Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-11-03
TRIAL OF JOHN HOLDEN.
CONVICTED OF Attempt 20 Commit Rape :
Death, the Penalty for his Crime.


CONVICTED OF Attempt 20 Commit Rape :
Death, the Penalty for his Crime.
John Holden, colored. was arrai ~
ed before Judge I;Os on Thursday
for an attempt to commit rape on
Virginia Clayton little girl, 0 years
old, In a woods near Parksley on the
18Th OF last October.
The case was called at IL o'clock
and submitted to the jury empanell
ed to try him at 4 p. M, Of same day
Their verdict was rendered In about
80 minutes after the evidence had
been concluded and the case had
been given to them. Their verdict
was that he was guilty OF the crime
for which he had been tried and
must pay the highest penalty known
to the law for his crime.
His guilt was proven beyond all
doubt as shown by the evidence sub
mitted below: Virginia Clayton the
! little girl assaulted by him, testified
that on her way home from school on
the 10th of October, that she had
been attacked by him and gave in
detail the acts of violence done by
him in tearing her clothes off Of her
and otherwise, in his efforts to crimi>
nally assault her. She described his
appearance on the day of the assault
the clothes he had on. aud identified
him at the trial as the man who had
attempted violence upon her.
Frank Bowden, colored, the next
witness, who heard her cries and
went to her rescue, corroborated all
her statements as to the attack, the
appearance of the person and the
clothes worn by him on the day, ex-
cept that he said he was not near
enough to the prisoner on the day
to be able to swear, that after he had
changed his clothes whether or not
he was the same man, but believed
he was.
Mrs Sterling the little child's aunt
aud with whom she had her home,
described the child's clothes on leav-
ing and returning home, corroborat-
ing in every respect the evidence Of
the child in that particular.
Miss Mason and Mr.. Arthur Van
Deman identified the prisoner as the
same man that they had seen on the
18th of Octo Der, and said that the
boots and shirt in evidenc before the
court and which the prisoner &C
knowledged belonged to him, were
the same which were worn by him on
the day that he attempted to commit
the crime.
Mr.. Gabe Evans also saw the man
wearing dark shirt, chequed clothes
and with gum boots on his arm, the
same as were in his opinion, produced
in court.
Fred Gunter, colored, also saw a
man on the 18th, whose description
corresponded with that of the pGis-
oner.
Two colored women, Rachel and
Jennie Gusts, also saw man on the
18th, about the size of the prisoner,
who seemed to be scared to DEATH
with gum boots on his arm and wear
ing dark shirt and cheque clothes.
Mr.. Douglas Wilkins, who arrested |
him, testified as to difference of state
ments made as to his whereabouts
on the 18th
The Identification of Holden was
not only complete because of the
testimony of the child to that efft ct,
but because the description OF the |
clothes worn by him on the day, |
given by her and Frank Bowden who |
rescued her, were known to be the
same by the other witnesses who saw
him on the day.
The only evidence in defence was
that of the prisoner himself and out
of his own mouth he convicted him
self by the discrepancy of his state /
ments.
The We rdict and sentence, so far as
we are advised seems to have the APP
proval of everyone. The prisoner
would probably have been lyncbe ed |
but for the prompt steps taken by
the Judge and Commonwealth Attor
ney to prevent it, but now that he
has had speedy trial and will get
the punishment he deserves, every
one will agree that it was best for him
to be tried and convicted by due
process of law.
The jury which tried him was an
excellent one and no one doubted
wha the result would be after the
evide nee had been submitted to them.
They met they just expectation of al
outraged and Incensed people and
discharged their duty promptly.
The prisoner is an old offender.
He had attempted to criminally as
sault three others, before the attack
was made by him on the little girl
for which he is to be hung.
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