Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-29
A VERDICT OF DEATH
THIRD TRIAL OF JAMES LEWIS AT
FAIRFAX COURTHOUSE.
LARGE CROWD PRESENT.
The Arrival of the Military Not
Asked For by the Civil Authori-
tics-The Orders Under when Ihey
Acted.
Acted.

ALEXANDRIA, VA, April 2s.-(spe-
cial)-The trial Of James Lewis (coiored)'
for an assault on old Mrs. Riedel, began
at Fairfax Courthouse this afternoon at
315 o'clock. The delay in opening court
was caused by the late arrival or the
venire from the Centreville and Fails
Church districts. Mrs. Riedel was at once
nut on the stand, and her testimony va
RED but little from that previously given.
She was i'm very weak condition, anu
several times seemed about to give way
under the ordeal.
After brief speeches by Common
vealth's-Attorney Love and the prison.
er,s counsel. the case went to the jury at
SIS. and the verdict was awaited III al
most absolute silence by crowded court
room and an ever-increasng throng out
side
THE VERDICT.
At 900 the jury brought in verdict Oh
guilty as indicted. and fixed the punish
ment of the prisoner at death. Judge
Lipscomb warned those in the courtroom
not to make any demonstration when the
verdict was rendered, and his injunction
was obeyed by all except a rural spee'a-
tor. who yelled loudly The prisoner
heard his fate pronounced with the Ut
most composure. g.,
THE date Of the execution will be hxed
nv Judge Idpscomb tomorrow. and it Is
thought the only shortest possible time
will be allowed the prisoner 10 prepare
for his end
NOT ASKED FOR.
The Monticello Guards, from Charlottes-
Vile arrived at the courthouse just pc
fore court reassembled. They are under
the command of two leutenants. Inc
militia were well received by the people
though their presence and aid were not
requested by the local authorities. Inc
troops were stationed on the Courthouse
green during the progress OF the triaL
Judge Lipscomb having refused TO give
them permission TO enter the court-roOi1'
THE GUARDS ORDERS.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, April %
fspecial)-At 9:32 this morning the fol-
lowing telegram was received from Gov
ernor O'Ferrall. 1t was dated at Fort
Monroe: ,
"Captain Keller,-Proceed Immediately
with your company and plenty OF ammu-
milton to Fairfax Courthouse. Report to
tho Sheriff and obey his orders. Answer
at once"
Another soon followed to this effect:
use utmost speed possible If neces-
sary call on the Southern railway for
special train"
The military alarm was sounded on the
fre-bell and the Monticello Guard re-
paired to it's armory, on Market street.
where Lieutenant Herbert Wing
field. In the absence of Captain T. 5.
Keller and First-Lieutenant w. r. Ro-
berts. took command The Southern rail-
way train, due TO leave this city at 1910.
was held until 1880. and the company en-
barked i'm a special coach attached to 1t.
Thirty-fve of the ffty-fve active MEM
bers of the company went on that train;
others followed on the 1926 Chesapeake
and Ohio train.
Captain Keller. who was in Washing
ton wired the company TO take his uni
form to Fairfax, where he would join 1t.
FEELING IN ALEXANDRIA.
ALEXANDRIA, April 2S.-(Special)-
The news from Fairfax Courthouse was
received with great satisfaction in Alex
andria. and the streets are filled with
cheering citizens.