The Washington herald., 1907-10-22
Remarkable Ending of Case
Against Joseph Thomas.
DEFEND GOVERNORS ACTION
Attorney Clements says Executive
CIemency Was Justified - Negro
gument on Railway RecciVcrship.
To Promote Immigration.
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU,
(Beu Telephone 3d.

tbel Telephone b3.l
50 King Street.
Alexandria. oct. g.-The cases pending
against Joseph Thomas. alias John
Wright. in the Circuit Court of Alexan-
dria County. one FOR the murder OF Jack
son Boney one for criminal assault on
Annie Green, and one for assault with
intent TO kill upon Forest Gooding. were
all nolle pressed and dismissed from the
docket yesterday and the curtain rung
down upon the scene of one of the most
remarkable criminal cases in the history
of the old Commonwealth.
Crandal Mackey. attorney for the prose
cuti0n, stated TO the court that, as Gov.
Swanson had seen fl to commute the
sentence of death in the Risley case TO
life Imprisonment, and as the Common
wealth had only one witness in the other
cases pending. and did not know whether
she would come to court or not, he had
decided 10 ask for a nelle pr0seGui.
Attorney Clements Prepared
Thereupon James f. Clements, the at
torney who has so vaiiantly defended
Wright. stated 10 the court that he had
that in his judgment there was not a
scintilla of evidence 10 convict the pris-
oner; that he was innocent of the pend
ing charges. as he was of the charge
upon which he stands convicted. that the
Risley case heretofore tried was twice
before the Supreme Court of Appeals Of
Virginia, and twice did two of the ab,est
f7rHr of Sri. al
carefully considered opinions. declare
that the evidence disclosed by the record
was not sufficient to justify Wrights con-
viction. and these opinions alone We're
sufficient to influence the governor in
granting a communication, and in the eyes
of all impartial citizens, his conduct in
doing so was worthy of commeudatiOn
rather than CenSure
The three additional cases against the
prisoner, which were dismissed to-day
comprised the charges Of murder, assault
and assault with intent 20 kill. Thomas
was indicted for killing a negro named
Jackson Boney, for assaUlting Annie
Green, coIored, and for attempting to Kill
Forrest Gooding. The prisoner. who has
been in the county Jail for more than a
year, win shortly be conveyed % the
State penitentiary in Richmond.
Clarendon Wreck Case.
A part Of to-day's session of the circuit
court was taken up with argument as to
whether or not the receiver recently ap-
pointed for the Washington. Arlington,
and Falls Church Railway Company
should be made party To the suits pend
ing against the company on account of
the wreck ut Clarendon in July. A large
number of attorneys representing the va
rioUs plaintiffs. were present Judge
Charles h. Nicol, who sought 10 have the
receiver made "a party 10 the suits. ar
gued in favor of postpOning considera-
tiOns of the matter. The opposing at
torneys agreed TO have the case go over.
and it was continued until Thursday
morning at 10 o'clock.
J. T. Preston. secretary Of the Alex
andria Chamber of Commerce, viii
represent that body at the session of
the Southern Immi grafton Association.
which cOnvenes tomorrow morning i'm
Norfolk 10 effect a permanent organi-
Zation. The object of the movement
Is to promote desirable immigration to
the South, especially through the port
Of Norfolk.
The regular monthly meeting Of the
city council viii be held tomorrow
evening when several matters relat-
Ing 10 street improvements viii be dis
cussed. At this meeting the council
may elect a member of the board Of
police commissioners from the fourth
ward The committee on streets and
public property this evening met and
considered the protest of a number of
property owners against the proposed
erection Of a livery stable on North St.
Asaph street near King street, but II
is understood that "a definite report
will not be made at the meeting to-
morrow night.
w. r. Vowles, Of Washington. grand
tent chief ruler Of the order of Macca-
bees, viii deliver lecture In the First
Baptist Church next Friday afternoon.