Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-10-05
MARABLE'S PLEA.
He TELLS The STORY
OF THE POLLARD
MURDER.
A GRAPHIC RECITAL.
Declares Them Innocent
Charges David Thompson
With The Murder:
ERRORS IN THE RECORD.
MR.. VIM. L. ROYAL DRAWS UP THIS
REMARKABLE PETITION.
MR.. VIM. L. ROYAL DRAWS UP THIS
REMARKABLE PETITION.
The Fourteenth Amendment and Its Guar
antees.-Judge Coleman Again Refus-
es a Writ of Error-To the Su-
preme Court Of Appeals.

preme court Of Appeals.
It has been known by those who
were thoroughly acquainted with the
facts that steps would be taken to Sc
cure for Solomon Marahle a new trial,
in order that the entire case may be
gone over and justice done. 1t is con-
ceded that none of the convicted peo-
pie had a trial as contemplated by the
statutes.
Mr.. VIM. L. Royal, one of the most
distinguished jurists in the country,
having won distinction in the English
bond-holders fight against the state of
Virginia, has become much interested
in the case and Mr.. Joseph Bryan, a
wealthy Virginian of philanthropic
nature, has also determined TO assist
in the matter.
The object is to test certain features
of the law.
Mr.. Royal drew up Marable's petit
tion for a writ of error and supersedeas
and on Tuesday, Oct. 1st presented it
to Judge S. l.. Coleman at Powha5an,
O. ii. 1t was promptly refused and the
petition viii now go to the Supreme
Court of Appeals. If new trial is not
secured there the matter will be taken
to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Here is the petition:
To the Honorable Samuel +. Coleman,
Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit
of Virginia:
Your.petitioner, William Henry Mara
BILE, sometimes called Solomon narable,
respectfully shows that he is aggrieved
by Judgement of the County Court
OF Lunenburg county, Va pronounced
against him on the 10Th day of July,
1895, whereby your petitioner was SEN
fenced to be hanged on the 10Th day of
September, 1895. The Governor of the
state has granted your petitioner a re-
prieve of said sentence until the Goth
day of October, 1895. Your petitioner
attaches hereto certified copy of the
record of said Judgement and someof the
proceedings had prior to rendering OF
same and he prays that it may be treat
ed and read as a part of this petition.
Your petitioner is a citizen OF the
United States, Negro man of the Afri-
can race, and he can neither read nol
write. His whole life has been that oi
a common farm laborer. and he is as
| ignorant as those of his class and kind
usually are, and with no money
Your petitioner shows to your Honor
| this case:
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
1
On Friday, the 14th day of June, 1895
Mrs. Lucy Jane Pollard. wife of E.
Pollard, a citizen of Lunenburg count,
| Va, was murdered at her home, il
said county. Your petitioner witness
ed the said murder, and was an unwill
ing and partial actor in it in the fol
lowing way:
At the time of said murder, your pc
4 A. lohNrors a
the saw-miu of Herbert Thompson
near by the residence of the said E. $
Pollard. On the said 14th day of June
while going from a place called For
Mitchell, near by there, to said saw
mill, your petitioner came upon on
David Thompson, a brother of sal
Herbert Thompson, a white man, VIII
lives in the same neighborhood, in tn
public road. Thompson said goo
morning, to which your petitioner re
piled "Good morning" He saiC
"Where are you going2" 1 said, "to tn
saw-mill."
DREW A PISTOL ON HIM.
He said, ''No you amt, you got to g
with me-" and he drew q pistol an
said, "come up beside me-" He saiC
"Do you know anybody around MI
Pollard's2'' / said, eyes; Aunt Mar
Barnes has been working there" II
said, sis that all?'' / said, Aunt Ms
ry Aberuathy has been working on tn
place and Pokey Barnes lives on til
line fence " He said, "That's all
want to know. Come and go with m
now. (The three persons named al
, Negro women.)
The two went near to Pollard g houl
and stopped behind an old broken dow
house on the spring branch little di
tance below the spring where Thoml
son said he had a quarrel with o.
! | Pollard and was going TO kill hir
After remaining there a short tin
Thompson ordered your petitioner
: look out and see what he could. Tol
petitioner did so and saw the Neg
= woman,
h SHE CAME TO THE SPRING.
Il Mary Barnes, coming down the b
Is from the house with bucket, and
II reported this to Thompson. Short
l. after Mary Barnes returned to {
house, your petitioner reported this
n | Thompson that he heard some one
le about the house hallooing at a hor'
Ie After remaining some twenty or thir
ig minutes where they were, Thomps
said "Oome on now with me, and
" went up the hill towardsthe house.
IN said he was going to make noise
Id | the back door, and if any one came {
is | petitioner was to catch him or her a
hold him or her. We went to the bs
door, and Thompson knocked on