Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-14
PLEA TO SAVE LIVES
Another Effort TO Be Made In the Con-
demned Women'S Behalf.
TIE scAFYoLD BEING ERECTED.
sheriff CnrdoEn Making Prepnrn-
lions for the MISREPRESENTATION
weIbers Tells About His Interview
with the Governor.

Hon. George ID. Wise, Judge Henry W.
Flournoy, and Captain A. b. Guigon.
counsel for the three women who stand
convicted of the murder Of Mrs. Lucy
Jane Pollard in Lunenburg, returned yes
terday from Amelia Courthouse, whittier
they had been In an unsuccessful attempt
TO secure a writ Of error for their clients.
Though Judge Coleman's decision came
to them In the nature OF thunderbolt
from clear sky. they do not despair or
finally securing a new trial for the negro
women, and tomorrow afternoon they
will 60 to Staunton and present their pc
tltions to the Supreme Court of Appeals
Monday.
1t is considered likely that the higher
court will grant the writ OF error. and
new trial. though In order to do so 1t
may have TO overstep the fixed law to
some little extent. Judge Coleman, In
conversation with one of the Richmond
lawyers after he had rendered his de-
cislon, stated that there was, In his mind,
no doubt that the women were entitled
TO a new trial, and he thought IL would
be q blot on the fair name OF the Com
monwealth II they were allowed 10 hang
on a verdict rendered in courtroom
surrounded by armed soldiers. but he did
not think he was the proper person to
grant a new trial. and said he would
much prefer having the question decided
by the Supreme Court.
LITTLE TIME FOR ACTION.
Mary Alternately and Pokey Barnes are.
with MarabIe. sentenced to be hanged
next Friday, and 1t will be necessary Tor
their LAWYERS. in order to save their
necks from stretching TO expedite matters
as much az possible. Realizing this, they
will urge the Supreme Court To near ar
gliment on the petitions Monday, ana IN
the mean time will call upon the Gov
ernor and lay the facts before him. In
order that there may be no delay In
sueIue for Executive clemency In event
the SIIureme Court refuses the writ.
sheriff Cardoza Is making preparations
for the execution next Friday, ana Is
apparently unmindful Of the enorts the
attorneys are making TO have his work.
So far as the women are concerned
STAYED. He will undoubtedly hang Mara
bic on that day unless tho Governor
interferes. and hts EXcellsncy has signi-
fled his Intention of remaining passive
and letting the law take its course. Al
ready the gallows for Solomon's execu-
ton has been erected, and a fence Is
being built around the jail.
The case has attracted such vide
spread attention that Sheriff Cardoza Is
being besieged with applications from
people in all parts Of the State VINO want
to witness the hanging.
INTERVIEW WITH FATHER VEL
BEERS.
Father Welbers, the pastor OF st.
Joseph's church. who has interested him.
self no little in Solomon's behalf. was
interviewed by a newspaper-man yester-
day. and gave IL as his opinion that Solo
mon should not be hanged. Il beileve
it's unjust" said he, land that Marabie
deserves his sentence no more than the
engineer and fireman OF the train that
was held I'D last fall deserve to share
the sentence of Morgan II would take
too much space to explain all the reasons
upon which my opinion Is based.
az believe that Marable should at least
have a respite. but my opinion Is not
worth any more than that OF the other
people who have followed the trial, READ
The evidence. and talked with those who
were in attendance. No special weight
can be attached to my opinion because
I heard Marable's confession as priest
and that for two reaSOnS-ilrSt, Dtcausc
no priest can use the knowledge obtained
in confession either for or against per
son; secondly. because even II THIS were
not so the confCIsion could not have In
fluenced or modified my opinion. as l saw
the Governor three days before Marabie
made II.
THE LORDS WILL BE DONE.
"When | asked the Governor to grant
n renrieye. | stated that justice would
not suffer by the delay. ] told Governor
O'Ferrall that Marable ought to receive
n respIte till after the trial Of the women.
as the evidence then brought out would
throw much light on the mans case, ana
show him up in a different light entirely.
After the Governors refusal 10 interfere
7 went TO Narable and told him that
the Governor had refused to grant
retrieve. The condemned man dropped
his head on his chest and remained silent.
with eyes cast down, for some time. AT
last I said: 'Marable. what do you think
now?' He did not answer me for several
minutes. but at last he lifted his head
and said: The Lords VIII be DONE
adding. with a deep sigh. but us I'M
just.
itv of his situation, but not so with the
women. They are confident OF an ac-
ouittal and received the adverse decision
On their case. which was rendered by
Irage coleman, In a calm and almost