The Washington herald., 1907-08-27
NEGRO NOT TO HANG
Governor COmmutesSentence
Of Alexandria Prisoner.
SERIOUS DOUBT OF HIS GUILT
Nine Persons Swear They Saw Him
at Place other Than the Scene of
Assault During Entire Period in
which II Took PIace-Lawyers
Hope 10 Prove Thomas GuiltIess.

Richmond, Va, Aug. 26-Joseph Thom-
as. alias John Wright the negro who
was to hang next Friday in the jail at
Alexandria, viii spend the balance Of
his life in the Denitentiary. Gov. Swan
son having this afternoon eommuted the
death sentence 10 life Imprisonment.
James E. Clements and J. W. Clements.
both Of Alexandria came here to-day in
behalf OF the accused man. They brought
many papers bearing on the case. among
them nine sfidavits stating that Wright
was not al the place when the assault
is alleged to have been committed.
one OF these gentlemen said to-day that
he was satisfied for the present, but he
will continue the work of collecting evil
dence to show that the man is not guilty
Of the crime which was laid at his door.
and he viii undertake TO show conclusive
iy that he should be given his liberty.
Wright was tried in the Circuit Court
OF Alexandria. Judge Charles z. Nieol
presiding. The verdict of the jury was
death. and he was accordingly sentenced.
Counsel for the man appealed to the gov
ernor. and a stay Of execution was grant
ed. three months being given, Gov.
Swanson has since been considering the
case. The case went to the Supreme Court
OF Appeals, and a divided court refused
to interfere in the verdict Of the ju-y.
The papers In the case were made out
and sent to Alexandria this afternoon.
and the man will be brought here and
lodged In the penitcntiary
Governor Gives Reasons.
The governors reasons for committing
the sentence are as follows:
The prisoner, Joseph Thomas, alias
John Wright, is a poor. frlendless negro.
without money and without influence.
This fact has induced me 10 give this
matter full and thorough examination.
Z res oited him for three months ia or
der TO give every opportunity for addi-
tional evidence to be procured II possible
in this case. ! sent fer the lady and her
husband upon whom the assault was
committed 10 satisfy my mind and con-
science fully in this matter After ques-
tioning her and her husband. whose eyi
dence alone procured a conviction; read
ing fully the evidence in the case, the
opinion OF the judges and the Supreme
Court Of Appeals, and especially the ad-
ditional evidence filed as 70 the guilt Of
the prisoner. and considering the fact
that the assault was committed between
S and $50 o'clock. when il was dark and
difficult to clearly and definitely identify
persons, IL has established In my mind
a serious doubt as 10 the identity and
guilt OF the prisoner. IN addition. the
foreman of the jury. a person OF unusual
intelligence and fairness. and a great
many OF the influential citizens Of Alex
andria Comfy. requested shat this COM
mutation be granted on account Of the
doubt as TO the idenudcaJon OF the
prisoner. Hence, I conceive Il to be my
duty % commute the death penalty IN
this case to Imprisonment FOR life.
Nine swear 10 AIibi.
Il have fled before me as new and ad-
ditional evidence the afadavits Of nine
persons, whose evidence, II true. would
show that the prisoner could not have
been present when the assault was com
mitted- The evidence OF these nine wit
nesses establishes an alibi. which creates
a serious doubt as 20 the Identification
OF Joseph Thomas. alias John Wright, as
the party who committed the assault
These nine witnesses all concur in tes-
tifying that they saw Joseph Thomas,
alias John Wright. the prisoner. prior TO
S O'Clock. and until about o'clock. during
which time the assault was committed.
The fact that the original evidence be-
fore the court and jury induced two mem
bers OF the Court OF appeals 10 declare
IL was an insufficient Identification Of the
prisoner creates In my mind. with tn, ad-
ditiOnal new evidence fled, a serious
doubt. which cannot permit me 10 have
the prisoner In this case executed. By
committing his sentence 20 life imprisen-
ment an opportunity is given him TO have
this doubt and conflict OF testimony be-
tween various witnesses at some time
satisfactorily settled.
Danger of a Mistake.
II in the future. developments should
be such as TO clearly remove the serious
doubts in this case and the innocence of
the prisoner should be established, all
those concerned in the tsial and execution
Of this prisoner would deplore their action
In the matter
The additional evidence. supplementing
the original evidence, produces In my
mind such a strong doubt Of the identi-
fcation OF the prisoner as the party who
committed the assault, that I feel I would
be recreant TO my duty as governor If
I should permit this poor. friendless neeso
TO be executed"