Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-09-07


summoned and allowed TO testify along
with Solomon Marable He wrote n
bitter letter to the Richmond Dispatch
and in it made these admissions. His
sworn affidavit is in the hands Of the
counsel for the women.
Mr.. Jones did not rea lied the terri
bic significance of his statements. Cor
| if this is true, and it is, other witness
es cOrroborating the same. the YER
! dict of death in Mary Abernathy's case
cannot stand.
PROVED AN ALIBT FOR HER.
In the case of Mary Barnes. Mr.. Pol
lard establishes an alibi for her, for he
says she was in the field with him and
she could not be in two places vt one
and the same time
These facts are sufficient and yet
they are in no way related 10 the vital
one upon which the counsel will base
their plea and secure "A new trial
1t has become as plain as day that
the women told the truth when they
told their whereabouts on that fatal
day.
1t should not be forgotten that no
money, clothing or blood has been
found on these women They we're
convicted on Solomon Marable's un-
supported testimony. which was prov
en- at the time to be false
MARABLE's PREDIcAMENr
Marable admits now that it was false.
that he was forced to do it. that Lu-
cius Nj. Pettus, half brother To the
man that he assisted in killing YRS.
Pollard sat near him in the court-room
with loaded revolver to kill him ii he
I a Yr.trf ], al. -.
Lucius NJ, Pettus did sit near Solo
mon Mara0ie, he did have a loaded re-
vOlver and he was caught in the act of
making signs at the witness There are
sworn statements to prove this fact.
Moreover, the judge had the court
room cleared on account of this
DECLARES THE WOMEN INNOCENT.
Marable now declares that the wom-
en- are innocent, that he will 80 to the
gallows with this statement lie has
not had any opportunity to talk with
the women He is kept separate in
another part of the Jail
IL should not be forgotten that Mar
aoie cannot read or write and does not
know figures.
He says that Thompson told him to
spend the money he gave him at Chase
City. He did SO, and it was there that
he found out how much money he had.
wao KILLED MRS. POLLARD?
He was also told by Thompson to
send the remainder of the money given
him in registered letter TO himself
Marablel at FinneywOod and TO name
himself something else. When asked
II he thought that an illiterate. igno-
rant man like Marable would have
thought of such a scheme like that. Nr
Pollard said he did not This then
made IL certain that some white man
was concerned in the murder
Marable says that he received from
the nl&n Thompson two notes which
were afterwards found to be twenty
dollar bills. He has accounted for
these by saying what he purchased
with the money.
There are about eight hundred and
sixty dollars missing Where is the
other money?
THE SUSPECTED PARTY.
The case is unquestionably one of
| the most remarkable IN the criminal
annals of this country.
David James Thompson lives at Fin
| neywoOd, about three miles from the
residence of old man Pollard. We Wis
tied the city Jail and found "Aunt Ma
ry" sewing contenteQly away on bed
| tick goods, which had been given her.
| while Pokey came to the bars before
she had completed her toilet She had
been combing her hair. They extend
i ed their hands through the iron-bars
and shook our hand gladly.
We advised them as to the progress
| nf the casa and fhau hao,.6 ~ c,,l
news with evident satisfaction.
LETTER FROM HER son.
"Aunt" Mary said she had received
a letter from her son, Samuel at New.
port News, Va and handed US the fol
lowing letter. 1t explains itself:
NEWPORT News, VA, Aug 10, 1895.
Dear Mother:
will write you few line,
to inform you of my health am no
so well at present, but l truly hop,
these few lines may find you enloyins
good health as that is the only thin.
that / can sayyou can enjoy now.
But l truly hope you may gain you
freedom again once more, and if yol
get clear of this / want you to CONF
, straight to me and never go back {.
. that county any more.
/ have written to sister and she ha
not answered my letter yet
As soon as 1 get able l Will trysto sen,
> | the children something. and vii
, send you all can to help you in you
trouble.
lam going to get a begging pape
printed and then l may get gOOa Iii
tie sum for you, and you must let m
know when the trial comes off. an
then ] will try to come up there S
; please don't think hard of my shol
; ietter-for don't know what to say
q so write me again soon and let me hef
: from you Nothing of Importance I
= write at present. So good night
< you all. Give my love to POkey, an
you must pray that God may save yc
all. I remain,
T Your loving son.
e "AunF' Mary was greatly please
e with this letter and her face vi
wreathed in smiles as she handed it
l us to read.
To fully .ealize the awful signi
If canoe of the conviction and pitiah
Ie ! condition of these women, one mu
go to the jail and gaze upon their op
countenances.
CONVINCED OF THEIR INNOCENCE.
"a White and colored, rich and DO
aV Immediately become impressed and
+ away convinced of their innocence.
Sc Il never did nothing in my life, b
't. hope shroud her God knows ! ain
ry are the utterances of Aunt Mary"
a 1t was limited that Solomon Maj
he ble's wife must have had some of {
e. money They have two little childrs