Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-25
The Governor Condemned for 0c-
curenGes at Emporia Yesterday.
SYMPATHY FOR o'cRApY
Tho Chief Executive NIakos Statement
with Reference to the Lynching Tho
Views of Newspaper Mon Responsible
fly Thrown Upon County Judge and
sheriT, who are Said to Have Been
Eadly scared.
Especial to virginian- Pilot.)

Richmond, Marc 24.-The Governor is
condemned on all sides in this city for
his alleged lack of firmness. which the
people hold to be the cause of the
double lynching in Emporia this morn
ing. There is, of course, no sympathy
felt for Cotton, who everybody thinks,
richly merited death, but the white
man, O'Grady. protested his innocence,
and all reports seemed to bear out the
truth of his assertions.
THE GOVERNORS STATEMENT.
Governor Tyler this afternoon gave
out statement, in which he said that
while he was greatly distressed at the
occurrence at Emporia, yet he felt that
he had done his full duty.
1.-THE Sheriff of Greensville county
was supreme" he said, and when he
ordered the troops to leave they had
to go. unless l proclaimed martial law.
and did not feel that 1 was justified
in proclaiming it. since both Judge
GOODWIN, Sheriff Lee. and n number
of citizens had pledged themselves to
uphold the law. 1 do not see that
am to blame in the matter, for sent
troops promptly, and was sending more
when the message was received from
the Sheriff that he did not want them"
VIEWS OF NEWSPAPER MEN.
The newspaper correspondents at
Emporia, however, take n different
view of the matter. Messages received
early this morning before the Rich
mond military left asserted that there
was a general understanding that the
negro Cotton would be lynched as soon
as the troops were withdrawn. and that
the Sheriff and Judge were fully aware
Of the real facts.
RESPONSIBILITY PLACED.
The Governor also knew of this since
Major Cutchins wired him at 1880
o'clock this morning that the prisoner
would surely he lynched IL the troops
were taken away, and asked for in
structions.
The reply of the Governor threw the
responsibility on the Sheriff, and Major
Cutchins was reluctantly compelled to
withdraw his men.
The troops returned to Richmond at
11:20 O'clock. and two hours later both
the men had been strung up.
COUNTY OFFICERS FRIGHTENED.
Judge Goodwin and Sheriff Lee were
two badly frightened men," said
lives were in danger. and much pres
sure was brought to bear that they
were forced to act as they did. We
could have taken Cotton from jail yes
terday afternoon and brought him to
Richmond. but the feeling had grown
to such an extent that reinforcements
would have been needed to do so this
morning"
Captain Daughtrey said that the
Judge and the Sheriff were scared al
most out of their wits, and didn't know
their own mind for five minutes at a
Time
THE LAW IN THE MATTER.
In speaking of the Cotton case this
morning. Commemorative Attorney d.
c. Richardson said that the law in the
matter was quite simple.
Tho man was sentenced to hang in
Portsmouth. January 18th, but he es-
capped some days before that time. All
that is necessary now is TO carry the
prisoner TO Portsmouth and there he
would be re-sentenccd and given thirty
days to prepare himself. No further
trial Will be necessary. and there would
be no chance of his escaping through
technlcalities or other LEGAL complca-
tions."
GENERAL ALLAN ILL.
Owing to the illness of General Edgar
Allan. United States District Attorney
The sessions of the spring term have
been postponed from April I'd TO May
lst. The grand Jurors have been noti-
he'd to appear on the last named date
Aho the petit jurors the day following
BOARD OF PHARMACY.
At the meeting of the State Board of
Pharmacy this morning james l.. Avis
OF Harrisonburg, was reelected presl-
dent. and Mr.. e. r. Bcciwith, Of Pc
tersburg, reelected secretary
IMPROVING
DR.. Hunter Mcclure. who was par
a'yZed last Monday, continues TO i'm
prove. though he has not yet regained
the power of speech.
colonel VIM. f. Wicl1ham. who shot
himself last Sunday at his home in
Fowhatan county. is convalescent.