Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-06
Six Murders In Eight Tears and Not q
Criminal Hanged.
GOODMAN And NcEAMEE CASES.
Il Capital Punishment q Dead Letter -
Return OF the facuitv-EHects of the
Cold snap-Two Devoted Mothers.



His trial was a long and interesting one,
and some Of the best talent in the South
west was employed. The plea was In
sanity. and the jury sustained 1t.
A few years later two young men
named Cooper shot in cold blood an Old
man named costlgan. The jury gave
them sixteen and eighteen years in the
penitentiary.
Then Jewell killed Helms. and The
murderer was given q term in the state
prison. Shortly afterwards Richards
killed Atkinson. He was acquitted. very
much to the surprise of all. Last sum-
mer Collision shot and killed without pro-
vocation or motive an inoffensive negro.
Insanity was pleaded IN his case. and the
jury rendered verdict sustaining II.
And. az Just said. Keister shot and kiilel
Luster in September; this was case OF
self-defenoe; but It was the only case IN
which such defence was even pleaded.
Now. this Is u terrible history for a
county Of law-abidlng citizens. Within
eight years we have had SIX murders
and yet the death penalty has been
meted to no one OF the murierers.
A DEAD LETTER.
This must evidence some peculiar state
OF things, and / believe the reason Is
that our people have a secret, though,
for that reason not less powerful. senti-
ment against capital punishment. l think
that the verdicts in the Goodman-Parsons
case and in the McNamee case, recently
tried in Richmond, are TO be explained
in the same way. In fact. capital punish
ment IN the State ct large Is almost Il
dead letter. II Is useless TO say that
money buys off the criminal, for In all
the cases cited above, save one, the crlml-
nails were men OF no means and small In
fuence. Now that there is much talk oil
a constitutional convention, would 1t not
lie well II such n convention Is held TO get
from the people an expression on the
question Of capital punishment?
on Wednesday afternoon another snow
OF about three inches fell. As the first
one had not melted at all, this gives us
about eight inches of snow. The Ice sea-
son, too, has been superb. The college
has filed It's large houses. which together
hold about 40 two-horse wagon-loads,
with magnificent ice. varying in thick
ness from three TO five inches. Almost
all the citizens in town have also filled
their houses, and we all feel relieved.
A WINTER CARNIVAL.
To the young people. both snow and ice
have been source Of great pleasure. The
merry jingle of seigh-bells may be heard
day and night, the hill-sides are alive
with Jolly. red cheeked coastlng-parties,
while the ice-ponds are filled with skaters.
To-day the college reopens otter the
holidays. The students have already come
in in part, and all are as happy as youth
and life can make them.
Dr. l.. u. Niles left on Wednesday
morning to attend the sessions OF the
State Veterinary Association. which met
in Charlottesville on Thursday. lie was
10 read a paper on "Tuberculosls," which
doubtless proved Of great interest to the
association, since 1t is subject with
which the writer Is familiar, having
given much time tn its study, as well as
having conducted numerous interesting
experiments at the station.
Mr.. John VI. McBryde returned the same
day to Baltimore, while the Misses J'o!-
ton, who have been guests OF DR.. Vlc-
Bryde. left for Charlottesville.
on Tuesloy Professor Randolph and
wife returned from Maryland and took
up their abode In the new house which
ne has built Tor himself on the campus.
They were accompanied by his mother,
who was cordially welcomed by the
many friends whom she made during a
former visit. Indeed. the whole faculty
is present now. having returned from
their various homes, or friends homes,
where they spent the holidays.
COOLEST WEATHER.
The recent cold snap was pronounced
by all to have been the coolest weather
known In Black sburg in years. Chickens
were frozen On the roost, water-pipes
were burst. and much other serious
damage done. 1t must have played sad
havoc, too, with the game; particularly
with partridges, many of which must
have been frozen and starved. Large
numbers of rabbits were caught or shot
and brought to market. Recently in
Roanoke river. but a few miles from
town, two beavers were killed. Turkeys
continue TO be marketed in great guam
titles several hundred pounds were
shipped by a single firm on Wednes lay
last.
The family OF the late John w. Luster
will move to Floyd on the LIST Of April,
where Mrs. Luster owns quite a fine
farm. Mr.. John l.. Eakln VIII then take
charge Of the old Luster Hotel property
improve it, and open a flrst-class hotel
a thing. by the way, sorely needed here.
FLOURISHING CONDITION.
The statement of the Bank Of Chris
tlansburg, rendered January 1st, shows
that institution to be In most flourish
Ing condition, and one Of the soundest
and best administered banks in the State.
The college deposit is kept there
The many friends Of Mrs. George
Walker who has been III for several
months viii he Glal to learn that she is
much improves In health.
Rev. }. NJ. Holiday, pastor OF the
Blacksburg Presbyterian church, preached
on the hfth Sunday. by special invita-
ton, to his Old charge. at Rocky Mount.
Strange 10 say. there are now in town
several unOccupie1 dwellings. Up 10 this
time it has been almost impossible 10
secure quarters here but so many houses
have recently been built as to somewhat
relieve the overcrowdel conditions of
the village.
Miss Van Hombrlch, Of Canada, Is a
guest Of Mrs. w IL. Bennett, much to
the delight Of our students. She spent
some time here year or two ago. and
was much admired, and It is with sincere
pleasure that her friends welcome her
back.
IiLlll GItEAI DEN OllON.
Since writing the above about the
Cooper boys / have learned that to-day
the two mothers OF the young men ar
rived at oar station from Richmond. ac-
companied by the boys. On last Sunday
these two old ladies', after a fifteen-mle
drive in the bitter cold and snow, took
the early train here for Richmond to In
tcrcede with tha Executive for the pardon
Of their sons. Without experience OF the
ways Of the world. with no knowledge
Of Richmond, without one acquaintance
there. prompted only by that mothers
love that is stronger than any bonds and
which hesitates at no obstacle, they set
out on what was 10 them a long and
unknown journey. In less than one week
they returned, happy In the possession of
their sons, the Governor having in re-
sponse to their intercession. and for good
and sufficient reasons, pardoned them.
Whatever may have been. or may be In
the future, the sins OF the sons. one can
not but be touched By the unselfish devo-
ton and loving seif-sacrifice OF these two
noble and simple mothers. The boys have
been In the State prison for nearly five
years, and the EXPENSES Of the trip doubt
less represent their s1Sings entire during
this period.