Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-03-22
most extraordinary did humiliating per-
foramance that ever occurred to disparage
the high reputation Of any American COM

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the high reputation of any American com
mOnwealth.
From the Charlottesville Chronicle.]
The foregoing article from Sunday
Lynchburg News. which contains an ex
tract from the Progress, does injustice tt
this community in holding it responsible
for the verdict of the jury in the Goodman
case. Very many of our citizens are Of
opinion that, had they been on the jury, the
verdict would have been different; but as
they were not on the jury and had not any
responsibility, so far as they know. for the
verdict, they deprecate the sweeping and
unjust criticism of the News.
[From the Alexandria Gazette.J
The acquittal of Goodman at CharIottes.
vile last Saturday, as printed in the Ga
zette of that day, will do Virginia no good,
either within OF without her borders. as it
will tend to increase the existing disres-
pect in which law and courts are now held
at home, and will naturally deter law abid-
ing Northern people from coming here and
bringing their money with them. Col.
Parsons was known throughout the N ORTIZ
Though unarmed, he was shot down be-
cause he had complained to railroad COM
pany OF an employee who had been rude to
him. At the first trial the man who killed
him was sentenced to eighteen years in the
penitentiary. which sentence many thought
too light. But at the second, he was not
only acquitted and applauded by the crowd
In the court house, but was put in an open
carriage and paraded through the town for
the admiration Of the people assembled
there. Yes, there is new South and
new Virginia.
From the Richmond State.7
But there can be no question that the
verdict in this case is most unfortunate.
Granting that Conductor Goodman told
the exact truth on the stand as to the
reason why he used his pistol, statement
which the jury evidently believed, the fact
is that Parsons was not armed, and it goes
out to the world that in Virginia defence
less man was taken to account by a con-
ductor whom he had reported, and shot to
death before he could summon help. 1t
also goes out to the world that in Virginia
when one man has killed another without
the presence of witnesses, his sworn state
ment that he believed that he was acting
in seIf-defence is a sufficient plea for his
acquittal.
lFrom the Charleston. W. Va. Gazettel
1t is rather discouraging to those to
whom the defense Of the old State is SUI
preme pleasure, to have a jury of Virgin
ians return such a verdict. The fair
name Of the State would have been less in
jured had a mob of indignant citizens
strung up Goodman to telegraph pole in
Clifton Forge on the morning of the TRACE
dy. Virginia may advertise her natural
wealth and advantages of location to all the
world, but outside capital will be slow to
seek investment within her borders until
her courts show greater willingness to
punish crime and maintain law and order.
Shame ON that Albemarle jury!
From the Charlottesville Progress
We have no apologies to make for believ-
ing that the verdict in the Goodman case
was proper, nor any criticism for those
who with equal opportunities for judging.
came to different conclusions.
From the Salem Times.
A few such verdicts as the one in the
Goodman case will bring our State into
disrepute. A mans life will not be secure,
when man in Virginia can rise from his
chair while eating his breakfast. inquire il
SO and SO is not Mr.. A., and walk up to
him, insult him, and then shoot him and
be acquitted by a jury of his peers. Vir-
ginia is very near the danger line.
From the Danville Star
A good deal is said against the neVspa-
pers trying cases. But if the Virginia
press had tried Goodman it would have
arrived at juster verdict than the judge
and jury did, and one that would not have
proved another OF the many travesties and
mockeries Of Virginia Justice.