The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-23
RecOllechOnS Of Lewis Lindsey, an Old
Negro, who Served on II.
SHORT SKETCHES OF OTHER MEMBERS.
Aindsey's Own Story ofrhat Famous Trial
ofthe Confedcrscy's President. andHis
Version of the Ncrdict-Ihe First
Mixed Jury Lindsey's Present
Occupation.

less a second thought, as he oIors Tor
salo fresh copy OF the Herald
world" OF any Of tie large Northern
sheets. which be daily carries along his
routo- Strictly speaking. he belongs TO
shot class OF the sons Of Ham, who are
raIidiy passing away. for be is a typical
''hoio' do wah niggcr'
You and J. who are more observant
than most persons. are famihar with
him ana his many characteristics thanks
g. the works OF Thomas Nelson Page
joel Chandler Harms. and host OF oth-
c. entertaining noNcllsts who have paint
ell in realistic colors the negro as he
was when our foroiathers valued him at
60 much a head, and priced him accord
jngy
Louis Lindsey. who hyes at NO. 5ui
Gat1erlne street with his wife ana two
da1fhters. sells the Northern papers for
living. Time has dealt lenicnuy with
lin. and wlth The exception OF q slight
stoop about tho shoulders and a snuff
ting motion of the feet when no walks,
that certain accompaniment OF encroach-
ins years. hc IS as hale ami hearty as
Wacn a young man a. cut the pigeon
wits" and carried or the prizes at ali
Tho famous a,fc-bonum cakc-walks.
I'm statue Do Is about i've feet ana
EIGHT inches TAN. Ills hair and nous
tacho while black. are intcrmingled with
sray Heavy eyebrows lend q peculiar
expression TO his eyes. which are deeply
sct in his wliukled c0untcnance.
The other afternoon, as j stood waiting
Tor tho car at the corner OF Nlnth and
lain streets. ho approached me with q
bundle ot papers under his arm, ana
ofored a copy of the Herald for sale.
I purchased the paper, ana something
e. THIS CCl0rci now paper vendors APP
IA .Iff o..
began 10 question him as to what papers
h. carried how many DC sold, and how
wAs his business generally.
found him pleasant 10 talk TO, ana mis-
replies were of that respectful ana cour-
teogs nature that are TO lie found only
sn those Of his race who have felt mo
influence of high-bred Southern masters
and mistresscs.
TRIED JEFF. DAVIS.
~ chance our conversation turned
upon the war; and 4 male a most re-
lnLrkahic discovery. 1 found tnat the
old Colored ucws-mau whom ! was en-
Eaging m conversation was one OF the
twelve jurors Who tried Jefferson DAVIS,
president of the Confederate states, Tor
high treason. in the spring of 1861.
hly respect for Lindsey Nisibly iucreds-
cd when he told me this, and 1 found
ny interest in him so awakened that,
desiring 10 know more of his history. 1
made au engagement with him 10 can
at the Office on the next day.
lie came at the appointed hour. and,
10 my additional pleasure, brought the
picture of the twenty-four jurors who
were drawn in the famous case, atd the
Two judges who presided, a rci reduction
q which The Times prints this morning
ON certain points / found Lindsey s
memory al fault. and whenever 1 cross
examined him very closely ne would al
ways get around the difficulty by saying,
"Well. boss. dat am as j ~ecOllect II 70
re-"
His story was extremely interesting on
The whole. and I give IL IN my language
as he told It 10 me.
] accepted 10 in fun faith because OF
the old Negroes honesty of purpose and
gently overlooked the discrepancies be-
tween his statements and the facts as
history records them. because, On the
main. he spoke the truth.
THE PETIT JURY.
The petit jury that tried President ia
Wis for high treason against the United
State Government. was empanel,u In the
spring of 1867 in tho city of Richmond,
in the Custom-lOuse building, which IS
on Main. hctweel Tenth ana Eleventh
streets. Chief-Justce Chase and Judge
Underwood presided over the famous
case.
There We're twenty-fOur jurors drawn
60 try President Davis. half Of them be-
ing negrocs-and Lewis Lindsey was
among the number. This jury was the
first one upon which a negro ever served
in the South.
The names Of the twonty-four jurymen
drawn were Murray T.. Fox, a negro;
William a. Parson John Freeman, re-
gro Lewis Carter, "a negro, j. b. Fitch
eft O.. +. Fitchett, Newton Van Lew;
Joe Cox. negro. Frederick Smith. Il
neero. H. l.. Wiggan j. T.. Frazer,
John -. Miller. negro. vs.. J.. Tall,
Durham Wardwell; Loudon Boyd, a ne
pro. Thomas Lucas. a mgro. Albert
Brooks. negro. Martin Meredith Lips
comb. andrew Lilly. a negro; james
Moirsc,. james Turner. q negro; man
named Nuua.n, DIP. W Scott whose
real name was Walter Snead. "a negro:
ana Lewis Lindsey. the subject OF this
sketch.
The Jury. when chosen. was composed
Of Sis white men and as many negroes,
Hnd their names We're whites: "a. l..
Wigear. JAS. Morris'y j. h. Fitchett. ).
y. Fitchett, ". J.. Tall. Burnham Ward
well.
Ncoroes. LOWS Lindsey. Jno. y. MIL
Cox. Lewis Carter. and John Freeman.
Llndscy's account of tho argument in
the case ana tho dclincatlons in the jury
room were exceedingly interesting. al
Though "a trGe misty. but mon one fact
i,s memory was fixed. and in answer
20 mv repeated question as 20 what YER
dict Nas returned. Doc replied. You see,
boss dar want mo- verdict as 1 rccol-
Io,ts. We jest 'eIded as how de best
thing We could eco was 90 let dc Presl-
dent GO scoi-frte. SO we jest give him
parole and dat was de Cnd of de whole
thing
4 SKETCH OF LINDSEY.
Apropos TO the other article descriptive
a. Tie trial OF President Davis which
The Times publishes This morning, 1 give
a brief sketch OF Lows Lindsey and the
other men who We're drawn upon that
famous jury
Lewis Lindsey was born slave IN
Caroline county about siXty-iive years
40. Die was the property OF Judge I'd
rlnd Peucieton. and upon the death OF
thaf ceuue-~an and the division OF DIS
state. re3-s along with his mothr-
was bought by Mir Robert Hudgins, O.
clerk OF thc County Court or carol
Whom eleven years or age be- car
eni4 city. being hired ont by his
. dMins-r0om servant 20 the hC
FAMILY. who then kept the Mount
non House.
LOWS remained ,n this city anti
breaking ouf OF the war. serving
number Of families in tho capacity az
a dining-foom servant or butler lie was
a. one time engaged hy fhe Baldwin fam