Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22
HAVE SEATS.
COMMISSIONER OF LABOR save
sHor-GIRLs STILL STAND.
A PATHETIC PLEA FOR PARDON.
An Old Negro Writes TO His Former
Master to Have Him Use His In
huence TO Secure the GOVERNOR
Clcmcncy.
Clcmcncy.

Mr. a. p. Montague. the COMMISSIONS
OF Labor, says that so far as he knows.
the law passed by the last LEGISLATURE
recurring merchants who employ sales
women to furnish seats for them TO uss
when not at work is not at all observed.
MI Montague has been doing a con-
siderable amount OF Christmas shopping
recently. and has been on the lookout for
me seats required hy law. He says he
has not found any anywhere In Rich
mond.
1 did not expect to find the girls sit
ting down at this season, when every
BODY IN the stores is busy. but | did think
l would ind somewhere the seats which
the law requires" said Mr.. Montague.
i never saw one anywhere.
1t is in the line of my duty, as the
mead Of the Bureau of Labor, to see that
this law is enforced. If it is not a good
one the Legislature should repeal it. /
nave nothing 10 do with that"
Mr. Montague is considering writing TO
the merchants OF the State, calling their
attention TO tn. law and requesting their
compliance.
PATHETIC PLEA FOR PARDON.
Governor Tyler yesterday received a
very pathetic appeal for pardon from
Richard Brown. an aged colored man,
now serving a life sentence in the peni-
Tertiary.
The letter was forwarded to the Gov
ernor by Mr.. o. A. Sledge, of Norfolk.
IN whose family Brown was a loQg time
a slave. The old negro says I'm hiy1etter:
Il nave served over seventeen years Of
life sentence in this institution, and nave
become broken down in the service Of
the State. Having no friend to call
upon, l thought 1 would write to my old
masters SOM feeling that you would not
disregerd the prayers Of one of your
fathers e~x-slaves.
There is nothing 1 can state concern
Ing my case. that 1 know of, that would
help you, but il you decide TO assist me.
you, OF course, will know how to proceed.
Il nave always cherished the hope. sir.
that something would be done for the old
man, and that l would mo-, be allowed to
hive out my last days in prison, for God
knows that / am not guilty to that extent.
But you, sir, are my sole reliance, and
If you fail me, / know that my case is
a hopeless one. But, oh, sir. do not cast
me off. Come to the rescue of your
fathers old slave and make a poor, worn
out, old man happy"
THINKS HIM WEAK-MINDED.
In a brief letter, forwarding that of the
old negro, Mr.. Sledge says:
This boy was a slave of my fathers
and was my playmate in the old days.
He was never of a good mind, and was
always considered as not responsible for
his acts. We all knew he was not of
sound mind, and / so testified at his trial,
and he Should not have been convicted"
1t is a remarkable fact that neither the
negro nor Mr.. Sledge mention the crime
of which Brown was convicted. Owing
TO this fact the Governor cannot even
consider the case.
1t was stated at the penitentiary last
night that Brown is serving a life term
for arson committed in Isle of Wight
county. The prison officials say he has
always been a good prisoner, but that
they have not observed evidence of a
weak mind.
PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS.
officials at the Capitol and State Ii
brary are preparing TO leave for their
homes for the holidays. 1t is probable
that all the State offices will close on
Saturday at noon. Several of the at
taches have already left for home. The
offices will be open during Christmas.
week, but there will be little business
transacted. Many Of the officials will
spend the week at home.