Richmond planet., 1897-05-08
A Travssty Uuou Justice. - Sunrise
Everywhere Manifest.

The trial of Wesley Mayo. colored
charged with attempted criminal as
sault upon Mrs. Mamie E Lowrie. al
though he did 60 within $50 feet OF her
was concluded in the Hastings Court
OF Manchester, Va, Friiay, April 30;h
The following report is from the col
nmns of the Democratic Daily Times
and will cause the average reader to
wonder again and again hoV such
verdict could have been reached.
PECULIAR ACT.
During the last session of the Legis-
lature an act was passed under which
the attempt at criminal assault can be
punished with death.
large crowd OF spect ators filled the
courtroom yesterday morning. and
those who were unable to gain admit
tance, gathered around the windows
to watch the proceedings.
On motion Of Judge ClOpton, who
acted as Commonwealth Attorney all
witnesses were excluded from the
courtroom and at the request of Judge
Clopton the spect ators were also *
cluded during the time when Mrs
Lowrie, who was the first witness, gave
her testimony.
THE JURY SELECTED.
The jury who were sworn in to try
the case, was composed as follows:
Messrs. John H Archer, l.. An
derson, @. +. Fisher, w. @. Fowlks, w
9. Bohaman, John NJ. French, H. X
Reid, Alexander Eastwood, George w
Reams, Charles II Thorpe. George T..
Markham. NJ. A. Rightsell.
Messrs. I. NJ. Fisher, ]. ]. Blanton
John l.. Broach and /. M Nunnally
were also summoned but their names
were stricken off.
Mrs. LOwrie, after having bean
sworn made the following statement:
Ny name is Mamie E. Lowrie, and
live at Centre Hill farm. within a
mile OF Manchester. On Sunday morn
ing about 8 O'Clock l went to the barn
to get some feed for the chickens and
noticed Negro man in the road He
was still there when 1 came back to
the house, At that time he was cut
ting switch and / told my children
to watch him.
WATCHED Rim.
l afterwards watched him in the
window, and | went out afterwards 8
again, when he was hidden in the
bushes. / then went out after the
horses, which were in the field and he
followed me. / saw Mr.. Lowrie and
Mr.. Hobeck at a distance, and beckon-
ed to them TO come to my assistance
When l went after horses / was com
PEELED 80 60 towards where the prison
or WAS. and he ran about forty yards
after me. When / first saw him, he
made suggestive motion. When my
husband came up, the prisoner could
not see him at first, but when he did
he stopped and ran through the bushes
trying to escape. Mr. HObeck ran
after him at once and heard him shoot
at the Negro.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE PRISONER
Witness then identified the prisoner
but said he was dressed differently
from what he was on the day, when he
attempted the assault.
Mrs. Lowrie was then crosse xamin-
ed by Mr.. Garnett. She reiterated thai
the actions OF the prisoner were very
suggestive.
Messrs. Lowrie and Hobeck, witness
said, were at Mr. Anderson's house,
short distance away. There was nc
obstruction in IL way and the two
gentlemen could see the prisoner. Mr.
Lowrie afterwards told me he did SCI
him.
NEvER NEARFR HER THAN THIRTY YARDS
When the prisoner was running af
ter me l called a colOred woman who
lived in the neighborhood. She die
come down the road and saw the pri
srner running He had crossed over
the wire fence, which is perhaps 4OC
yards from my house. when the color
ed woman came up Then he stopped
and went through the rye patch
There was nothing to prevent him from
catching me. unless he vas afraid Any
one could have seen him from Mr.. An
derson's house, but no one could have
come to my rescue, before the prison
or could have come to me.
Ny husband who had been at Nr
Anderson's house, came up with Nj