The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24
MANN REPLIES TO O'FERRALL
Misunderstood Each Other, Or the Cover
nor Did Not Understand Him.
RESPECT FOR The ATTORNEY.G GENERAL
Never Intended to DO Anything to Cues
tlon Judge Orgain's Right to the
Custody of the Prisoners-No
Order Should be Entered In
Absence of Prisoners.

Governor OFerralrs statement in yes
tordsyfs Times. concerning his motive
and reasons for his action in regard 10 the
Lunenburg prisoners, was the principal
topic Of conversation IN the city yes
terday.
IL was confidently expected that Judge
Mann, OF NottoWay, VINO was specially
employed TO assist the Attorney General
IN the case on behalf OF the county OF
LunenDuEs, would reply to Governor
OFerran. and TINS reply was awaited
with much interest. Inc following COM
munication was received from Juoge
Mann last night.
Nottoway &. H., November 3, 1885.
TO the Editor Of The Times:
Slr-I have seen the statement OF. the
Governor IN reference to the Lunenburg
cases, published in your issue OF TINS
/ date, ana it seems mat we nave mis-
/ understood tacn other. or, at least, that
the Governor has misunderstood me.
My dispatch oil the yth instant, which
was as foIIOws-"From report IN papers,
judge you may be waiting Tor some COM
municatlOn from me. 4 can't commu-
nicate with Judge Orgain before Monday
/ but IN view oil the opinion OF the At
t0rney-General, i suggest that a special
messenger be sent 10 him, asking HIM 10
! instruct sherin not to Lring prisoners.
/ We DO not want the prisoners unless
| their presence is necessary. 1 haven't
seen the opinion Cf the Accomplishment
and can't decide as 10 what / ought 10
| advise until / do. / can only say, DO
/ not consider myself at liberty 10 oppose
| any action he may talIe'--was Intended 10
| convey the idea that no one could re-
/ woke or suspend the order or Judge Or
gain but the Judge himself, and l there
/ fore suggested that a special messenger
be sent 10 him by the Governor. asking
| him 10 take that action. The Governor
/ did write a letter TO Judge organ, and
sent il BY special messenger reaching
/ him on Sunday, the 10th Instant and
i the Judge at once replied, declining TO
revoke his order. Both of these letters
have. I think, been published, and Will
speak for themselves. ] was at home
on Sunday. the 10th twenty-five miles
from Lunenbug Courthouse. and did not
90 there until the following day. and did
not knw what action Judge organ had
taken until he informed me himself.
This is written very hastily, as ! am
very much occupied I'm getting. ready for
| the argument Of these cases before the
| Court OF Appeals on Tuesday next but
/ may hereafter ask YOU 10 permit me TO
! make a full statement Of my side OF the
| case n that shall be deemed necessary.
| ] certainly never intended TO do anything
which could i'm any way question Judge
! Orgain's right 10 the custody and com
plete control OF his own prisoners but
at the same time intended to be as con-
servative I'm my action in these cases as
il was possible 20 be. and neither l nor
/ my associate Nlr. SOuthall. nor Judge
| organ desired TO do anything that was
not necessary in the interest of justice.
| We did not waisi the prisoners 10 be
| present, either at the expense OF the
| county or State. unless their presence
| was deemed essential 10 the entry OF the
/ nunc pro tune orders. and after the Gov
ernor's telegram. informing me of the
Attorney Generals opinion. my great re-
spect for that gentleman, personally and
officially caused me to doubt my own
/ position and TO make another eNamina-
| ton OF the legal questions and the next
day ! consulted with my associate MIR.
| Southall. who agreed with me that there
would be great risk # the order should
! be entered in the absence Of the prison
ers. but I'm the mean time Judge organ
had decided the question for himself
desire TO say. in concluding this hasti-
! ly-written letter that the position Of
Judge organ thrOu ghCrt this whole
matter has been dignined and consistent
lie was for many years the attorney for
tire Commonwealth for his county. and
proved himself 10 be learned accom-
plishcd. and efficient officer. He was
therefore. well-informcd upon all Of the
questions growing out of the controversy
in The Pollard murder cases. and has
upon all the questions brought before
him. reached his own conclusions to
which he has calmly but firmly adhered.
Sic was of opinion that tho presence Of
the prisoners was necessary 10 the va
lidity Of the nurc pro tune orders and
therefore insisted upon their presence
10 is proper 10 add that none OF us
thought that the lives OF the prisoners
would be endangered by their coming 10
Lunonburg. under guard OF citizens. and
the people OF that good old county were
anxious TO show that they were. as they
always have been. law-abifing people
Very respectfully. WM. II. MANN.