Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-29

10y YEARS IN THE PENIrENTIARY.
~. - .d-uii, Tie negro, who, July
~ atiemD. ed to criminally assault
l-., ,l me ,isht-year-oin daughter of
Yam 4 lott, residing rear the Chain
- in Alexandria county, was
p I,c5J On trial in the Alexandria coun-
J.. curt Yesterday morning. before
T., lg4 James NJ. Love, and convicted.
H. ,yos sentenced to ten years impris-
-, jn the penitentiary. Dodson is
o oSresr- cd. The particulars OF the
- nave already been published and
s.svi.ieuca against the accused was
',a..r.y. and conclusive. When court
t',a,.a,.d Yesterday morning there was
o oyl,. crowd present, the negroes ap-
o,Iv in the majority. There was
- - 1.ro-sIa.ion whatever OF the part
~ -Va.l,-r * Mites or blacks, aud quiet pre-
J.d,5roughout the trial. The prisoner
"-.s4-tended by Messrs. S. G. Brent and
Ia..n3 r. Flsuisel, r. Mr.. Brent ask
o5-i,f The case be allowed to go over
var. ,oeay. owing 10 the absence Of
H.. y p Howard, the physician who
I|s
rs5 made an examination Of Viola Ell
i.atr An behalf of the defense. 1t WAS
,Isaded that there was some hitch in
me usyment, or security of the ply
,.c;el fees. and MIR. Brent thought he
oonJ arrange the matter by today.
NrC e. Carin, prosecuting attorney,
o1i.o..d 10 the case going over, and
Io5o- Love directed that DR.. Howard
ma c.mmun Gated with and informed
that the case would be tried at once. Dr..
Howard arrived at noon, and at 1890
-s... ca-e was opened. Attorney Carlin
brieH. outlined his case, touching upon
tna points 10 be established by the
commonwealth, and Viola Elliott, upon
whom the assault was alleged to have
bsen attempted, related the details.
William Marcy, constable, to whom the
vsrran, for Dodson's arrest was deliv-
erred ietailtd confession made to him
by Dodson. He admitted t. Marcy
that he was guilty of the chargo
urged against him. c. 4. Thought, the
examining Justice, and Captain Joseph
B Merritt both told of confessions
made to them by Dodson, similar 10
the Que made by him to Unstable
Marcy The evidence for the prosecu-
lin was closed at this point, and Dr.
Hamilton p. Howard, for the defense,
was called. He told o: the physical
CONDITION Of Viola Elliott at the time of
his rx4minatioD, several days after the
alleged attempt. He found no marks
of violence upon her person. D.dson
vas finally placed upon the stand in
his own behalf. His evidence was OF
rambling nature. He denied having
made the confessions to Messr5. Marcy,
Thought ana Merritt, but admitted that
he was 10 the cellar with Viola Elliott
on Juiy IL. When asked his age he
said thu. be was sold into slavery by
Commodore Jones wnen he was fifteen
year, OF ase, 10 1886, during the lstter
part Of Gen. Andrew Jackson's admin
istraton Arguments were by Messrs.
Cnrhn for the prosecution, and Brent
and FNnicer for the defense. At 5:25
the ease WAS given to the jury, and,
after fifteen minutes DELHI ration, they
returned The following verdict 1--WE,
the jury, find the prisoner, William
Dodson, guilty of attempted rape, as
indicted, aud tx punishment at ten
year., confinement in The penitentiary
ottlis state" Judge Love will hear
arguments on motion for q new trial
on Wednesday morning. The jury
Was composed of Messrs. John Haney,
foreman; Charles Price, Harry B Hey,
VIM Boswell, Wm. Reed A. d Tor.
reysOn, w. L. Varney, John Robinson,
Thomas Rust, A. B Hines, Homer
Works, and William Ball.