The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-02


her he heard shouting behind him. and
looking back be saw several white men
coming towards him and calling out
"stop that man." They frightened your
pctitl0ncr very much and he commenced
10 run. The men pursuing him fired
several sh.ts and thereby greatly IN
creased his alarm. Your petitioner ran
10 the woods. and thereby escaped his
pursuors. Your petitioner being now
frightened almost TO death, remained IN
the woods. and at the houses Of different
NEGROES between Chase city and Five
Forks until Tuesday morning, when a
Marty Of white men, armed with guns ana
pistols. came up with him and arrested
him. Soon after they arrested him they
were Joined by Mr.. Lucius Pettus, half
brother Of Dave Thompson. The men
who had arrested your petiticf r told
him that ne had better make a confession
or he would be hung before they got
10 Mr. POllard's house. and your petition
or. thinking that Lucius Pettus knew
about IL and would have your petitioner
killed II he did not say what Dave
Thompson had told him 10 say. told them
that Mary Abornathy and Pokey Barnes
killed Mrs Pollard. while he held her
and that Mary Barnes had Deen a party
10 the conspiracy 10 kin her. Your pc
tironer was carried to Mrs. POllards
house and the thrce negro women were
arrested and brought there when the
coroner was holding an inquest Quite
number OF persons collected there per-
haps four or five hundred, and your pcti-
TONER heard that all OF the prisoners
were going 10 De lynched. Late ia the
evening. Nr. Clements, the c0ustaoio.
who had the prisoners in charge. SNUG
gled them ont OF the back door I'm charge
of four or five boys. and they were got
TO the woods and marched by by-ways
and through the woods all night 20 the
fail at the courthouse Mr.. Clements re-
manning to put the crowf off with one eX-
cuse and another until the prisoners could
be lodged in the Jail.
In "a short time the public mind became
violently excited in the county OF Lunen-
burg. and threats were freely made that
the prisoners would be taken from the
iaU bv force and hung. This excitement
became go violent ana so general that
the sheriff of Lunenhurg cOrniy, IN whose
custody the prisoners were, felt compelled
fo take them sfealthiy in the night
time from the iail and convey them 20 the
Jail iu the city Of Petersburg, where tncy
We're confined until the time arrived Tor
their trial when it became necessary 10
convey them from the jail Of the city ot
Petersburg "a said county of iuueuhurg
for trial. said sheriff. the commonwealth S
attorney Of said county. and the Judge OF
writing 90 The Governor or the State for
armed troops t0 guard ana protect them
from mob violence az the nan.s ol ihe
citiZcus OF luncnnurg county tppn ftid
application of said sheriff. &c, the Gov
ernOr did furnish two companies OF the
volunteer militia of the state 10 accom-
panv. guard and protect said prisoners
from said mob violence. ana SAID prison
crs were under the guard ana protection
of said military companies from the time
fhcN were conveyed 90 said county, an
thrOUgh their trials. and after theN were
over they were taken hN SAID military
under The order of the Judge 20 the Jan
$50 Richmond city. TO keep them. from
being hung by fhe mob, even after incir
condemnation. whore an Of them now are.
Your petitioner attaches TO this petition
AID prays that they De read ana treated
as parts of it, the call on the Governor
for troops. the order directing them 10
perform the duty and the order OF the
Judge directing the military 10 take Jle
prisoners to the Richmond city IAN
Your petitioner shows also thdt thc
c0mmandant Of the military was OF Opiu-
ion that the two companies first ordered
90 Lunenhurg were not sufficient 10 pro-
ioct said prisoners, ana he applied 10 tne
Governor for another company, which
was ordered TO report TO him. ami
did so. This application and order are
attached hereto. and prayed 10 be read
as part of this petition. Your lcu-
TONER shows that before no was trled'
fiIii illt 0AiA o. INlf NNiN "N''tf CIV Ntt"''
county of Luneuhurg was in Il state OF
terror and intimidation and practically
under mub-rulc. The people of the cOun-
tv had como to believe the prisoners nad
committed thc murder ana they woWl
hear OF nothing else. large nOny OF
them was determined that the aCcurcd
should Dee executed and all who dared 10
question the guilt of the accused W re
in a state of Intimidation, nnih th- - mole
county was iu state or tfrr} 'rdt 'iltic
an impartial trial of the nee lt"d an inn
possibility. THE military are believed
tO hc nst as necessary 10 guard ine OF
uDers of the court ana iury, I there
had been the slightest reason 40 sU.I cct
that thc accused would Doe acquitted. as n
was to guard the prisoners. DGrng ihc
trial the Judge entered am order of rnf-
Ori tnat the commander Di tIe miiitdrN
should hc authorized 90 remove the rrls-
Oners from the county Jail. if hc should
think Chat he could more rifet- llsly eut rd
them from the mob in tha Oui1ing tnan
iu the jail. copy OF said order De- altach-
ed Ca this petition, and prayed t. be read
as part of it,
Your petitioner represents that trial
under such circumstances is no more Tran
mockery and 20 travcsty. IL g ho uIal
at dll.
When your petitioner vas put ruOn RS
trial. the Confession ne mad made vas
proved and he was convicted. When
Mary Ahcrnaihy was pat upon hei ifidi
your petitioner was put ON NE stand as
To- MlNIf-r~s ANU sun NIllfI llif Ulll'4 4lAAANil
OF she terror with which hc hat been
inspired. your petitioner .oid the same
story and She was also convicted.
ON succeeding day POkcy Barnes was
put upon trial. Your petitioner hcing
then convicted. and feeling that there
was no hope for him. determined tnat
he would tell the truth about ". Beng
UHt upon thc stand as witness ln
said lnkey Barnes case. your petitioner
narrated the facts as he has stated
f|.afn fffIl Nkhfflf fIAffIN-
ing 70 these facts. the aforesaid Lucius
pettus. who was squatting on the hoor
within three Or four feet of your petition
er. winkcd at your petitiQ.cr in a threat
ening way. and whispered 60 your pou-
tioucr. put ID on Mary Abernathey ana
iokcy Bdrhes.' Your petitioner was
again tefror.zel hy this mans threaten
ing demonstrations, and he took the stale
mcnt back as he had made n. ana made
the statement anew that implicated the
.hrce negro women and IOkcy Barnes
also was convicted and sentenced 10 he
hanged. Your petitioner had told Capt.
Frank Cunningham and MIR. Neblett. the
Commonwealth Attorney the true story
of the crime, as herein set forth, before he
went 20 the courtroom 20 testify I'm
Pokcy Barnes case. lie files with this
petition an afiidayit which said Captain
Prank Cunningham made. in an applica-
ton hv said women for a new trial. which
Doe prays may be treated as part OF TINS
Ftuiol-
Your petitioner states again that he Is
an unlcttcred negro without money or
means. He did not have the assistance
Of any counsel upon his trial He could
not employ an attorney, no one employed
an attorney for him, ailt The Court dld
not appoint an attorney 10 represent nim.
he was tried. therefore. with no assist
ancc whatever, except what his OW n un-
utOrst and unaidcd mind could suggest
and he has had no assistance rom any
COT nsel since his conviction. except that