The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-24
MUST HANG
IN ROANOKE.
Mayor Cutchin Declares That
the People Wish the Fiend
Executed There.
HAvE NOT BEEN ( !: L |, A N {: J
His Honor Makes a Strong De.
fensc Of Constituents and Says
They Have Been Discreet.

Mayor Cutchln, speaking for the peo-
pie OF Roanoke, declares that the execu-
ton of tho negro williams should take
place in that city. He also declares that
tho hanging should be public The Mayor
makes a strong defense Of his people,
who, no declares. have conducted them
selves with discretion and moderation
under most trying circumstances His
letter follows:
Editor OF Tho TImes-D ispatc ten:
sr,-The awful crime committed In
Roanoke on January 30, 1904, when Mrs.
Shields and her little daughter were so
fearfully injured. has stirred not only
tho State Of Virginia. but adjoining States,
causing Roanoke to be a center OF att
traction, and appears to have made
profound impression upon the lawmakers
and State authorities 81 Richmond.
# The measures introduced in the Legis-
lature ostensibly to meet tho Roanoke Cor
Willlams) case and the action OF the Gov
crnor in sending 80 large military es:
population OF Roanoke to q degree which
cannot be understood. Our people feel
that they have been made to appear as
a slawless community. and are much cha
grined. q. &. 5f 81
That the crime was diabollcal one
none can deny. That the population. con-
siderng the time place an, and eirc s;lns
and enraged with desire to 8wr eak VEN
geance upon the brute would be the first
thought Of any man.. is but tural;
That any negro who in any way condoned
such an act would be in danger is no
surprise. Hence no stigma OF lawlessness
should be placed upon any people If un-
der such exasperatlng circumstances e. me
negro who by his conduct had forfeited
their respect. While the brute was at
large excitement ran high, but as tho days
law! take its course, and pledged them
selves to uphold and maintain the dignity
Of the law and good name OF The city
and state. Not the least disturbance had
married the Nquietness of the city for ten
days or more before the trial OF VIII
liams. and small force. sufficient to
keep back the curious crowd. would !da nave aS
had the effect of making many people
feel that tho citizens of Roanoke were
being advertised to the world as q people
that the city had suffered In consequence
thereof.
The various bills introduced and passed
by the legislature WHICH Were construed a
Ing sent here for trial. they felt was
an additional insult, membering, as they
did, that the negro had passed through
the yards OF the machine shops. where
two Thousand men were at work. without
the least interference. Roanoke was las
quiet and orderly the day before and on
State. Not an arrest or a disturbance OF
any kind, except that Of drunken soldiers.
The bill now pending In the Legislature
other point is causing great dlssatlsfac-E
ton, and IL such bill becomes ahlaw,3
viii have the effect of making the people
In case Of ANOTHER such outrage = taKs
be impossible to take another such Grim
inal through the city or away from It to
stand trial at some other place without
blooGshed.
The people ware satisfied for the law to
take its course. but demanded that the
negro should be tried and convicted In this
city, and not elsewhere. not being willing
to take any chance, and to-day are loud
In their demands that he should pc
hanged In Roanoke.
The bill introduced to allow a public
execution will give satisfaction and satisfy
their desire, and nothing else will. 1t Is
the opinion Of the majority that q public
execution will be benefit to the com.
munity.
AS Mayor Of the city and as one who {.
for eighteen days wish TO say that
a eondue ndef sasn tFyn With
moro discretion and moderation.
a report in the daily press that some
shopmen, on the departure OF the SOL
diers, were disorderly, was entirely un-}
founded. and base alander upon as con-
servatiyo and splendid a body of men as
can be found In the land XXI
Roanoke has shown due regard OF the
law and conducted herself In n manner
to receive praise, rather than to be hu-
inflated by some Of the actions which
have grown out Of the dastardly crime
brute that ever pa ssed through Roanoke,
Let Henry Williams be executed In
Roanoke. and publicly say al the peo-.
Pile, in order to deter other evtldoers'
| 'sg.5 Very respectfully.
JOEL H. CUTCH1N,
Mayor City of Roanoke. +
Roanoke, Va. Feb. ed,