The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-22
MARY ABERNATHY RELEASED
Her Case Was NOlls Prosecuted at
IaFmYiIle Yesterday.
BROUGHT TO RICHMOND LIST NIGHT
And Greeted Here by an Enthusiastic
Crowd OF Coiorcd Peopie-story OF the
Trials She Has Undergone-Twico
Sentenced to Death.

By the release from Jail yesterday OF
Mary Abernathy. one Of the most ~
markablc cases that has ever engaged the
attention OF the Virginia courts is brought
TO a close.
As VIII be remembered by readers or
Tie Times, Mary Abcrnathy and Pokey
Barnes. who were charged with the muir.
der OF Mrs. Lucy Jane Pollard; In Lunen-
burg county. on June "a, 1894, were uicd
before the County Court OF Prince Ed
ward, sitting at Farmulie some months
ago. This trial, which was On VIII
ol error, granted by the Supreme Vou'"
Csulted in the conviction OF Mary Ao'i-
nathy. who was sentenced 10 De hanseu
July Sth last The case against foAey
barnes was n0lie piosequied, upon le-
quest OF Commonwealth Attorney y. ~.
Watkins, and she was st fire..
TAKEN 10 LYNCHBURG.
Mary Aberaathy and solomon MafaDN'
who had previously been sentenced "
De hung for the murder Of Mrs. Pollard
ho Having confessed his guilt, were taken
20 the jail az Lynchbuts, while counsel
Tor Mary Abcrnathy took her case 10 tho
si.n,erne Court on writs Of error. Mara
bic as readers OF The Thles will rcment-
her. was hanged az FarmvIlo july 81
last. Mary Abenathy fingered on IN the
Lynchburg jail while her counsel were
active In her behalf. finally obtaining
writ OF error from the Supreme Court
Tho prisoner was yesterday taken be-
fore the County Court of Prince Edward
q. F.n.H
az Farmyille. Judge J. NJ. Crute prosidins'
Captain 4 B. Gu'gon, one OF her couh-
SCI. was on hand; Judge II. W. Fiournoy
and Captain George ID. Wise. VINO also
ably defended defended her az her triai'
being unable to be present.
As soon rs coart convened eN-Judge ~
d. Watkins. Commonweaiths A''oFh'y'
arose and asked consent or inc 'ou't
10 enier a nolie prosidui In the case In
view Of the circumstances that nave SUI
rounded tho case. It being very similar 10
mar os Pokev Barnes, Judge Crute read
nv consented to allow the nolle prosequi
to he entered The court at once eh'ei'n
,, ordar directing the City Sergeant OF
Tvnehhurs TO release the prisoner anu
nrino her TO Farmv.lle by the n Nt TRAM
,rbie order was wired 70 the bynch'u's
official Meanwhile Captain Husoh pr
,,i5oa himself with an order from u''
cunt directing the sheriff 70 release 'ne
,--i.,,,r o,l ,,bon the train steamed mo
30 1-,rmville station at 4:0S o'clock yes
,or1o,, afternoon. and Mary Aberna'hy
,..,s turned over 10 Sheriff dickinson o.
prince Edward. Captain Gulgon NJ once
eor,-od the order on him ana Mary ANNi
na.hv was q FREQ woman. 49,,
A ticket TO Richmond was procureu' ~.
Dferv An company with her counse. "'''
rohn Mitchell, Jr.. editor OF the ii,,''.
came To this city on the same 'rain ~
Drought the ex-prsoner iron, .,9nidSsD ~
ARRIVED IN RlCHMOND' ..
49,. ,,.r,,-cd hero At Z o'clock last night.
and was met at the train 10y lars, crow"
30 ,oiorod neoplo who cheefed chihu'H,
,fcon, as she stepped from the tialn WV"
her baby I'm her arms ..rriaoo
robn NitoAen had provided carliAs', l,
III sbe vas at once driven 10 one on ,n' %
many homes offered her by inc ii'''''
c,lored people Of Richmond.
Nrrrv few people have known What II y
o.. ~ throucA a period OF such Intense
snefering a. this poor creature mas en-
dured First threatened with ynsnlns,
and in deadly fear for days and nights
fbs, tried in a court dllcd with unsy mpa-
thizing spectators. -
Trio1 only TO be conde mnod 70 deaDl,
and thcn taken hastily from me pace OK
trial lest the sentence shoh" ~
fuilv executed. Rescued from the gallows
Nv fhe supreme Court. only 10 be tfiel ana
ooafn condemned. Suffering the PAIN OF
becomr,ing "A mother In a comfortless jan,
ana Win n death sentence hanging over
her head.
Taken all in all, the Spanish lnqusiiion
could have inflicted 10 more cruel tortures
upon IT'S victims. Happily now she mas
been released by n just iucge and Impair
tiat commemorative attorney from the
shadow Of death. and all law-ablding men
will rejoice that II Is So
OLD MARY BARNES.
But the case is not yet concluded; od
Mary Barnes, who was charged with be-
ing sn accessory TO the crime, is serving
a ten-years' sentence In the penitentlary
An effort will al once be made TO obtain
her pardon. which there is strong ground
for believing will be crowned with sue
cess.
Governor O'Perrall. who has been tried
10 the uttermost from the beginning Of
this celebrated case. has demonstrated
bhe fact beyond any doubt that he has the
courage Of his just convictions. and will
not hesitate 70 release old Mary n he
believes. after fun investigation. that
she is not guilty OF the charge on which
she was cas-, into prison.
n r. very probable that the Governor
will pardon her. and then justice
"The hope OF all who. suffer. the dread
OF all who wrong viii be complete.