Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-10-10
THAT FEARFUL EXECUTION.

that crime was committed. 1t is con-
ceded that a crime was attempted.
One mans life paid the penalty and it
would appear to the average mind that
this would have appeased the appetite
of the most blood-thirsty. 1t is conced-
ed that BACoN'S conviction was brought
about 10y the testimony of ANDERSON
FINCH.
His testimony was extorted when the
community was in high state of ex-
citement over the outrage. But when
FINCH went to the gallows, he boldly
declared that BACON was innocent
This testimony made from the gallows
deeply affected not only the common
wealth's attorney of Mecklenburg
county, but thousands of white people
in other sections of the state. Those in
Petersburg contributed literally towards
defraying the expense of counsel to save
the lonely prisoner, who fingered in the
Petersburg Jail. Gov. MONTAGUE was
evidently impressed by the represent ia
lions, although, according to his own
statement, he took no action on his own
motion. He rested the case on the
Judge and the Commonwealth Attor-
ney and gave to them executive powers
in the premises.
Judge HOMES had promised, so says
our correspondent, that the Negro
should be brought back and hanged.
He did not qualify his remarks. 1t was
a Negro hanging they wanted and a
Negro hanging they should have. The
effort to save BACON should have been
1-ade in Mecklenburg county instead of
at Richmond. This is an anomalous con-
uition of affairs. Still, it is true. We
read very carefully all that the dis
tinguished Chief Executive wrote and
we felt strangely satisfied that, so far as
he was concerned, he washed his hands
of the entire affair and left the respon-
sibility with the neighbour 7od in which
the alleged offense was committed.
This sealed BACON : fate and he walked
forth to his death, bcseeching and i'm
ploring merciful Saviour 30 forgive
his enemies.
| We sometimes wonder if some Of
these white men ever expect mercy in
the hereafter, or if they ever realize the
full import of the oath of office Was
Judge HOMES influenced by his sur
roundings? Would he have insisted on
the hanging of BACON if he had been a
white man and had attempted to assault
a colored woman? Would he have in
sisted upon the hanging of BACON, a
white man, who had attempted to as
! sault white woman? Would he have
insisted upon the hanging Of him if he
had attempted to assault q colored wo-
man, both parties being colored?
/ III the witness who testified before a
jury that "a man was guilty should
change this testimony on the Callows
and IL the face of eternity announce
that he had lied and that BACON was
innocent, would he feel justified in
hanging him, while the man himself
protested innocence? If he would,
then we have nothing more to say. AS
the matter now stands, he has the testi-
mony of two dying men to the inno-
cence of Doc BACON. If their state
ments are to be believed, the blood of an
Innocent man rests upon the heads of
those responsible for his execution.
BACON protested his innocence upon
the gallows. What more could this
poor creature do? He begged and
pleaded. He prayed and implored and
his words were needed not. His enc.
mics wanted blood. 1t is a sad picture
and is another graphic illustration Of
"man's inhumanity to mani
They demanded of this poor, friend
less Negro, cooped up in a cherries Jail
with no money and with but few
, friends, that he should prove his limo
cence and not that they should establish
l his guilt. They said that no new evi
dence had been developed. What NOR,
did they want? Had not the main wit
ness for the prosecution testified on tn
gallows that the man was innocent AM
:. was it not principally upon his testimo
ny that BACON was convicted? Blu
they wanted more. They wanted hin
- to spend $1,000 to pay counsel, when h
hadn't cent. They wanted him t
put some other colored mans neck i
the halter when he took his own nee
out and so they sacrificed his life, con
is mitted judicial murder in order to al
a pease the blood thirsty taste of a how
a. ing mob.
so The sacrifice has been made and til
Is victim has stepped down into the chill
u waters Of death, never more to see til
light of this world, but will tell all {
~ his troubles and his trials and his tribv
&c lations to a sympathetic Saviour
es White men who serve as judges and {
TO commonwealth attorneys are swor
. to recognize no man on account of rae
color or previous condition of servitud
Il Il. l.