Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-06
GUlLTOF THE WOMEN.
Practically No Doubt that They Relpe1
Murder Mrs. Pollard.
ELLEN GAIL MAKES A CONFESSION.
She Admits Having Accompanied Pokey
Nearly to the House.
THE HUSBANDS FIRM DENIAL.
Indignant mt the Suggestion Tint He
Killed His Wffe-fiis Account OF
the TragcSy-Mr. Thompson Can
Prove An Alibi-Othcr Features.

enacted in their midst n few weeks ago.
In which Mrs Lucy Jane Pollard, the
wife OF respectable farmer was bru-
tally murdered in the SHADOW Of her own
door. and much indignation is felt that
In the discussion Of the effort being made
TO secure new trial for the negro wo-
men convicted Of completely in the
murder there has been a disposition,
in some quarters at least. to harshly
criticlse the juries and the people gen.
orally for the verdicts rendered.
The citizens OF the county are thorough
iy convinced that the crime was
committed by Marable. assisted by Mary
Alternately and Pokey Barnes, and that
Mary Barnes, who was given ten years
In the penitentiary was implicated In
the plot, even IL she did not actually take
part In the killing. There seems 10 be
little doubt that this belief is the cor
rect one, but IT Is certain that the women
were not proved guilty In court. unless
the statement Of Marable confessed
liar as well as murderer. he accepted as
true. IL appears that there is ample
women are guilty. but much of this was
not introduced during the trials; indeed
many Of the most interesting phases OF
the case have developed since the con-
viction Of the four prisoners.
In order TO get at the bottom facts In
the case and 10 unravel the mytery, II
possible. a Dispatch reporter has just
r.
eating various circumstances, and talking
with those in position TO know most
about the murder Sufficient evidence was
gathered 10 make it manifest that Mara
BILE aad the women were not assisted in
their awful deed by white man. as has
been frequently alleged, as every scin-
tilla of evidence that can be gathered.
points to Solomon Marable. Mary Aber-
nathy. Pokey Barnes, and Mary Barnes,
as the murderers. II they are not the
guilty parties. then they are the victims
of circumstances which rarely surround
people who are innocent Of crime
with which they are charged
ELLEN CALLS CONFESSION.
One Of the most convincing statements
amounts practically to confession. is
that OF Ellen Gail. who was with Pokey
Barnes up TO the time the murder was
committed. When nut on the stand she
testified that she was asleep at Pokey's
house at the hour the murder was sup
posed 20 have been committed, and there
fore knew nothing Of Pokey's movements.
Col \ IL.
knight and Rosa Barnes, both of whom
were at Pokey's house, but notwith-
standing this. Ellen was not put back
on the stand, and her statement con-
corning her SAUNDERS was allowed to
remain. To the Dispatch man who saw
her and put her through a severe cross
examination. she told an entirely differ
ent tale, though at first she attempted
10 evade the truth. She now SAYS and
swears 10 IL, that she and Pokey left
the iatter's house about O'Clock to walk
10 Mr.. Thompson's after cherries, with
Betsy Ellis and Mary Craghead. When
they reached Mr.. Thompson's woods
about 800 yards north Of Mr.. Polard's
house. Ellen and Pokey turned back,
and entering Mr.. Pollard's land in rear
OF the house, went to the lane at the old
gate about $50 yards from the house
convinced that Pokey was going for no
good, and turned back. Pokey, how
ever, continued up the lane TO the house,
and told Ellen 10 walk on, that she would
overtake her. Ellen did walk on going
back UP the hill almost 10 Mr. FOre's
fence, where she sat down and waited
She was not then In a position to see
what went on at the house, but said
while walking up the hill she turned and
saw Pokey going up the lane and rap
Idly approaching the house She said
further that she sat on the hillside near
the fence certainly for half an hour
and probably longer and that Pokey
then came, out of breath and very hot.
with the sleeve OF her dress torn TO the
elbow. and rejoined her Ellen asked her
what she had stayed so long, for, and
what she was doing up there Pokey
replied that she did stay longer than she
intended but she want doing nothing;
just walking about" The two then went
to Pokey's house. and afterwards walked
around where Mary Barnes was working
at the middle gate and talked with her
until the alarm was sounded, when they
went back to Pokey's house and Ellen
took her flight Ellen disclaims any
knowledge Of the murder, or Pokey's in
tention 10 commit such a deed, and is
probably telling the truth. but she SAYS
II
house, she suspected she was going there
TO steal, and she didn't propose TO be
mixed UP In any such dongs The eve
ming OF the murder two left-foot tracks
were discovered by Mr.. IL. c. Gregory
at the old gate, and when Pokey and
Ellen. were taken TO the place, their fee,
fitted the tracks. This evidence, stron,.
In Itself. was introduced In court, but
was ruled out. Ellens statement to the
however oh he
and the correctness Of this evidence.
SOME FACTS SUBSTANrIATIVE
Pokey Barnes and Ellen Gail. with the
craghead and Ellis women, were seen TO
pass through Mr. F0re's land going 10
Mr.. Thompson's. by Mr. Fore and several
hands working there. Mr. Fore saw
Betsy Ellis and Mary Craghoad return
with cherries, but did not see Ellen and
Pokey come back. Ben Knight. one O.
Fore's hands and Pokey's paramour, saw
Pokey and Ellen when they got back near
Pokey's house. He and the other hands
are willing 10 swear that they replented
four or i've rows Of corn. 200 yards long
(Which took them not less than two 10 two
and half hours). between the time Ellen
and Pokey passed going to Mr.. Thomp-
sons and the time they reappeared at Po-
keys house. This, In measure. bears out
Ellen Calls statement that Pokey went
20 the Pollard house. and remained longer
than half an hour
1t was proven In court that Pokey
Barnes had threatened Mrs. Pollard's life
more than year ago. and when told
by the deceased lady 10 stay on her pro-
perry, had told her. d you; you
have got no property. and II you come
in the road I'll shoot you." These facts
proved that Pokey was not on good terms
with Mrs. Pollard. and that she was al
the house when that lady was murdered.
AS TO MARY'S GUILT.
Now. as to Mary Alternately. who was