Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-05


made extraordinary efforts to secure
them counsel continuing one OF the cases
three days for that purpose. and yet In
the next breath he claims that they were
fairly and impartiaIly tried
The Commemorative Attorney made a
most urgent appeal TO lawyer, appoint
ed by the Judge. 10 serve, and why was
| IL that both he and the Judge seemed to
think that IT was so absolutely necessary
| for the prisoners 20 have counsel? The
object or counsel = TO secure fair trial,
and "Lunenburg" need waste no vain re-
grets that the accused had none. when
this great result was so satisfactorily at
taincd. IL Is very apparent that 'Lunen-
burg has vague 9uspiclon. which will
hnal'y ripen Into a cbnviction-a convlc-
ton shared by nearly all the fair-mludel
people OF this State-;hat these prisoners
qua not have a fair TRIAL nor vas IL r,os-
slDie under the circumstances that they
should have had. The absence of troops
ana the presence OF counsel are certainly
indispensable TO fair trial In a criminal
80, ana u, the LunenSurg cases both Of
thcse essential requisites were lacking.
AN ACCUSATION REPELLED.
Lunenburg' accuses me Of thinking
mat no criminal case has been properly
tired until II has been continued time
aIter time tried and retired, appealed
and reappealed. until the last dollar has
been squeezed out OF the accused and all
ms kinspeople and reasonable men be-
come utterly disgusted with the farce"
This statement is unwarrantod. and the
lnsinuation that lawyers continue cases
IN order TO extort fees is gratuitous
ibel upon the bar. While / dislike 10
ailude to my own record, under the cir
cumstances ] may be excused for re-
ferring TO some articles OF mine. re-
printed from the Roanoke Evening World.
In little pamphlet, entitled, "Constitu-
uonaf and Law Reformi' advocating a
reorganization OF our judiciary system
which, | think, will secure the speedy
trial OF both civil and criminal cases.
and maintaining that the Commonwealth
should have the right OF appeal as 20
questions OF law In criminal cases, on the
ground, among others. that the public
welfare imperativeIy demanGs a more eff
Gent administration OF the criminal law,
ana That on the same ground the Judge
should fix the punishment
lunenburg" says that the prisoners
were ordered to be removed from Lunen-
burg 10 Richmond after conviction. on the
ground OF economy, etc, and failed 10
say what that etc. was. His statements
about the expense Of three guards tWhy
three guards are too absurd TO deceive
the most gulible.
He Is also OF the opinion that the third
woman vas properly convicted and SEN
fenced to ten years in the ponitentiary.
i beg 10 refer him to the statement OF the
commemorative Attorney In his prose-
cutting speech that she was guilty Of
murder in the first degree or guilty of no
crime Uiichmond Dispatch. July 2isD. and
recommend him 70 ponder the testimony
OF Solomon Marable at the time of the
trial and a statement made by a COM
mittee Of Lunenburg gentlemen who
| signed their names. If the facts as tes-
| titled TO Grove anything they prove that
she planned the murder. / am afraid,
however. that the longer he ponders the
more hopelessy confused he will become
AS TO CHANGE OF VENUE.
AS TO the change Of venue. there are
some facts which make it so apparent
that the prisoner cannot get a fair trial.
| such as the presence of troops and the
| absence of counsel. that no testimony is
required, and the principles would be
/ strictly observed by "A change of venue
under such conditions. In some cases a
| continuance might answer the same pur-
pose The Dispatch, which has been the
most charitable critic Of the Lunenburg
| trials. believes that the prisoners in the
! Lunenburg cases should have had a
change Of venue.
! "Iunenburg" reprOaches me for the
/ Roanoke riot. and says that criticisms
| on mob law come with poor grace from
| n Roanoke man. Lynch law is wrong,
whether practiced in Roanoke. Lunen-
burg. OF elsewhere, and the fact that
/ any locality has passed through an awful
| visitation Of mob violence does not dis
qualify its citizens from discussing lynch
ines. either according TO or contrary TO
law.
In conclusion. II there were many more
such fair and impartial trials as the
Lunenburg trials. the courts would better
disorganize and leave crimes to be
punished by self-elected tribunals. The
law Is brought into contempt, justice
trampled upon. our most sacred liberties
endangered, and the judgment OF all right
,b,rlinp people COMPOUNDED. and their
consciences shocked by juries recording
tho foreordained DEGREES of the mob.
WALTER II. SAUNDERS.
Roanoke. Va, August ., 1873.