was denied and Whites case was set for
10 o'clock this morning.
Upon the reassembling of the court
to-day Mr.. Campbell, counsel for
White (the latter pleading not guilty.,
moved change fvenue, which being
refused counsel moved a postponement
of the trial until the March term. This
was also refused, as was also a motion
for a new venire; whereupon motion
was made that the trial be continued
until Monday, alleging indisposition on
the part of White. This was granted