Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-03-17

was landed in Jail without trouble, and
the srsad jury Friday will dispose of
his case.
Mise Osine and Miss Hickman were
too Ill to appear at the preliminary
hearing OF the Negro set for to-day,
and it Is probable that there will be no
preliminary hearing in the case, the
authorities having practically decided
TO let the grand jury take the matter
mp and bring in an indictment without
further parley.
Judge Lee has ordered a special
grand jury for tomorrow. II indicted
Benjamin will be tried Friday.
In the struggle Miss Gaines hand
was bitten by Benjamin and several
handouts of hair were torn from her
head.
Miss Hickman's hair also suffered at
the hands OF the brute, and che receiv-
ed blow in the face which left large
black bruise."
Read the statement again and
again and it will be readily understood
why the jury dissgr eed.
Where is there Q man, white or
black who would be fool enough to at
tempt to rape . white female in the
front door of q white citizens home
with another female yelling and In the
midst Of q populous city The very
idea is preposterous, and yet this is
what the accusers Of BENJAMIN would
! have US believe.
But this ia not all. Then followed
the usual procedure and the correspon-
dent stated that it had been announced
that "if the Jury doesn't hang him, the
people will"
Oh, yes, il the jury didn't nurder
him, the citizens would undertake the
job. What more evidence do we de-
sire than the following
NEWPORT News, VA, March e.
Specisl.-The trial OF the Negro Frank
Benjamin, charged with attempted
criminal assault on Miss Alice Caine in
Hampton, is in progress in the Eliza
beth City County Court and will be
completed tomorrow. The morning
was spent getting . lawyer for the acs
cused. In the afternoon q fury was
quickly empaneled and the States evil
dence all gotten in. The defence will
put on its witnesses in the morning.
When court convened at 10 O'Clock
the rom was crowded with interested
spectators.
1t was an orderly crowd, omipouslv
orderly; crowd that was plainly
awaiting DEVELOPMENTS; q crowd prim-
lY certain that Frank BeDJamin was as
good as dead. His ultimate fate was
not in question. It was like an ante
mortem examination. Some suggest
ed that the prisoner had strong case
OF insanity or irresponsibility but
qualified the suggestion with the re-
mark that mad-dogs ought to be shot"
Mark you, this is virtually the decla-
ration that crazy people should be shot.
Then followed one OF the most tragic
scenes ever witnessed in q Virginia
courtroom. Here is how it is de-
scribed:
commonwealth Attorney E. E.
Montague was promptly on hand.
present, also, 20 assist the Common
wealth, was Marquis Jones, friend of
the lady upon whom the attempted as
sault was made, and of Mr.. George
SchmelE ut whose home the crime was
committed. He explainedlto the court
that he was in The case because of this
friendship aud for the purpose Of see
ing Justice done, not for fee. Asso-
ciated with the Commonwealth At.
torney, too, was Captain ]. A. Field, o !
respected colored lawyer, who yolun- |
teered his services.
The prisoner was not represented, |
though 1t was stated that his aged psr-
ents had mortgsged their home and
raised $500 with which to employ coun.
sci. Eminent lawyers in Newport
News and Hampton were approached
and asked to take the case, but refused. |
Judge Lee successively requested q |
number OF attorneys TO act.
one after another they earnestly ask |
ed to be excused, and were excused.
FINALLY his Honor, saying he never |
liked 60 try man not represented by |
counsel, asked George w, Field,
brother of Captain Field, on the other |
side, II he would take the case. After
stating that he would rather not, Field |
sc last consented out of respect to the |
court. but stipulated that he must be |
assisted by some one.
a messenger was sent after A. W.
bassett, colored lawyer and school |
teacher, who came IN and agreed to |
take the case. after addressing the
court to the effect that he condemned |
the crime and was acting only because
the court reque sted him to and out of |
sense OF Justice to his fellow-man."
To even read this farce OF trial ia
sickening. It seems that Lawyer A.
W. e. BAssRTTE tcolored) virtually sir
gie-handed and alone was there TO de-
feni this unfortunate citizen OF color. |
What defense could he maker what
plea colld he enter with thoss sur
reundings? With the commonwealth
attorney, was a white lawyer, and then |
colored one. There for what pur-
pose ITO assist in hanging man who
was without counsel and whose poor
old Christian mother had mortgaged |
her humble home for $500 in order to
defend her boy.
Oh, white men of Virginia, IL is
enough to make you blush for shame.
Oh, eolore6 men OF Virginia, it ia
enough to make you thrill with in.