The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-01
THERE IS STILL HOPE
Charles Williams May Yet Escape the GAL
lows for the Murder of BeSS.
NEW EVIDENCE IN THE CASE DISCOVERED
His Counsel Has Laid IL before Gov.
ernor O'FcrraII ana Is HopernI OF
lts Securing Cmmutation of Death
Sentence 10 One of Life Emprison.
mcnt-Downing fin shackIes.

1.-THE hope that springs eternal In the
human breast" is not yet dead in the
bosom of Charles Williams, though the
court has ordered that he be hanged
by the neck until dead at some time
between the hours Of Q and / o'clock on
Tuesday next. His attorney, Mr.. Hugh
G. Miller, has returned from Richmond,
where he had an interview Wednesday
with Governor O'Ferrall relative to an
application for a Communication of the
death sentence to one of life imprison-
ment.
a few days ago when Mr. Miller pre-
sented the application the Governor ask
ed for an abstract Of the evidence in
the case. which was accordingly laid be-
fore him Wednesday. together with the
testimony of two witnesses who did
not testify at the time Of the trial
NEW TESTIMONY.
These witnesses are George Jackson
and Cora Bridges. two cOlored oyster
hands in Atlantic City ward. Jackson
was down as n witness for the Common
wealth and was in court, but was not
called. His affidavit states that on the
evening of the murder-which was COM
mitted on schooner lying in the river
Oft Atlantic City-George BeSS, the muir
dered man, told him that Charles VIII
liams was aboard of the boat at that
time cooking supper; that Bess had pre-
vously told him that his (BessO cloth
Ing had been stolen, and that he sus-
pected Williams of stealing them. Cora
! Williams affidavit is also to the latter
effect
The defense claim that this testi-
mony. if 1t had been laid before the
| jury. would have raised the reason
able doubt" in their minds as to whether
| Williams had any malice against Bess.
The fact that Bess stolen clothing was
found in Williams possession after the
murder made strong link in the chain
of circumstantial evidence to support
the theory of the prosecution that the
deed was committed in malice, and not
in self defense as Williams claimed
| The contention of the defense now Is
that If Bess' clothing had been pre-
viously stolen there Is no evidence left
! that the murder was committed for the
purpose OF robbery. and that II Williams
was aboard the schooner that evening
cooking supper he did not sneak aboard
there that night for the purpose OF muir
| der.
A REASONABLE DOUBT.
Mr.. Miller claims that this additional
Ievidence leaves it reasonable To believe
that there was an hypothesis other than
that of malicious murder. which, If tr;ie
raises the reasonable doubt" to tn,
benefit of which. when raised. the priso
ner is. under the law. entitled
Governor O'Ferrall received him cor.
daily and heard him patiently. The
TIC IplIll, at HrSt, ina
this new evidence antedated the Grim,
and therefore might not have been ad
lmltted as evidence, under the law. il
ut had been offered when the case was
tried. Thcreupon Mr.. Miller laid before
the Governor cases which he thinks
make out the fact that such evidenc,
should and would have been admitted
He cites the Cluverus case, and say.
that the letter written by Miss Fanny
Lillian Madison a few days before she
was killed was decided by the Cour
OF Appeals. in passing on that case. t.
be admissible-that anything having :
casual reference to the murder should
be admitted.
Governor O'Ferrall gave him an audi
cncc of two hours, and has taken tn,
authorities under consideration
Williams still maintains the mos
stoIcal Indifference but whether he vii
Keep it up To the end is simply a matter
OF conjecture. He has been an excel
lent prisoner.
DOWNING IS IN CHAINS.
William Downing, the other negro wis
Is to be hanged. is still in chains. and a.
the day approaches his fear become.
greater and chat he will totally COLLARS,
there is little doubt
| His wrists became so swollen that IN,
irons upon them were loosencd Wed
nesday. 1t was found that he had bee,
trying [" pick the lock of his shackle,
win a piece OF wire. and Mr.. Guy Hall
whose services were secured for the pur
pose. mad some trouble in getting then
unlocked
Chief of Police Dornin stated yester
day that during the time of prepara
ton and before the execution TUESDAY
no one Will be allowed to pass by tn.
JAN ana plenty of officers will be sta
TONED IN and about that institution.