Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-08-11
LOMAX IN PRISON.
Puzzle to Intervi
Playing a Part?

Puzzle to Interviewers-ls he
Playing Part?
John Lomax, colored, convicted OF at
tempted criminal assault on the late
Miss Susie COstenbader in Westm re
land county, is now confined in the ,ity
Jail, waiting the 9th OF September, on
which day he will be hung.
This case has caused great deal OF
interest and no little excitement through
out this section of the State, and yester-
day a representative of the Gazette in
terviewed the condemned man. This
was the first time he had talked of the
crime of which he is charged since SEN
tence was pronounced upon him. When
seen. the negro was standing listlessly
bv the door of his cell, scratching the
wall with his finger, and seeming to
take but little interest in his surround
ings. He was wearing white shirt
and blue overalls, the shirt having been
given him here. He is typical coun-
try negro, with genuine dialect, hum
bic, retiring and not at all laxative.
The officials say he is very quiet and
never mixed with the other prisoners
before he was placed in solitary cOniine-
ment. but would sit by himself and
laugh at the Others while they amused
themselves. On being questioned he
said that he was sixteen years old in
April, and had a mother, one brother
and two sisters living, and he had never
been in trouble before. He told II
straight story in very simple language,
and at times there was a suspicion OF Il
choke in his voice when talking about
his home life. The evening Of the
crime, he said, he saw Miss Costenbader
at Harvey's store, which is about three
hundreds yards from the saw mill in
which he was employed. That was
about half past one O'Clock, and at two
o'clock on her way from the store to her
home. a distance Of between two and
three miles, the assault occurred. Lo-
max said he had nc idea who committed
the crime and when questioned repeat
edly, replied always, "Deed | don +
know sir" He says that the first he
knew of the affair was when he
reached his home that night, and was
placed under arrest, and that he was
frightened then, as he had never
been arrested before. Then came
the hurried trip to this city on tug to
avoid a threatened lynching, but he had
no fears after the first fright, as he knew
he was innocent. He had known the
Girl for six or seven years and as child
rem they had played together, but for
the past two years, he said, he had only
seen her to speak to. When asked con-
corning her death by burning about two
weeks ago, he expressed regret, and
said she was nice girl, and her father
was a good man; why she had accused
him. he did not know He said that
Joe and Phil Harvey, and colored
man named jeff Newton, who worked
at the saw mill with him, could prove
that he was at work that evening, and
had 50 testified at his trial. The doctor,
who examined the girl, he said, had not
found any evidence of an assault. People
from this city who were at the trial say
the doctor evidence was positive as to
the assault. I When sked about the trial,
he said that lot of men had gotten to-
gether and talked and then said that they
would hang him next month. lie
didn't want to die, but was not afraid,
for he was member of church and
had no fears for the future. 1t is hard
70 saw whether he realizes his condition
or not, for his talk is queer mixture OF
simplicity, stolidity and indifference.
Everything suits him and he makes no
complaints. The food he gets Is good,
he SAYS, and his sleep is no more restless
than usual, for he always walked up
during the night. Time hangs heavily
on him. for. he cannot read, aud he
passes the hours looking through his
bars into the corridor. His health is
GOOD. When asked if he was going to
act like man at his execution, he
said there was nothing else to do, for
they were going to hang him anyway,
and he thought he could 90 through his
part without finching.
The reporter left the negro without
obtaining a clear idea Of his case. If he
is guilty-and some bad reports of his
character have come from WestmOreland
his execution VIII be regar6e as jus''
If such is the case Lomax has more
cunning than appearances indicate, fol
his simplicity and seeming ignorance
would mi ,lead anyone not convinced q
his guilt There is as in all such case
a possibility of his innocence, although
the probabilities are decidedly agains
him