Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-11-16
The LynS Fd Desperate Efforts Secure the Battle Unsurpassed m
AnaS-JuSe WdlOr takes Them into the Custody Of His Court

death. While the editor was speaking
about the action of the Governor, a
figure darkened the threshold of the
open door.
DEMANDING THE PRISONERS.
GOOD morning, Mr. Cardoza - was
the greeting of Sergeant Epps.
Good morning!' % was the response
He walked military fashion across the
floor and partly "about face" fronted
Captain Epps, facing the doorway
through which he had just come. The
sheriff was terribly agitated and it
was with difficulty that he controlled
himself.
He drew from his pocket a paper,
and handed it TO Captain Epps who ad-
| justing his Eyeglasses carefully read
the order of Judge Orgain instructing
him to turn over to the sheriff, the two
shrinking womep standing in the Of
fee.
1t was not long before reply came
from the Sergeant. Il have an order
from the Governor directing me TO
hold these prisoners. i am sorry, l
would like to oblige you, MIR. Cardo-
"a" He handed him the order from
the Governor. 1t reads thus:
The GOVERNORS ORDER
GovERNoR's MANSION,
RICHMOND, Va, Nov 8, '95
Ito Captain Charles a. Epps, Sergeant
of Richmond City, and Keeper of
the Jail:
Do not deliver the Lunenburg
convicts to M @. Cardoza, sheriff, etc.
as heretofore instructed, but retain
them until / communicate with and
hear from Judge Orqain.
CHARLES T. T.O'FERRALL,
Governor of Virginia.
The communication appeared to be
written and signed by the Governor
himself. Then you refuse to deliver
: these prisoners to me ?" was Sheriff
Cardoza's remark. 81 do" was the
quiet, but firm response. The sheriff
was angrier than ever. he stalked
: from the room without word When
4 he had reached the middle of the
stairway, he asked, "Can you tell me
where Charley Meredith lives p
Captain Epps gave him the informa.
tion and he disappeared in the yard
below.
The women we're happy Smiles
7 lbeamed on their countenances and
: they could not restrain their Joy.
writ issued by Judge Wellford haC
: been served on Sheriff Cardoza at tn,
u Lexington, the night before.
! The women were returned to the
e cells and Editor Mitchell went to tn,
3 yard below. AS he was passing out
= two of Sheriff Cardo2a's deputies en-
u tered enquiring for him. Upon beini
: told that he had just gone, they await
&c ed his return.
/ 1t was made manifest that it was tn
q intention to allow these people to b
lynehed. A sheriff and two deputie
had come to Richmond to carry bac
to Lunenburg County, one man an
le two women through section reache
in only by wagon roads and nearly TWEEN
2 ty miles from a railroad station
u The people in the locality are work
a ed up to fever heat and lynching par
ia ties have been already organized
Sheriff Cardoza was failing to do hi
,e duty and it was not surprising that tn
g. Governor was carrying out his swor
to obligation to take care that the Law
Il are faithfully executed.
to A detailed history of the effort
re the counsel for the prisoners to prs
s. vent the return of their clients [
he J.nnenburg County viii hardly prov
: .nintel esting.
Id THE COUNsELs PLEA
The following letter was addresse
Ii to the Attorney-Cfeneral:
nd November g, 1895.
all Hon. r Taylor Scott, Attorney-Gel
he eral OF Virginia:
on Dear Sir,-On the 22nd OF Octobe
be this year, Mary Abernathy, Ma
as Barnes and Pokey Barnes, two
5ly whom are prisoners in the city jf
ey under sentence of death and the 9th
nd Mary Barnes, in the State penite
OF .iary, addressed communications