Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-11-13
THE MAEOHErEk MURDERS.

The murder OF CHARLES and ANrHO-
~ MURRAY (colOred) by ALBERr A
ALvIs (white) Saturday night, 9Th |
nst.. at Manchester. Va. was in our
without palliation or ex-
;use.
We have read the accounts OF the
affair as given out, not
only by prejudiced press, but by
ALvIs himself, and they show that this
white man acted without judgement
and fired without reason.
The most serious odense, with which
the murdered men were charged was
that of being disorderly, and using i'm
proper language on the public high
way.
Cor this offense, only a fine would
have been placed against them. They
had not stolen any property. They
had not burglarized any ones house
They had not assaulted a white wo-
man; neither had they committed
murder.
They had imbibed too freely out Of a
white mans whiskey barrel and were
accordingly feeling good over the per-
formance.
ALvIs, in his right senses went to
deal with men who were confessedly
not OF their right minds. He would
have been just as much in order to
| b.x q nj 81 In
he was in shooting down these men.
If he did not have sufficient help,
with which TO make the arrest, he
should have secured it, before making
the attempt. He knew where he could
have secured them at any hour of the
night. But no, he must exercise his
authority; he must demonstrate that
he had pistol and he must use it to
the death.
The close range, the deadly aim
show that he did not fire only to sub
due or pull the trigger to frighten-he
pointed the weapon TO kill. As a re-
suit, heart broken mother sheds tears
over the graves I the fallen ones.
1t is not at all surpris sing that this
murderer should express regret over
the affair. The blood of CHARLES and
ANTHONY MURRAY is upon him, and
sleeping or awaking, their mournfu
cries are ever present in his ears.
The children of ALBERT A. ALvIs will
never look upon their father as clear
handed parent. He Is stained will
J human blood. The prayers of thes,
mems mother will meet you ALvIs a
the throne OF COP and your cowardic'
, in taking the lives of those who wer,
; near and dear to her will be an omeI
of the fate which will surely overtak,
i, you and yours.
Would you have fired so recklessl,
il these men had been white and thel
parents your neIghbors Would yoV
have blamed an officer had he nav
killed relatives of yours, who wer
near and dear to you; but, who per
chance imbibed a little too muc
whiskey?
When a man leaves this world, Al
BERT A. ALvIs, he is gone forever
: There is no coming back, save pei
chance in the spirit to haunt the ma
responsible for has untimely takin
off.
Already, the customary. preIiminar
steps are being taken TO secure you
acquittal before a preiudiced jury {
2 your countrymen. So be it.
D We shall appeal this case to til
Judge who sits on high, who will be i
judgement on the cases of the quic
= ana The dead. We will leave 1t to nil
= ALBERT A. ALvIs to decide whether {
Y not YOU were coward and killed uh
n mothers sons without the proper e1
cuse or justification.
The minister has spoken words {
n farewell over their remains. The fun
. eral director has carried them out
. the place of interment. The grav,
q digger has lowered them into IL
: yawning ohasms, and the clods of til
valley have told in mournful tone
that they were murdered by ALBERT 4
ALvIs.
Perchance you may wander to IL
. place where they are sleeping, al
maybe you will feel the remorse of
murderer at the graves of your vie
Tins. Be that as it may, no atom
ment which you can make this side
this veil of tears will bring consolidate
to the heart of that mother, or wrir
pardon from those right-thinking col
q scientious people who have been
rudely shocked by the heinous natul
OF your crime. Well says Shakespear
O "But man, proud man,
Drest in little brief authority,
Most ignorant ofwhat he's most assur'
> His CLASSY essence,-like an angry ap
o lays such fantastic tricks before his
o heaven,
As make the angels Weep"