Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-23
TIE BxsuUr1OE OF FINLEY.


(colored) at Pulaski, Va, Friday,
September 18th, 1899, was in our judg-
ment. nothing more nor less than iu-
dieial murder. This man was con-
victed OF highway robbery. He was
tried upon short notice. He was PEN
niless. His conviction was assured
before he was arraigned for trial. The
jury was cOerced and the verdict rem
dered was a surprise Co even a number
OF white people in that section who did
not know that such q penalty was upon
the ststute books of Virginia.
Deserted, helpless, friendless this
Respondent wretch was at the marcy
of the lynchers who were clsmoring
for his life. It was openly asserted
II he were not executed by law, he
would be hanged by the mob.
With this condition of affairs star
ing the justice loving people. white
aud blsck in the faee. all eyes were
turned towards Governor J. Hoes rY-
LER, an official, who. until this time
has never failed to heed the cries of
the distressed or Listen to appeals for
! mercy.
The daily papers say that even white
people urged him to commute the SEN
tence Of FINLEY or to grant him . re-
prieve OF sixty or ninety days.
He did not, he would not do it, and
NOAH FINLEY, the colored man had the
life choked out OF his trembling, strug-
Cling frame 10 the satisfaction OF the
mob and to the disgust Of every right
thinking person in Virginia.
Did the commemorative attorney do
right in demanding his life Did the
jury do right in yielding to the de-
msnds OF the mob Did the Judge do
right in approving the verdict Did
the Governor do right in denying the
appeal for Communication and the re-
quest for delay?
These are questions which demand
an answer. Would this verdict oil
death for robbsry have been assented
to for an instant had FINLEY been
white aud Major DoRsT {his victin)
coIcred ? Would FINLEY have bsen
hanged IL his victim had been colored 7
|, Wound FINLEY have been hanged il
; he had been white and the man he
/ robbed white
What say you, commemorative at
} torney7 What answer will you give
J jurymen 7 Is there any doubt on your
! mind. Mr.. Judge bsfore whom the sase
= was tried What would your decision
} have been. distinguished Governor Of
Old Virginia?
Was not NOAH FINLEY the victim O
race prejudice, as unreasoning and al
tumultuous as that which condemned
DREYFUs II this be true, what be-
! comes OF that guaranteed equality be-
: fore the law. FINLEY was q citizen
Major DoRsr was q citizen. They
stood theoretically speaking upor
: equal footing. FINLEY had done wrong
: He had siuned deeply. His crime il
! condemned by all law.abiding citizens
, but he had not forfeited his right tt
live.
To hang for robbery was IS much al
Z outrage as to send q mAn to the peni-
r Tertiary for stealing herring.
1t may be argued that the law pro-
vided for such . punishment. Grant
, ed, but this was not case of such ag-
gravation as TO justify the infiiction o
the punishment, aud right here il
where the Constitution of Virginia pro
a vides for the exercise of executive
: clemency on the part of the Governol
of the state.
We will not say that Governor TY
e LER was too busy with his canvass To-
!, the senatorial nomination to heed TIT
a appeals of the distressed. We viii
not emphasize the fast that polite
= has been responsible fer many of TIT
3 visitations OF arrsnt injusticies.
y Gov. TYLRR is Fastening to the sha
. dy side OF life. few more years ant
the muffl I'd drum, the solemn IF
+ sounds, the tramp of horses and tn,
{ sohs OF mourning relatives will tell tn
story that he has gone to his lon
Z home.
Q Before the Almighty God of heaven
he will plead for that mercy which
; would seem that he denied NOAH FIN
a LEY.
ALI right. Chief Executive, all RICH
it will all be over bye and bye, an
those white and colored men wh
? Joined in appeals to you for the softer
) ing of iury's verdict will be- sorrov
y ful and pitiful and sad, praying on
2, Maker that the treatment you accord
=. = ed others may not'b be accorded you.
10
+ ATALE OF HORROR.
IL