The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-12-21
WILL NOT AMEND YHB Ian.
N the NATTER OF cAlLIMs OUT TROOPS.
Senator TurnbuIi Makes an Able Dsfenco
OF Lanenburg Before the Comlnittce.
Probable Eject Of the Action Upon
the Lunenburg Prisoners-The
Mandate Here.

special meeting OF the Senate Com
mittee for Courts OF Justice was held
yesterday morning for the purpose Of
discussing the Governors request tn his
message TO the senate To be allowed
more military power.
There was good attendance OF MEM
bers and the matter was earnestly diS-
cussed Senator Turnbull. who repre-
sents Lunenburg county I'm the Senate,
appeared before the committee and made
a somewhat lengthy statement.
PLEA FOR LUNENBuRG.
He said that tie people OF IunerburE
had pledged themselves. should thu pri-
scners be brought back TO that county
without military guard. TO protect them
from any violence should any be offcr-
ed. which he did not believe would be
the case.
lie thought Il was but common Justice
TO the people of Lurenburg to allow
them TO vindicatc themselves before VIZ
ginia and the world. by trusting to their
pledged word. and sending the prisoners
down unattended by military.
Mr.. Turnbul spoke eloquently In sup
port OF his position. and set forth fully
his reasons for believing that the lives
OF the Lunenburg prisoners would be az
safe In that county as in the city jai!
of Richmond.
He was accorded respectful hearing.
and II was evident that the general opln-
ion OF the committee was with him.
UNWISE TO LEGlsLATE.
after Mr.. Turnbulls address the COM
mlttee talked the matter over careful-
ly. short speeches being made by several
members. the drift Of which was that
they considered IL unwlse for any legss-
lation 10 be enacted giving the Gov
error any more power In regard to order
ing out the military.
II was brought out euiphaticaily that
It was the sense OF the committee that
the law which provides that the sheriff
may call upon the Governor for troops.
when. In his uhe sheriff's) judgment they
are necessary to preserve order or 10
protect the lives OF prisoners charged
with heinous crimes. was a sufficient
safeguard 20 prevent lynchings and riots
generally.
In this connection II was argued that
the sheriff OF a county would natural
ly being upon the spot. be better ac-
quainted with the exigencics of the situ-
alton than any one else, and that no
improvement could therefore be made
upon the law In that respect.
II was finally determined. practically
unanimously, TO report to the Senate that
the committee did not think IL wise for
any legislation to be enacted upon tho
subject. which report was accordingly
submitted to the Senate by the chair
man Of the committee. Senator Charles
+. Jones. and was adopted by that body
after somo little hesitation, a division be-
ing called for -,
THE LUNENBURG PRTsdNEnS
A discussion Is now ir progress a. 70
what effect this decision will have on the
cases OF Marable and the Lunenburg wo-
men. which Is the one that has caused
this request OF the Governor for legisla-
ton, hut as the Governor will say little
In the premises. nothing is known as TO
what action he will take.
The mandate Of the Supreme Court has
not yet been sent 10 the Lunenburg Court.
and II cannot be ascertained exactly when
II will go. the clerk OF the court being
unable TO tell. saying II would depend
upon the amount OF work TO be done on
H.