Evening star., 1897-04-29
LEWIS Is SENTENCED
Mrs. Reidel's Assailant to Be Hanged
June 4.
SCENE IN COURT THIS MORNING
Departure of the Soldiers From
Fairfax Court House.
PERIL OF THE PRISONER
Special Dispatch tc The Eve ling Star.

Court House has resumed its normal con-
dition, and all is quiet and serene. The in
terse excitement that has existed for the
past few days has subsided, and the peo-
pie are now satisfied that James Lewis, the
negro ravisher of Mrs. Ida ReideI at Rose
Hill farm, near Alexandria, will meet his
fate at the hands of the law.
The Monticello Guards of Charlottesville
sent here yesterday afternoon by Gov
OFerrall, left for home early this morning
Hardly a dozen persons were up when the
soldier boys marched out of town, down
the dusty road to Fairfax station. three
and a half miles from the court house.
Shortly after o'clock yesterday after
noon the third trial of James Lewis, charg-
ell with assauting Mrs. Ida Reidel, on the
ght of April 13, began before a jury of
farmers and business men that had been
summoned from Falls Church and Centre
VILE Commonwealth Attorney Love
opened the case for the commonwealth,
and set forth in clear tones what he pro-
posed to prove and ended by asking the
jury to impose sentence of death, should
the case be proved beyond reasonable
doubt against Lewis.
Mr. r. E. Thornton one of the attorneys
for the defense, made the opening state
ment for Lewis.
Mrs. Reidel was the first witness put on
the stand, and through Mr.. Louis Kraft of
Alexandria, who acted as Interpreter, she
being unable to speak the English Ian
SCdge IOlQ the story tHdt SIZE Hdu lOll De-
fore the two juries VINO had failed to
agree. She was followed by her son, whose
testimony corrohorated hers. A number of
other witnesses were put on the stand, but
their testimony was unimportant.
Lewis took the stand in his own defense.
ard in bold. defiant, though rambling
way, tried to prove an alibi, by account
ing for his movements from o'clock the
night Of the crime until his arrest at
Charlottesville, the Sunday night follow
Ing. But he was unfortunately unable to
prove where he was after o'clock the
night of the crime until o'clock the next
m. rning. when he arrived at Ditchley tele-
graph tower on the Southern railroad.
Mrs. Reidel positively identified Lewis
as ifer assailant, for the moon was shin
irg brightly and she saw him distinctly
Fairfax Court House the day he was
brought here from Alexandria although he
was with five or six other negroes.
When the evidence was all in the court
adjourned for an hour and half for sup
per and rest as all had been under such
heavy strain for several days.
After supper Mr. Vernon Ford closed the
ment in view of all the facts.
He was follow ed by Mr. James NJ Love.
who closed the case for the commonwealth.
Mr.. Loves appeal was eloquent in the ex-
treme. He referred TO the lack OF moral
courage in the former jury, who had
heard the convincing testimony presented,
and failed 10 agree. and earnestly begged
that these twelve men would give the pris-
oner the full extent of the law.
Lewis in Peril.
1t was about $50 O'clock when the jury
took the case and returned to their room.
Every one expected that they would at
the death penalty.
They had not been out long before the
crowd became impatient and fears were
freely expressed that the jury had again
disagreed. After waiting fully forty-five
minutes rumor spread that the jury stood
as in the two former trials-eleven for cap
ital punishment and one for q penitentiary
sentence of twenty years. 1t was subse-
quently learned that the report was not
without foundation. as one juryman had
deliberated a considerable time before vot-
ing for the death penalty.
The militfamen were not inside of the court
house. as Judge Lipscomb had previously
ordered that they should not be admitted.
and it seemed that nothing could prevent
a lynching. 1t Is asserted that had the
jury deliberated five minutes longer Fair
fax would have witnessed the amazing
spectacle of man lynched inside the court
mouse, before the eyes of the Judge sitting
on the bench, and with court in session
and military company stationed outside.
A man i'll the crowd stood not half-doZen
feet from the prisoner with a rope under
his coat. ready to throw it about the VIC
TINS neck as soon as the signal should be
given. A large mob was stationed at the
door to prevent the entrance of the guards
and several men stood ready to seize the
sheriff and guards when the word saould
be given. 1t was arranged that the rome
should be quickly placed around the neck
OF the prisoner and thrown over the bal
cony. and while the victim was held up his
body riddled with 'nllets before, the in
fantry could posslbig have reached the
court room from the r position outside.
Excitement ran hig !, but Lewis sat quiet
ly between the two bailiffs. and appeared
not to need his peril. He seemed not very
nervous. but confidently relied upon the
soldiers to protect his life. 1t was a Pc
eulfar situaton-a jury endeavoring to fix
seI'ience of death and a mob ready to
while the crowd was all ready to act
The extreme situation was conveyed 10
the jury room. with the information that
unless they returned in three minutes
save to hold a coroner's inquest. Then the
jury filed in and took their seats
The Verdict Announced.
Mr.. Sheriff, you will please request
these in the court room to remain quiet
when the verdict is announced" said Judge
Lipscomb.
Gentlemen. have you agreed upon ver-
dict. as read by Clerk Richardson
we have" replied Foreman Simpson.
handing over the decree. which was read:
I'VE. the jury. find the prisoner. James
Lewis, guilty as charged in the Indictment.
and fix the penalty for the same at DEATH
notwithstanding Judge Lpscomb's re-
quest that no demonstration be made, deaf
ening shouts greeted the reading of the
verdict.
Lewis listened with the same apparent
unconcern which has characterized his con-
Duct during the three trials, and did not
seem during the three trials, and did not
hastily removed to the Jail. some yards dis
tant, and there spent the night quietly
and ate a hearty breakfast this morning.
AS soon as the verdict had been read
Mr.. r. F.. Thornton. one of the attorneys
for the defense, requested that the jury be
polled. The outcome of the case was every
where hailed with delight. General satis-
faction is expressed. and the people are
congratulating themselves that violence
was not enacted. though the escape was
narrow one.
Lewis Arraigned for Sentence.
The court met shortly aftsr- II o'clock
this morning and Lewis was brought in
from the jail and placed in the prisoners
box. About fifty persons were present. AS
soon as he was settled Clerk Richardson
told him to stand up. and Lewis was asked