Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-07-31
SOME DAY JUSTICE WILL COME.

The following remarkable article
comes from the pen of Harvey Will
son, the bright editor of the Newport
News Times Herald. How one far re-
moved from Northumberland, where
thrilling scenes were enacted in the
life OF Charlie Lewis, should strike
so close to the mark is surprising.
But many people of that section be-
lieve Lewis was ''more sinncd against
than SHINING" and it is possibly that
the same Nemesis is still pursuing
him and is the reason why he gets
such short Communication from the
hands of Governor Montague. The
article In question we reproduce in
full, noting that for Lancaster"
northumberland" should be used:
1t has long been the custom OF the gov
ernors oil Virginia to reward any voiun-
tary service on the part of penitentary
convicts-s the way of assisting the atl-
thorities IN keeping order or preventing
the escape OF other conyicts.
Time and again eonvicts have been
given their liberty for assistance rendered
the guards, but in a case much more
thrilling poor Charlie Lewis gets only n
part OF his term cut Off The little notice
reads as follows:
Charles r. Lewis the convict from
Lancaster county, who some time ago
whom negro had attacked and tried to
Kill, has received substantial reward from
the governor for his timely and heroic
action. His exceliency has commuted the
sentence from 10 to 10years. The charge
against Lewis upon which he was con-
victed and sentenced was that of being
an incendiary."
Lewis should have had n pardon for
the penitentiary holds no more remark
able case than his. His assisting the
guard from an attack by the negro was
as natural as the right thing leaps to the
mind OF any good man. Every man has
right to his opinion, and ours is that IL
ever there was an outrageous thing done
IN law it was the sending of Lewis to
the penitentiary. We do not believe II
could have been done except in this re
mote locality.
Less than dozen years ago Lewis was
before the Legislature giving the most
valuable information as to the raising of
terrapin and planting and culliDg Of oys.
tiers. lie was large dealer In both, His
business tiourlshed. He controlled n
steamer or line OF steamers to Baltimore
and was recognized az one OF the largest
shippers In tidewater.
lie built an extensive canning plant and
was doing n splendid business. Oppo- |
sition came and another plant was es |
tabiished near his own. One night his |
opponents plant was burned, and then
came the remarkable story. Charlie |
Lewis was arrested, tried, convicted and |
sentenced to Is years i'm the penitentiary.
A brilliant lawyer from Washington
who Glanced to be in Lancaster during |
the trial wrote a remarkable story of il. |
lie said Lewis was convicted on the tes- |
timony OF ignorant negro oystermen
WHO had grievances against him, Ha |
said the conduct OF the trial showed hos |
tiiity 20 the man In many ways, and he |
was convinced that "the convict from
Lancaster wasthe victim of persecution. |
Lewis has n story that would make |
very interesting reading, and the Rich |
mond paper that prints it will cause |
stir in some quarters. We made personal |
Efforts TO get it, but there was always
something in the way, and as far as we
know his side Of the case has never been
gwen. lt is remarkablo chat N nrosno.
rous white man should be suddenly re- |
moved from his large interests to the |
penitentiary and the matter seemingly
go by default. His ''heroic action does
not surprise those who know him.