The times., 1897-04-28
HAS HIS SECOND TRIAL
James Lewis Standing in Deaths
Grim Shadow.
CASE HANDED TO THE JURY
Excited Citizens of Fairfax County
Openly Declare That a MistriaI
VIII Mean "a Lynching-They As
sert He Had Already Had Fair
and just Trial.

Fairfax Courthouse. Va, April 25.-At
o'closk this morning the jury in the
Lewis case, vino had been out since 1
O'Clock, were still discussing the case
1t is reported that telegram had been
sent to Gov o'Ferrall that they would
turn in verdict favorable to the people
What the basis for this information is
| cannot just now be ascertained-
/ 1t Is very evident that the crowds OF
citizens who have not all retired not with
standing the Iareness of the hour, are be-
| comihg very impatient al the delay in tbs
| determination OF the case
! A verdict of guilty was expected soon
| after the jury retired
The second trial OF James Lewis, The ne
| gro who feiOHioasly assaulted Mrs. Ida Res-
! del, was hegun here at 4 O'Clock this after
noon. A large crowd is present, many COM
| ing from adjoining towns, and the feeling
| against the prisoner ana the action, or
| rather want OF action, OF the former jury
| is intense. For this reason il is extremely
doubtful If the law will be allowed 10
take its course, and a Iynching is strongly
| threatened tonight.
The evidence In the case this afternoon
| is practically the same as tnat addaced
at the first trial, yesterday, and upon
which the jury would render verdict OF
guilty, inglic,ins the death penalty, with
out leaving he jury box Mrs. Reidei. who
is a German lady and compelled To speak
through an interpreter, again told the
story of the crime. and fuzzy recognized
Lewis as her assailanJ.
Lewis is an ignorant and repuIsive
looking negro, and appeared even less
interested in the trial today than he did
yesterday, when he stoUtIy mantained mis-
innocence BUoyed up by the fact tLat
the jury had disagreed yesterday in his
case, he seemed to be quite confident
OF acguittal today, and sat with his face
wreathed In smiles as the interpreter Ie-
peated his victims sad story. All this nad
it's effect upon the thr0ng which filled the
Courthouse Excitement is at high Pitch
tonight, and 1t is openly threatened tiat
Lewis will be Iynched before morning
There mas been a disposition on the
part OF the people u give the nan fair
and Just trial, and this they say ne has
already had. aud il is now time that the
Community should act. in view Of the
fact that the curry has failed t. 90 50.
'sIf the county viii not buy a rope TO
hang the man, the citizens viii provide
ene themselves and use IL. said proni-
nent resident Of Fairfax 70 a Times re-
porter. The negro shall never De allowed
10 lie Ia the Jail for any term OF years.
IL be Is guilty. and there is no doubt OF
that. he certainly viii swing. aud the
county may be saved the expense"
Similar exprs ssinns were openly made
In an quarters this sfte moon, and trouble
fsfearei tOHleht. Its TunsOTed that pOsses
from Alexandria. Falls ChuIch, and Ma
nassas are organizing 20 come here tonight,
should the jury again fail 20 agree, or
should Tire verdict be unsatisfactory on
tie night when Lewis was removed 70 Lees
bsiTg, a Iosse of thiTty-five men from this
place and about eighteen from CeBtervilIe
were securing the county roads in trace
OF the sheriff and man, and there is even
more proyocation for IynChins tonight than
there was at that time. The Jail officials
are taking extra precautions tn guard the
man, hut their efforts would amount to
little ia the face OF adeternined mob should
they attempt To get possession OF the
prisoner.
One thing may be set down as certain,
that If the man is not convicted and
sentenced to be hung, the people viii take
the law III their own hands.
The Indignation of the community against
the one man who chung" yesterdays
jury is such that affairs may be made
unpleasant for him. Expressions are
everywhere heard that he should be
ostracised from good society for his con-
duct His action has not only put the
county 10 additional expense, but if there
is a lynchjng he, more than any one else,
will be accounted responsible for it, as his
refusal to render a verdict in
accordance with the law and evidence
really invited mob law.
For number of hours the man repeatedly
voted for acquittal. and not until as late
as 8 O'Clock this morning did he consent tn
come over to the majority side, and then
flatly and rersistently refused TO inflics
the death penalty
Nothing short of this, however, VIII
satisfy the people. the maximum jail sem
tence being twenty years and the mini
mum five years in the State penitentiary.
1t is understood that the obstinate Juror
was a man named Germon, who is not
favorasly regarded. and his present action
will cause his FeEa tions with the community
at large to be more strained.