Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-07-24
CONVICTED HIM.
PAUL DAVIS MISERY.
A Jury Decides Against
Him.
The GIRLS TESTIMONY.
ExOnerateS the Prisoner.
AN OUTRAGEOUS DE
CISION.
The GIRLS TESTIMONY.
WHEN WILL THE END COME?

WHEN WILL THE END COME?
Paul Davis, the colored lad, charged
with assaulting Cora Twitchell. white,
and proven not guilty was convicted
in the Henrico County Court Friday
July 10. and given nine years in the
Virginia Penitentiary.
PATHEE SHOT HIx.
It will be remembered that the ia
ther of the girl shot Davis as he was
passing from the Jail to the court
house. The wound was dangerous and
at the time was thought TO be fatal.
After suffering the most excruciating
agony however, he recovered
The case was called in the Henrico
County Court Wednesday, July 14th.
Commemorative Attorney Conway r.
Sands and Hon. George ID. Wise ap-
pesred for the prose secution and George
W. Thomas, ESQ., and William M. JUS
tbs for the defense.
THE DEFENSE OBJECTED.
The defense objected to proceeding
with the trial on the grounds that the
court had no Jurisdiction
Cora Twitchell was the first witness.
She testified that she had been living
at seven Pines three years. She came
from Baltimore, and previous to that
from Buffalo.
SHE TELLS TBE STORY.
She said that Davis had first had in
| tercourse with her in the kitchen
about the middle of June, 1895, and at
another time in the woods where she
was watching the cows
The child was born March 27, 1897.
DE-. Harman and DIR. Winn attend ed
her. She stated that she was l3 years
of age April 10, 1893
She said that her little sister was
present the first time and told her
mother.
QUESTION ARGUED.
Counsel argued the question of in
Producing the love-letters which had
been sent by Cora Twitchell to Paul
Davis Judge Wickham decided to
admit them as evidence.
Cora admitted that she wrote letters
to Paul and upon the introduction of
them stated that they were genuine.
She sent the letters to Paul under the
name OF q neighbor named Mr.. Hill,
who was colored. She stated that she
carried two letters to Mr.. Hill's place
herself. She said no one complained
to her parents because she associated
with q colored person. Paul Davis was
the father of her child
WHEN SHE TOLD 1T.
Mrs. Twitchell said that Cora told
her about Paul's intimacy with her
only after she had questioned her
She never charged that he had crimi.
nally assaulted her.
Mr.. White, of Highland Springs, said
he was acquainted with the Twitchell
family. Cora visited his house about
year and half or two years ago
about August before last near the
birthday of his daughter. These
} young girls were together then com.
pairing ages; they were all nearly o
the same age. PEG.
THE QUESTION OF AGE.
"My daughter will sbe sixteen years
old in next August, and Cora stated
} then that she was OF about the sam,
age. My family, Mr. Watson's dauoh.
ter. and Cora rwitchell were there"
3 Cyclone Samuel was the next wit
. ness. He stated that he arrested Pau
! Davis, and related the circumstances
+ On December lIth, he came to tn,
5 Courthouse yard and was asked by Nh
0 Twitchell to arrest Davis, who stoo,
8 near the Jail door Witness said b
g knew Mr. Carlos Twitchell, and whe
9 he was asked whether Twitchell toll
II him the age of his daughter the prose
r cution objected to the question, an
g the objection was sustained.
n TESTIMONY NECESSARY.
d The Court decided that the testims
70 ny OF Carlos Twitchell was very necei
y sary to decide the question of the ae
e of his daughter, and il neither sid
It wanted to call him, then the Cou1
IT would order him to apper.
.t Mr.. Thomas stated that 1r. Twitcl
D. ell swore before Squire Lewis, whe
;" he took out the warrant against Davi
that his daughter was fourteen yea
n old at shat time, and that for thi
in reason he desired to call Squire Lew
> and introduce the warrant as evidenc
al rwITCHRLL MUST TT sTIFY.
The jury was then taken out and IL
ii questiOn of admitting the warral
D. argued before the Court The Cou
finally rul that Carlos Twitche
TO would first have to testify before ii
to warrant could be introduced.
)y Mr.. Carlos Twitchell was then callt
20 by the Court and examined.
&: Il am the father OF Cora Twitchell
d. he said, ''but don't remember VIII,
nr she was born without referring TO IL
family record. have six childr'
ol living"
n When questioned by the prosecute
he said he transcribed the record fro
le the Bible. According to the reco
e Cora was f0nFteen years old on Ap
4. 10Th, 1897 HeWouId always refer
the record il he wanted to be CORE,
lnI WHAT Hk BAD STATED.
Oy When asked by counsel for the
IN fense. he said he had not spoken
'e' Squire Lewis Of the age of Cora. N
Samuel was not present when the Wa
is rant was made out he was in the ha
ne way of the Jail, When he took out t
warrant he might hove said she "
fourteen years old. He did not rec
lect whether he told Mr Samuel {
ace Of his daughter. / might al
:, have told Squire Vincent that 4
- daughter was fourteen years old
"a the time the warrant v as sworn out
~ November / lth last, his daughter "
~ thirteen years and seven months Ol
I5 A recess was then taken until nj
70 o'clock.
tn THE WARRANT PRODUCED.
At the beginning Of the evening "a
sion Squire j. 4 Lewis produced t