Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-08-31
HENRICO CO., c. H.
Two NOT ABLE EXECJ-
TION>.
Scenes and Incidents.
Morris Hopkins aud the
Touching Incidents.
DENIED HIS BODY.
TALKS WITH NICHOLAS.
His Peculiar Notions.
A SAD FAREWELL.

henricO County COurt-HOuSe is a
picturesque place, situated as it is on
the corner of 22nd and Main SITS, in
this city The high brick wall gives it
an antiquated appearance while the
stately columns remind one of the ar
chitecture of Greece. But il was with
reference to the stirring scenes which
-fhaFe- taken place here we desired to
speak
Mosby Melton, white, who brutally
kicked Mrs. Hannah Green, colored
killing her unborn babe was tried and
given thirty days in Jail To tell all of
the acts of injustice would fill book.
PECULIAR DEATH.
Morris Hopkins, the coIored youth.
who had a fight with Mr.. Henry Par
sons, white. striking him with stick
was tried here. MIR. Parsons died
nearly a month afterwards. His death
was superinduced by over-eating.
carelessness and the disobedien nee of
the Doctors orders. Yet Hopkins was
hanged. We visited him often in his
cell at the Henrico County Jail. He
was about five feet six inches of
brown complexion, stout build and po-
sitive in what he said. He had great
faith in the ability of "Mr. MITCHELL"
as he was pleased TO call us and always
asked US to do what we could for him.
THE COUNSEL IN THE CASE.
Mr. William Justis. Jr "a rising and
energetic young lawyer had charge of
his case, and labored assiduously for
him to the end. Hopkins had his pho
tograph taken by an amateur photog.
rapher. 1t was a poor one, but he
priced it highly. We were given one
Of them and had the "cut' made from
hoc hnang,,a nj
parent that Hopkins should not have
been hanged, and numbers of white
men shared in this opinion.
a SINGULAR FACT.
A singular fact in connection with
Hopkins arrest was that his father
brought him to the county officers and
therefore under the law was entitled
TO the one hundred dollars reward, if
l his son was convicted. Counsel were
Asecured, the understanding being that
%She reward money should go to them
TC pas since been explained that
they relieved that Hopkins would
have been convicted. and that they
would get the money, but had no idea
that the verdict would be murder in
the first degree.
A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY.
The story of how when Hopkins
body was cut down, his old gray-head-
ed father made plea for his remains,
which was denied and that he drove
ID miles in the country with his empty
wagon and a bunch of flowers from the
collin is of too recent occurrence to
need repetition here. Sheriff Simon
b0lomon had promised the remains to
he parents, but Judge Wickham de-
ided that the law was mandatory and
must be carried out. The sheriff was
Dowerless.
TIE sCENE AT THE GALLows.
Morris Hopkins body was badly muti-
8 lated by the physicians under the gal
s. lows, in order to get Information as 30
the respiratory organs. 1t was
- astiy, gruesome sight. BioOd flowed
streams and the weak-nerved speota-
rs had to retire.
Hopkins had professed religion and
sined the Baptist Church Deputy
ergeant and Jailer J.. L. BHssell and
Deputy John NJ. YoeglOr ofieiated at
pc execution of Hopkins. He was
anged April "a, 1895. The drop fell
Il A. NJ.
Sheriff Solomon and his corp of as
stants always expressed sympathy
jr Hopkins.
NICHOLAS CONDITION.
rhe next victim was Philip Norman
,holas, white man who lived in the
ne neighborhood where Hopkins
ents now reside. He was well on
7ears
icholas was intimate with the wife
is landlord, MIR. Mills. He planned
% gp-the rixeF-tO beetree. Mills
.t&Would not agree to go unless Wilker-
son, another white man accompanied
him. They started of together. but
only Nicholas came back.
He described that the boat had been
u upset and the other two men drowned.
The boat was found floating with three
4 freshly bored auger holes in it. Mich
olas said that the cOrn-cObs which
were used rs plugs had come out and
the men becoming excited had jump
ed cut
THE MISSING AUGER
Nicholas auger could not be found
Other suspicious circumstances point
ed to the fact that the drowning OF
these men was planned. Hewas tried
and although ably defended by Messrs
d. @. Richardson and II M Smith, Jr
was convicted of murder in the first
degree.
We called to see Nicholas often. He
would talk about the prospect of his
release, but would never say anything
a. a IL. .E 81