The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-30
Conviction of the Negro Who Assaulted
Mrs, Rcidel.
HE STOUTLY PLEADS HIS INNOCENCE.
Sentenced to Hang on the Fourth of June.
Similar to the LuneDburg Case-Ihe
Story Of the Moose IN the
Court Room.


thing to say why sentence or death
should not be pronounced against MN,
he stoutly maintained that he was in
nocent and was unJusty accused. lie
went into the details OF the evidence,
commenting upon the testimony of Mrs.
Reidel and the other witnesses tor
about twenty minutes.
The judge then passed sentence OF death
upon him, in which he stated that ne
had had fair and impartial trial. and
mad been ably defended by counsel as
signed by the Court.
Lewis sat cool and collected while
Judge Llpscomb read his sentence, put
when 1t was over and the sheriff was
about to take him back 70 jail. he asked
the judge il he could get a new trial.
Judge Lipscomb told him to consult MS
counsel. lie was then taken back 10
jill
THE PRISONERS ARGUMENT
When Lewis was asked the usual ques-
tion-if there were any reasons why SEN
tence Of death should not be passed on
him2-he spoke for some minutes. and
asked for a new trial, and showed some
ingenuity IN his arguments, most OF
which, however. were weak He said II
he had been guilty he would not have re-
turned 10 Alexandria or have gone 10
Charlottesville where he IS known. nor
would he have told his name. lie also
said Mrs Reidel could not have recog-
nized his face with the moon shining at
his back The prisoner was taken back
to jail at modern structure near
by. Everything is quiet, and no trouble
Is anticipated.
RESENT SENDING MILITARY.
The people are stll lncensed at the ac-
tion Of Governor OFerrall in sending
troops there, and they say the presence
OF military would not have prevented
Lewis from being lynched II the jury had
faied 10 agree. or IL they had brought
I'm any other verdict. The plan had been
arranged. 4 rope was 10 have been
thrown over the prisoner. and the man
jerked through a window, and by the time
he touched tie ground he would have
been shot. and all would have been over
In sentencing Lewis. Judge Lipscomb
seems 10 have considered the likelihood
Of a new trial being asked for though
no motion was made for such, either last
night or to-day.
The case IN one respect is very much
like the Mecklenburg trial; the people in
sisted on a verdict of guilty. or they
would nave the ptl-oHtlS pioOu'
STIRRING TIMES.
FAIRFAX COURTHOUSE. VA, April
The verdict puts an end TO the turbu-
lent scenes which have been witnessed
here ever since the negro was brousAi
here for trial. and for the first time this
week the village is free from excitement
There il. however. considerable feeling
over the fact that Gov. OFerrall thought
il necessary to send troops here TO main
tain order.
The scenes about the old courthouse
Yesterday morning Will never be forgot
ten by those who witnessed them Inc
case was given 10 the second jury az 10
T. NJ. Tuesday after an earnest and elo-
quent appeal to the jury by Common
wealth Attorney Love.
After the jury had been out fifteen min
utos the immense throng of farmers
around the courtroom grew impatient.
The Sheriff was watching the crowd.
which was growing boder every minute.
Judge Lipscomb and the members of the
bar feared that trouble was ahead.
hurried consultation in the rear Of the
Judges bench was held Suddenly Mr.
Vernon Ford, one Of the prisoners coun-
sci, approached Lewis and held Wnis-
pered consultation with him. As the con-
versation proceeded the brute twitched
ke1t his aye on the courthouse door.
and as every one entered he eyed them
susplciously. lie was told so II was re-
ported that he had better make a con-
fession and thus have thirty days ln
which TO prepare himself for death. as
the crowd in the rear intended 10 hang
him without giving him time for pre-
paration. The negro, however. protested
his innocence.
4 ROPE IN COURT.
The sheriff at clock visited the jury
room. and was informed that they had
reached no conclusion. This news did the
nogros cause no good, and AT 3:Ot three
pistol shots were heard 10 the east or the
courthouse. The Judge sat silent and
stern upon the bench. The crowd mad
started and was moving on the court
house.
IL reached the lawn, and several Of the
leaders quietly entered the front door.
The nrst eyes to fall on them were those
Of the prisoner Sheriff Gordon moved
cautiously among the crowd. Under the
coat of one of the men he spled piece
of rope. lie pulled at it, and found that
il was a new rope about twenty -hVe Ieet
long. with moose at one end.
Had he been a minute later third triai
would have been unnecessary as Lewis
would have been subject for cor
oner's inquest.
The rope was taken to Judge Lipscomb's
desk. and that official threw IL on the
floor with the remark: "Oh, throw II
away"
Mr. Walton Moore, man OF excellent
judgment aud a distinguished lawyer,
said az this time that the patience OF
the people Of Fairfax had been tried. ana
that they could not be held responsible
for their actions. The negro had been
given a fair trial and each jury had been
in accord as 10 his guilt. The jury came
into court and asked for one hours more
time. which was granted. but they had
only been out twenty minutes more when
they concluded that they could not reach
an agreement, and at i:3o o'clock so notl-
fed the Judge.
They were then discharged.
Robinson, the man who held out for
six wears. hurriedly left the village.
Then something happened that is with
out precedent in the old Commonwealth.
A County Judge opened court for husi-
ness just as day was breaking The Judge
ordered another jury, and then adjourn
ed court until 10 o'clock.
As the sheriff was taking Lewis back
TO Jail the crowd started after MIN, put
the negro only laughed at them, saying
to his guards: They are after me both
IN and outside or the courthouse.
THE TROOPS ARRIVE.
After the excitement OF the early morn
Ing had died away. matters queted down
considerably, until ? o'clock yesterday
afternoon when II was learned that the
Governor had ordered troops here TO pro-
teet Lewis, and that the Monticello |
Guards. OF Charlottesville thirty-eignt |