The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-08

catch at n straw. Solomon held to this
story only a short time. breaking down
early In the cross-examinauon, ana can
didly admitting that three men In SOL
diers' clothes had told him while IN
room In the courthouse the night before
that they knew "a white man was IN IL,
and II he would put IL on the whlle man nan
and clear the women they would see MN
safe. Ii has been said by some OF tne
military that this word safe only NEAR
protection from violence at the manu-
OF the people. and a safe delivery pacK
In the Richmond .iail. oors,,,,ea #.
This is to certify that Solomon Mara
DC called me TO him in the couit-Iooin
soon after he had declared the wnlte-hnah
story to be lie, and attempted 10 nako
statepent. when the judge cnecken hlh
ana wnen on the way 10 the JAN IN my
charge few minutes later he told me
that what ne wanted 10 tell me IN the
courtroom was this. That the soldiers
said TO me that If / would put this thing
on white man and clear the women
they would take me and the women back
to Richmond and turn me loose: ,.r.,
'E. A. CLEMENTS,
August ., lS9j. Deputy Sheriff.
County of Luncnburg-.to-wit: ,,o-
August r. 1885
81. George II. Moore a justice OF the
peace In and for the county aforesaid,
In the state OF Virginia, do certify that
r.. A. Clements, whose name is signed
the 9TH day of August. 1885. has ac-
knowlcdged tho same before me in my
county aforesaid.
Given under my hand this 9TH day
of August, 1895. o. III. MOORE,
Justice OF the Peace"
DO any wonder at or blame Solomon
for making this statements The wonder
is that he didn't stick TO II longer than
he did. This was the first time since
his capture that Solomon had ever varied
from tn. first statement-that Mary
Abernathy and Pokey Barnes were his
accomplices in the murder.
Az IMPARTIAL TRIAL.
We feel assured that as near an i'm
partial trial was given these prisoners
as could be had anywhere I'm the State
Our county is as completely divided
commercially and socially. the eastern
end from the western end, as II II were
two different counties. The eastern end
OF the county trades at and ships from
Blackstone, on the Norfolk and Western
railroad, while the people of the western
end trade at Chase city and Keysviile,
on the Southern railroad, and are not
even acquainted with the people from
where the Juries in these cases were BE-
lcctcd.
Mary Abernathy stated to one Of this
committee that she did not Know a single
man en- the jury that was 10 try her. and,
in our opinion, so 1t vas With every ole
Of the other prisoners. Judge ". II.
Perry did agree TO represent the prisoner,
Mary Alternately, so far as TO ask for
Jury from another county and 1hange
Of venue, and introd lced several wit
esses to support this motion, among
them Il. W. Manson. one of the most
prominent citizens Of ths eastern portion
Of the county, who testified that, in his
opinion. perfectly fair iial could be
had I'm this county by getting jury from
the other end Of the county from where
the crime was committed. and every other
witness introduced testified likewise.
CHANGE OF VENUE.
After the examination Of witnesses in
troducci by Judge Perry for a change Of
venue. the attorney for The Common
wealth stated that he would not intro
dLCe any testimony. but wc'..l rely upon
the witnesses for the defence, who bad
proved TO tn Court .hlt the motion
shcnld be Ovorrtlcd. The attorney lor me
Commonwealth then asked Judge PERI,
the counsel for the pris s)ner lf ne Wishci
to argue the motion Judge Perry replei
that he did not, as his testimony nae
ia lied to establish the necessity for
change of venue or the sufnmohlhS OF
Jarv from another county.
Judge Perry (sCOn after the rot0n Tor
change Of venue and jury from ano' % '%net
county was oveiruleD = iied TO the 'cuIt
that as tho husband ct the pr sonef hsd
failed TO meet the terms upon when De
had offered to defend her. he would MT
appear in the case.
The Judge was urged by me attorney
ldrguage Osng these wofds' or
Christ's sake, and for the sake OF hu-
manity'D to appear In behalf OF mes
urisoners The Judge declined, STATING
that he had pressing business Which call
ed him elsewhere.
CLAIM or coMMIrTE.
we. the members Of this committee,
claim TO be fully posted as to the senii-
ment Of orr people and We here einph tu-
callv state that there has been no OF
ganizati"n for nor any Intention on l'e
part of the people OF our county 20 ~ ~
those prisoners al ony time since lHes
were pls ced in the hands Of the onhcrrs
of the law IL Is true, that some lhnls-
Greet persons will be found In every com
munity whose words are tdlcui1teu 20
irnnr,ss strangers very unfavOraDlE, an'
doubtless il is true IN TINS case lidt
some turbulent spirits did make iilllop.a
remarks: but IL is q fact that IL Wa 'li
easy matter for the cooler 1e1ds 10 per
suade our people 20 give the common
Weelth a fair opportunity ana ga 'ir
assistance possible 10 rid our seStloh vl
these brutal murdcrerS " nay "'', "-l
part faithfully These muIderefs nave
bcen gwen fair trial and have pe'n
convicted and sentenced
Let this committee. in the name 81 the
pcople of Luncnhurg county. eNteni ouI
thanks TO the Governor OF virginia 4oI
the manly and timely address 10 our
people. in every line OF Which is oisatu-
ed the spirit of devotion 10 itW ana Or
der. ana ltt N0 hfi' 'N't'N ''''
spirit we have met him on haH-Nay
ground and We fully endorse ms reasons
for sending the military ana MS state
mont Of what their duty sho lld be While
i'm the county. Not only has there btth
no violence offered. notwithstandil ~ the
fact that one Of the most diaboic1l nur-
ders ever committed IN the S.iic was
nerpctrafed on one OF )ur innocent lr-
males. but W here state that )ur people
have rcfrained from even the very ar,
ne.rance of violence. our record Is stln
unbroken-nOt 4 lynching IN the county
I'm the memory Of any now living ana
this committee assures the people OF the
entire state that such would have bcen
The case hal there have been no inihtai!
nearer than the city Of Richmond
II. G. GREGORl..
JOHN RORER1SON,
W r. ROBERTSON,
s. T. BENTLEY,
c. NJ. HARDY,
G. =. SMITH.
J. A. CLEMENTS,
THE MASS MEETING.
The committe brought with them the
follovinr full report OF the nids--mtttln1
feld at I.unenburg Courthouse Iueseay'
x.hfch they were deleeatcd TO nave pun
lshed in the Richmond papers. anu N"l0h
others papers are asked 10 copy
A. a meeting of the citizens OF Luneh-
burg county. held at the coVrl-housS On
August 9Th T. J. Gregory was caliel 70
the chair and Walter Williams elected
secretarv The committee on statement
of facts made report that they hau hot
CONNECTED said statement, ana desiitd
further time in which 10 40 50. a lStt'F
sro,n I W overly. one OF the committee
u, tlo,i M, a. The CITY OF Richmond, was read
- - ,ho meeting The sentiments endorsed,
80 he letter ordered 10 be published.