Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1895-05-04
HE PARDONS RICHARD
BROWN.
A Full Statement of the
Case.
THE MINISTER'S VISIT.
The Commonwealth AttOT-
ney Siens--A Long Chase.

1t will be remembered that Richard
Brown, colored, drove a cart for Chas.
ii. Page, white. When near the cor
ner of Fourth and Franklin Streets,
during last December, Brown was hail
ed by white man, who asked him for
whom he drove. He told him. The
man said that the mule was overload
ed. Moreover there was no license on
the cart. He would see his employer
about it, at the same time, assuring
him that no harm should come to
him.
Brown had been working for Mr..
Page only about two weeks. When he
reached the yard Page charged him
with having reported him.
KEPT THE MONEY.
Later he told Brown he would have
no further use for him. He owed him
1888, paid him $l.33 and said that he
would withhold $500 of the money
with which to pay the fine, should it be
assessed against him lPagel i'm the
Police Court. Brown returned the
next day, and demanded his money,
Upon sthe refusal of Page to pay him,
he declared that he would kill him If
he did not pay him. Mr.. Page became
frightened and paid him the $500. He
secured gun and pursued Brown,
who ran under some box cars. He
then swore out warrant for Browns
arrest.
Brown was tried in the Hastings
Court of this city and his punishment
ascertained at five years in the peni-
tentiary, the charge being that of hav-
ing unlawfully obtained money from
Charles ii. Page under threat.
DID NOT STRIKE HIM.
Brown did not strike Page. nor in
any wise iniure him. He threatened
to do it in order to obtain his money
which Page unlawfully withheld.
Judge S. b. Witt set aside the verdict,
it being ascertained that under the
law, the obtaining of money in this
manner was not robbery.
Browns counsel, MIR. Wise became
so anxious about the matter, that it
was deemed advisable TO plead guilty
to q charge of assault and battery and
take twelve months in Jail. So while
Richard Brown did not assault and
batter Charles II. Page, he was never
theless convicted of having done so
and has since been serving his time in
the city jail.
THE DELEGATION AND THE GOVERNOR.
A delegation consisting Of Revs. Jas.
II. Holmes, w. +. Graham, Archer Fer
guson, and Daniel James, and S. II.
Dismond, M. d., r. E. Jones, M. D.,
and John Mitchell, Jr., called on Com
monwealth's Attorney, H. NJ. Smith
Jr., and then visited Governor Charles
7. O'Ferrall in Browns behalf about
ten weeks ago.
Repeated enquiries at the office elic-
tied the information that the Governor
had not in his bulk of applications, as
yet reached the papers. On Wednes-
] day, oath alt. Editor Mitchell took
a paper signed by Mr.. Charles II. Page,
over to the Hastings Courtroom. He
| accosted Commonwealth Attorney
Smith, who said he would see the
| judge about it. He went into the
clerks office where the portly form OF
Judge Witt could be seen.
JUDGE WITS OPINION.
In reply to his question, the judge
said, "Why, 1 thought Brown was oui
long ago. l had conversation will
the Governor about the matter and he
told me he would pardon him. Ger
tainly I'll sign the application for par
don. Mr.. Smith repaired to the Hus
tings COURTROOM and wrote the follow
ing:
at recommend that the prisoner b,
pardoned. Mr.. Page was the man as
saulted. Judge Witt concurs with nj
and desires me so to say.
II. M. SMITH, JR.,
Commonwealth Attorney"
April a, 1896
A few moments later Editor Mitchell
had filed the paper in the Governor
Office. The brilliant Mr.. Evan II
Chesterman promised to cOmmunicat
to him the result and he left. Thurs
day, April 25th, the Governor granite
the pardon and a day later Richar
Brown was free man.
THE NEWS AT THE PRISON.
A visit to the jail on the 25th an
information communicated to him ths
the Governor would pardon hin
J brought smiles of JOY to his cOuntC
nance, while many of the other unfol
} tunates longed for the time when tn
} same kind of good news might be
store for them.