The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-14

ondary Importance, and that in such
deporable state of things his unhappy
client was lucky to escape with his life.
Mr.. Land virtually admits this when ne
says Il Go not deny that according to
the law as laid down in the statute, the
sentence by the jury is harsh. lie then
appeals to the '.unwritten law, of
which the jury took more notice than OF
the statute. The Times does not agree
to this, but boldly declares that Wilson
had a fair and impartial trial and was
convicted upon competent testimony.
What Mr.. Land calls harsh l call
Outrageous" and such, I may add, is
overwhelmingly the opinion of the ablest
lawyers and business men in this city by
whom | have heard the matter discussed
within the past few days. Scores OF these
lawyers (the foremost at the barr have
spoken TO me on the subject since the aD-
pearance Of my letter, and scores OF busl-
ness men of strong comon senmse-aH OF
them old Confederate soldiers and most
of them old slave-owners-and I have yet
to see one who has not condemned the
verdict Gin view of the evidence as gwen
in the press as Outrageous and q
trayesty Of Justice
A gentleman of high character and solid
judgment, who was present at the trial
from start to finish, has openly declared
it as his deliberate opinion that had VIII
son been tried in Richmond he might
have got a year in Jail, certainly not
more"
What flood of light is shed upon the
whole environment of the trial by the
fact that after the verdict was rendered,
sentence imposed and the case closed. the
presiding judge deemed it necessary to
place the prisoners counsel under protec-
ton of the military to prevent violence
to his person because, forSooth, he had
dared to defend fearlessly and vigorously
his negro client. Let us not overlook one
fact OF tremendous import in clalnly con-
Sidering this case. 1t seems to have been
proved that this negro lived on footing
of more or less easy familiarity with the
family of Watkins. and thus his conduct
is not to be judged by the same stern
standard as in cases where the lines are
more strictly drawn in daily intercourse
between master or mistress and Se.Vant.
Certainly to my mind. and to the mind
of numberess others, his action on this
occasion was essentially different from
criminal assault with violence or even
intended violent assault.
Furthermore, it is reported here on
most trustworthy authority, that even
one of the jurors before the evidence was
in casually remarked to one of the mill
tary officers present, well, it makes no
diTerence-we mean to hang the -
anyhOW.
Had Watkins shot the negro in hot
blood Immediately hearing of TIE oc-
currence and without making any careful
investigation. it would have been, indeed,
deplorable in the light of the testimony
given afterwards, yet, undoubtedly. the
majority of men would have condoned
his action.
But that such a cruel verdict should
have been rendered after the Investigation
by q jury sworn to administer the law as
laid down in the statutes and after the
evidence adduced to the degree of his
offending. still seems to me and to hun
dreds of other old slave-owners blot on
the fair name of the Commonwealth and
"a travesty of justice.
Had Wilson been q white man, I be-
lieve, and this belief is generally shared
here that he would have walked out of
the courtroom a free man.
The feeling Of the old slave-owners to-
wards the negro is still what it always
was-one of protection to these poor
creatures and of dispassionate justice. I'M
swaved by the excited clamors OF morbid
public opinion" I beg in conclusion to
thank Mr.. Land for the courteous tone Of
his criticism of my letter. I am. sir,
AN OLD VIRGINIA SLAVE-OWNER.