Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-15
AFRAID OF NEGROES.
WARRIsNTON's MAYOR OPPOSES
LETTING COLORED TROOPS COME.
NOAH FINLEY WILL HANG TO-DAY.


For the first time I'm many years-if
not in the Commonwealth's histOry-the
Governor OF Virginia has received pro-
test against allowing an armed body Of
men from another state to enter the ter
ritory Of the old Dominion.
a letter was received at the Governors
Office yesterday from W. :. Thompson,
captain commanding the Butler Zouave
Corps (colored) OF Washington, ID. c.,
asking permission to enter the State for
the purpose Of taking part in the Eman-
cipation-Day celebration at Warrenton,
September 22d.
THE MAYORS PROTEST.
In the same mail came a letter from
Mayor John r. Spillman, Of Warrenton,
protesting against the granting of the
permission which he understood was 10 be
asked The letter OF protest was en-
dorsed by Judge c. NJ White, OF the
Fauquier County Court.
The Mayors letter says, in part: AT
the instance Of our Council i write TO
ask that this permission be refused. II
is supposed that a large number OK col
ored people will be here on that occasion;
are uneasy as il is and to allow armed
soldiers would, in our opinion. be dan
gerous experiment" The Mayor says,
further. that the corps should not be al
lowed to attend the celebration, at least
not with arms.
Judge White in endorsing the Maror's
protest, gives his reasons for doing so.
There are he says, two white men con-
fined in the Warrenton jail awaiting trlal
on the charge of criminal assault upon
negro girl There is also a negro prison
or charged with a Ike crime. As there
have been threats of violence, the county
Judge shares the apprehension OF the
town authorities that the assembling OF
so large a number of negroes-civilians
and soidiers-might lead TO an effort 10
carry out the threat TO interfere with the
prisoners. The Judge thinks the presence
Of the corps will, under the clrcum-
stances, be unwise.
Private Secretary owen has referred
| the matter to Governor Tyler.
Finley Must Hang To-Day.
Governor Tyler has refused to interfere
| in the case Of Noah Finley, the negro
who is to be hanged at Pulaski CITY TO-
day for the robbery and attempted muir
| der of Major James Darst, VINO resides
at Dublin. i'm pulaski county Many let
Of Pulaski asking that the Governor re-
| spite Finley with a view TO granting an
| opportunity to have prepared a petition
1 for Communication of sentence TO lite-lm-
/ prisonment
It was urged that the crime Of high
way robbery has rarely been punished by
death I'm Virginia. and that Imprisonment
| i'm the penitentiary for life would answer
the ends of Justice. But Governor Tyler
says in giving his reasons for refusing
! interference:
"Tbe prisoner was convicted by jury
Of honorable men. who state on oath that
they were unbiased and could give the
prisoner a fair and impartial trial the
law in it's wisdom allows them TO inillct
the death penalty. There is no question
of the prisoners guilt and no mitigating
circumstances urged as n reason Tor
clemency. I therefore decline TO inter-
fere with their verdict"
AN AGGRAVATED CASE.
Major Darst. who is a wealthy mer-
chant of Dublin. started to 20 from his
store 10 his house, in a suburb Of Dublin.
! about o'clock on the night Of August
! ID When he reached n lonely spot IN
the road Finley sprang out. and at the
| point Of a pistol compelled Major Darst
| TO give ND his watch and what money he
! had i'm his pocket He then attempted 10
make his prisoner so back to the store
probably for the purpose Of opening the
| safe. Major Darst ran away instead or
obeying the negro's order. Finley fired
three shots at him without effect. lie
then boarded a train, but Major Darst
telegraphed OF his coming. and he was
arrested by the Sheriff at East Radford.
| Finley attempted to shoot the Sheriff.
| Tho uegro was locked up In the jail az
| East Radford but feeling was 50 high
that he had TO be taken TO Christians
burg. He was brought back TO Pulaski
| CITY the following Monday and indicted.
! Tuesday he was convicted and sentenced
TO death. Murder and criminal assault
are almost the only crimes under the Vir-
ginia law punishable with death.