Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-09
NOT THE WRONG MAN.
THE EVIDENCE UPON WHICH
HENRY WALLS WAS LYNCHED.
BLOOD STAINED CLOTHING.
The CorOner's Jury n Conservative
BODY of Men--His Victims Mute
Identincation-she Was Not Uncon-
scious.

STUART, PATRICK COUNTY, VA.
september s.-(special.)-There is nc
ground for the report that in the lynch
ing of Walls for the murder of Sadie
Cook the wrong man suffered.
Sadie Cooks head was crushed and
her throat cut Friday afternoon about
O'Clock. The atrocious crime was re.
ported at Stuart TO Sheriff woolwine.
Coroner Via. and Commonwealth's-At-
torney Hooker about p. NJ. Saturday.
They Immediately started for the scene.
which Is in that portion OF Patrick
known as the Hollow, twenty-eight miles
from Stuart. They arrived there between
$50 and 9 o'clock. The poor girl had
died a few hours before.
Walls had already been arrested by
Constable A. F. Childress by virtue of
warrant issued Saturday by c. T. Nc
MILAN, a justice, and the trial had
been set for Monday morning, September
9Th, at Friends Mission. Childress had
the prisoner at his (Childress's) house
and guarded by several good men.
Sheriff Woolwine, or his arrival, learned
of the death of Sadie Cook. and early
Saturday morning he summoned the fol-
lowing jury: William Epperson, III. N.
Gates. w. Il. Scales, c. T. Mcmillan,
Rufiln Smith, J. T. Mathews. These are
some Of the best and most conservative
men in the county. They met about 10
A. VI. at w. Il. Cranford's residence
where the poor girl had been carried
This is but a short distance from her
where she was found. 1t was also the
home of Walls.
SYNOPSIS OF EVIDENCE.
The following is synopsis of the evil
dence before the Coroner's jury:
On the Monday before Walls had told
r. j.. Fry that the Cooks had accused |
him Of stealing and If they did not mind |
they would come up with their heads |
cut short off, and he CWalls) was the very |
man TO do IL. Other witnesses testified |
as to threats made by Walls against the |
Cooks. 1t was also testified that In a |
very short time after the murderous as
sault Walls was seen at the spring wash
ing the shirt ana pants he had worn just |
before. He tried to explain this, but |
could not do so satisfactorily. He de-
MED having seen Sadie Cook alive that
day. 1t was proved that he knew that
no one was at Cooks house Friday afteT+
noon.
HER MITE IDENTIFICATION.
Mrs Epperson testified that on Satur-
lay morning she went to see Sadie Cook,
and the girl could not speak. She took
he girls hand, and told her II HenrN
Walls had cut her throat and crushed
ler head TO squeeze her (Mrs. Epperson's) |
land, and Sadie squeezed her hand. She |
Mrs. Epperson) then asked her II a
legro had assaulted her TO squeeze her
land but she did not squeeze 1t. When
he repeated the question as to Walls,
he girl again squeezed her hand. Some |
low claim that Sadie was unconscious
t that time, but DR.. Hollingsworth, who |
vas then present, began a delicate ply
ical examination, and she resisted and !
ulled the sheet over her body. When
he stone which had been used to crush
ne itdu VI tnc uHiOi Oiluudlc girl, all /
overed with blood, was shown Walls, he
roke down completely. and could not
lake any satisfactory explanation. His J
emeanor on the stand was very bad, |
nd plainly showed guilt. Stains of blood | .
ere found on the recently washed ,
othes.
The verdict, in substance, was that
Idie Cook came to her death by wounds
ficted at the hands of Henry Walls. \
uch more and stronger evidence could. i
is declared, have been gotten. but the I,
ry thought that they had sufficient to c
mmit him. There is not the faintest
adow Of a doubt entertained as to the
ilt of Walls. The officers were in no
~ to blame for the lynching. The man NJ
,uld have met the felon's doom upon
e scaffold had 1t not been for the laws
laws in cases heretofore in this county. | 3
alls bore a bad character. The man
10 reared him said he was liar and al
thief. j.
Hiss Sadie Cook was bright, hand T.
me. and attractive young lady, and had
SITS of friends.