The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-28
aUNDAY, November - 49,
IS JOHN EVANS GULLY?

Closing his statement giving reasons
Gar reprieving the negro convicted a.
Richmond court for rape. Governor Rus
cell says:
Sin granting The posiponement OF
sxArutson. the Executive Is sustain
- BY the Council of State, oy
sentiment citizens OF Richmond coun-
a and and Of various other coun-
t;es. by intelligent clergymen and
eminent lawyers and editors; and
for the further consideration of this
ease. he invokes the advice OF the
educated. the substantial, the reng-
;ous and the law-abiding elements OF
Me State"
It il to be hoped that the advice sought
Sy the Governor will be given by the
educated the substantial, the religious
and law-abiding elements of the State.
In the two months intervening before
the execution can now take place, every
effort ought to be given to Evans and
his attorneys to prove his innocence If
Il can be done.
We are frank to say that from the evil
dence furnished by a special staff CORE
spondent and published in this paper
we have not seen how the jury
could have done otherwise than
End a verdict of guilty. The young
lady, who identified him, had described
the assailant to Mr.. Entwistle and Nv.
Leak in terms that corresponded exactly
10 Evans 1t was not proved that she
ever gave any other description of her
sisters assailant. On the contrary, ex-
actly opposite was established by the
evidence Of several witnesses. She
was positive that he was the man.
His attempt to prove an abb
failed. Neither the judge nor the solicit
Tor have asked for Communication Of the
sentence. If the man is innocent, the
Governor ought to pardon him. The
respite will give opportunity to discov-
Or new evidence if any exists. II there
b none, the verdict of the jury and the
kentence Of the court ought to stand.
Miss Cole. who was assaulted, and
her sister who identified the assailant,
are young ladies Of irreproachable char
acter. They and others, who are forced
to labor to support themselves, are nee
essarily compelled to travel the roads
in the early morning and evening with
escorts. They must be the special
objects Of the care of the State. Their
persons must be held sacred. The as
sailant of Miss Cole must pay the penal
~ Of his assault, not only to uphold the
majesty Of the law, but as terrible
warning to the brutes who have made
It a terror to young women to walk un-
frequented highways.
Under the heading: els John Evans
guilty?" the Rockingham Rocket Of this
week says:
'sThis seems to be strilsingly
strange interrogatory, after being
adjudged guilty by ~ Of the best men
In Richmond county, all OF whom
were accepted by the prisoners
counsel. After being allowed full
time to prepare his case; after the
most rigid examination Of States
witnesses by able counsel; after hav-
ing his case submitted to the jury
without argument, without any
attempt of States counsel to infu-
ence the jury in their verdict. If
there is any doubt as to Evans hav-
ing had a fair trial and that the
verdict Of the jury was in accordance
with the evidence no such doubt
can exist in the mind Of anyone
who was present at the trial. It IL
easy enough for one man to say he
is guilty and another that he is not
guilty, and either one may be incor-
rect, for no one of his own or her
own knowledge. knows the fact ex-
eept Miss Matte Cole and the pris-
oner. Miss Matte most positively
asserts that he is guilty, and she is
supported in her testimony. The
prisoner says he Is not guilty, but
has no evidence to support his as
sertion, his evidence having been
found incompetent. On the evidence
prisoner Is tried, and on the evil
dence Jury gives its verdict, and on
the evidence Evans's jnrv pronounce
cd him guilty. What individual has
the presumption to place his irdg-
ment above that intelligent jury?'