Evening star., 1897-01-08
The Murderer of John E. Ford Sen
tenced to Death.
APRIL 80 SET FOR TIE EXECUTION
The Condemned Man Makes a
Statement in Court.
HE IS COOL AND UNRUFFLED

Judge Cole this afternoon sentenced
"Lum' Pearson. convicted Of the murder Of
John E. Ford. to be hanged Friday, the
Both Of April next
The prisoner, man nearly seventy years
OF age. and well-known local character
was convicted the 10Th of November last,
and last Monday Judge Cole overruled the
motion for new trial. The old man lived
in Georgetown, and his victim was a boy
of nineteen years.
There had been bad blood between them
for some time, said to have been occa
stoned by woman, with whom it was
said Pearson lived. One evening early last
August Ford entered the old mans back
yard. presumably to see the woman. The
prisoner was in an upper room of the
house. and it was claimed that the mo-
ment he recognized Ford he twice fired at
him. having, so the government claimed,
previously threatened to kill the boy on
sight. The young man crawled away, and
died a day or two later. The old man
claimed that he shot in self-defense, but
was promptly convicted.
Cool. Calm and Courageous.
During the trial, despite his advanced
age, the prisoner showed unusual courage
aid calmness, and when asked by the jud &c
today II he lad anything tu say why sen-
tence should not be pronounced, the old
nan straightened up, and in firm and
deliberate tone. said: Your honor I can
only say at this time that no man can
regret more than do the necessity Of do
ing what 1 did that night, when I shot
down into my back yard.
ihat man Ford had threatened my life
ana mad made vicious assault on me with
stone just few days before. l had been
sick for two years. and that night I was
q tn or, fn H<I ,l,or,
Ford attacked my house. He threw stones
attempted to force his way in, and said if
he got In he'd kill me. and l honestly be-
lieved he would kill me If he got in.
I supposed every citizen had a right to
protect his habitation, his property or his
person when attacked. 1 had no thought
of killing Ford, and only shot to scare
him away. This is all 1 wish to say
The Judge ImpresscL.
Judge Cole seemed deeply impressed by
the old mans words. and in a kindly tone
remarked that If any mistake had been
made or injustice had been done the pris-
oner the Court of Appeals. where his coun-
sci would take the case. will correct it. But
there was nothing left for him to do at this
time but to pronounce the judgment of the
law.
judge. solemn "that you be taken hence
to the Distric, I'll, from whence you came
ard there be safely kept until Friday, the
Both day of April. 1897, when. between the
hours OF II meridian and 3 pest meridian
you shall be taken to the place prepared for
your execution. within the walls of said
Jail, and there be hanged by the neck until
you be dead. And may God have mercy
upon your soul"
The old man heard the sentence with &c
greatest calmness, and after his counsel,
Messrs. Andrew Y. Bradley and Thomas c.
Taylor. had given notice of an appeal, he
walked to the cage below with perfect m
concern. His attorneys. IL unsuccessful in
the Court of Appeals, will apply to tie
President for {. commutat!on of the SEN
tence.