The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-21
SENTENCED FOR
SIXTEEN YEARS.
Heavy Punishment Melted Out to
a Savage Negro.
BEAT TWO WHITE LADIES.
Howard Willis Again Sentenced for Horse
Stealing, but Secures Suspension Of
Sentence-LocaI Option Law Ia
Amherst Does Not Work.
Especial Dispatch to The Times

AMHERST, VA, March 20.-Charles
Hendricks was sentenced for sixteen
years in Amherst County Court to-day,
upon two indictments for malicious as
sault upon Misses Sarah and Nancy Ram
sey, eight years in each case.
These ladies were sisters, who were
old and helpless, and lived to themselves
o nthe head waters of Piny River
were assaulted by Hendricks during the
month Of December last. and We're Sc
verely beaten and bruised One OF the
ladies had a rib broken, and the other a
leg.
The long term given by the jury was
a. surprise, but it seems to give satisfac-
ton, as the assault was most outrage
Gus one, and the prjsore
an outlaw. Delegate r. B. Ware, M. D.,
was a leading witness.
FOR HORSE STEALING.
The trial of Howard Willis, indicted
about three weeks ago for stealing a
horse from MI. Whine, near Basic City,
and trying to sell him in amherst county,
occupied the County Court of Amherst
for two whole days When the case was
given the jury late yesterday afternoon,
they remained out only few minutes,
and returned u verdict of guilty, and
fixed his confinement at three years.
This is the second trial Willis has had
for the same offcnse. At his first trial
the jury gave him five years, and his
counsel, Mr. w. Il. Allen, succeeded in
having the verdict set aside on techni-
cality. Counsel moved to suspend the
sentence for three months, SO rs to get
UP the record, as they purposcd to take
the case to he Circuit Court, which me-
ton was granted. There was numter
of witnesses here in this case from Au-
gusta county, as the prisoner seems to
have stolen horse. bridal, and saddle
each from different parties.
COUNTY CONSTABLE.
From present indications the court
will have a week or ten days
work. A considerable crowd was
in attendance ON Monday, the first
day of the term. Constable w. S. Carter
resigned and Thos. E. Everett was ap-
pointed in his stead.
"A number of witnesses We're before the
grand Jury and testified in regard to the
sale of whiskey and ether irtoxicants in
this local option district but the grand jury
failed to see from the evidence sufferer
grounds to bring in an Indictment against
tho party who is suspected of violating
the law. There is no question, it seems,
in the minds of any one that whiskey
is bought and sold, but there seems in
this instance to be a defect in the local
option law, for neither judge or jury
Rave as yet been able to find any way by
Which the offender can be suppressed.
Treasurer H. C. Joyner, who has been
ccrfined to his home for the last month
from an attack Of the grip, is in his
Office this week.
The prospects for wheat and winter oat
crops in this section are distressing this
season. The fields are almost bare.
The County Road Board last Monday
elected Mr.. w. S. Carter to take charge
Of the convict force, a position made va.
cant by the death of Mr.. r. L. Harrison
who had been regularly, elected to the
DHSiton