Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-07
LIVE THREE MONTHS.
Jud6s Wexford Sentences Nicholas to
Be Executed Tuesday, July 25lh.
THE CONDEMNED MAN uNMovED.
His Counsel Except To the circuit
Courts Risht to Pronounce inc
Prisoners Doom-1he "c'"'
Woman, Case Continued.

phIIin Norman Nicholas. the condemned
murderer of the two men. Mills ana
Wilkinson, win end his life on the gar
lows Thursday. July 18th. unless the SUI
nre,ne Court comes to his rescue. Judge
Beverly r. Wexford. sitting In the hen
rico Circuit Court, yesterday pronounced
ssntence on him the second time.
The wretched man was brought INTO
court lust before O'Clock by Deputy
Sheriff russell. and was assigned seat
next TO his counsel. Mr.. II. VI. Smith, Jr.
The Judge read the ord from the su-
preme Court refusing to grant writ oil
error. after which he asked Nicholas IL
he had anything to say why the DAY
should not he appointed for his ex ecu
ton. The prisoner did not reply, as MI
Smith made a motion for an arrest or
Judgment, which was overruled. There
upon the attorney excepted, taxing the
ground that the court had no Jurisdic'loh'
and could not legally pronounce sentence.
The prisoner sat unmoved and appar-
entity oblivious OF his surroundings during
the tim. occupied by his attorney IN ar
guing with the Court. and looked calmly
at the Judge while he pronounced the
words which sealed his doom.
WHAT HE JUDGE SAID.
Judge Wexford said; THE mandate Of
the Court of App ais. which | have read
TO you, devolves upon me a single duty
that OF appointing a day for the execution
Of the judgment heretofore rendered In
this court and affirm 4 by the Court Of
Appeals. 1 appoint. therefore, Thursday.
the 18th Of Juy. and II IS the order OF the
court that on that day the said judgment
be executed according 10 law--that IS
that you be- hanged by the neck until
you are dead. 1t was one Of the most
painful duties OF my life TO pronounce
the original sentence. more than twelve
months ago. and IL is NOR. painful now,
because the hopes you might then have
entertained from the Court Of Appeals
have been entirely dissipat,d I could say
nothing to relieve you from the re-
breaches Of conscience. in view OF the
fearful crime which has forfeited your
life; but | have no desire or purpose 10
say one word which would add feather
20 the weight OF the burden under which
YOU stagger TO an ignominous death. l
can only r,iterate what / said on the
previous OCCASION in earnestly urging you
% prepare for your doom, and may God
in His infinite grace have mercy on your
soul"
The prisoner was then conducted back
10 his eel.
The object Of the Judge In fixing a date
50 far distant for the execution was 10
give counsel time after the meeting Of
the Supreme Court, in July. TO secuT- the
ruling Of that tribunal upon the question
II the right OF the Circuit Court to pass
sentence. the Legislature since the CON
viction OF Nicholas having tax II from
iii cult courts jurisdiction in criminal
cases. except upon appeals.
LUCINDA'S CASE CONTINUED.
Lucinda Leroy. the negro woman
charged with unlawfully harboring and
cruelty beating little Mary Catherine
Whitney, the waif. who she says was
left at her door, was before Justice Lewis
yesterday. and her case was continued
until next Saturday. The child is being
cared for by A lady who resides near the
courthouse, and through the charity Of
a number OF people has been most libe-
rally supplied with clothing. She VIII
probably be given to some one this week.
1t was stated yesterday by negro woman
who visited the Jail that a lady from Nor
iOlk had visited the Leroy woman some
time ago, and offered to buy the child
for so. which offer was declined. The inn
preston prevails that the woman has
been paid for taking care OF the child
and keeping il out OF sight DR. Croxton,
the Jail physician. yesterday made an eX-
animation Of the child. He says the scars
on her back are permanent. but the eX
animation did not show conclusively how
the scars came there.
Frequent complaints have been made to
the authorities of little white girl being
kept by negroes in Fairmount. but as yet
no efforts have been made TO take the
child from the negroes.
No information has been secured as to
the whereabouts of the negro Scott. who
escaped from the chain-gang Friday near
the National Cemetery, and the search for
him has been practically given up.