The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-25
STRONG APPEAL
FOR JOHN WRIGHT
Alexandria Negroes Lawyer Pre-
sents Amended Petition
to the Governor.

Mr. James i. Clements OF Aiexan-
dria county, attorney for John Wright
the negro who is sentenced to hang
next FRIDAY for the alleged crime OF
assaulting lady Mt Luna Park, pre-
scented an amended petition to Cover
l'or, swanson for commutation OF
sentence yesterday afternoon, and tho
Governor has the papers under serious
amusement. His EXcellcncy announced
iast night that he lad made a pa-tiai ~
examination of the petition ana
aiiidavits. and that they appeared to
contain some important additional evil
dence. l't az
Though he did not pretend to IN
innate what steps he would take with,
reference TO the case, he said he would
finally dispose of it Tomorrow, ana
IL looks as though the negro Will at
least get a further respite IT, indeed.
ne does not win his fight for a COM
mutation OF sentences
Mr. Clements alleges that his client
was tried with UNNECESSARY hurry and 7
mat his counsel was given no time in
Wnlch TO argue a motion for a new
ltlai, that Illegal and incompetent tes-
timony was admitted; that there is I'M
portant after discovered evidence. that
Tie prosecutrix made false statements
at inc trial: that she utterly failed
at first to Identify the prisoner nj he,.
assailant, and that the petition for 4
new trial OF the prisoner was refused
by divided court. ~.
But one of Mr.. Clements most i'm
portant contentious is to he fond ~
inc ailidavlts OF a number of persons
VINO swear that the prisoner was else
| Where than at Luna Park at the time
tho assault is alleged to have been
committed. ~
on this point the petition says:
| because since the. trial most i'm
portant and material evidence for tho
detense has been discovered, and put
before me in the shape OF affidavits
@hich substantiate the prisoners alibi
ana and strengthen his contention that he
! was not at Luna Park on tho night Of
oeptember 0. 1906; there have been
elght afildavits presented to mo, all
i or which have been made since the
trial by residents of Alexandria city,
j susie Byrd In her affidavit says that
she went buggy driving with the pris-
4 oner, John Wright, and Hannah Thomas
on sunday afternoon September o. 1906,
about o'clock, and declares that she
and John Wright and Hannah Thomas
We're all three together during that
entire Sunday afternoon. and that tho
church bells We're ringing as they
drove back into Alexandria city be-
tween 1880 and o'cl1tk; that they drove
up to her home on Columbus Street.
and after She got out John Wright
and Hannah Thomas drove away to-.
: ward the livery stable"
The petition, which Is regarded as a very
able one, concludes as folows:
IN the opinion of counsel the prisoner Is
innocent. and counsel firmly believes that
could he have secured n new trial with the
new evidence, which beyond all question
sutstantiatey prisoners nlb he would have
! been acquitted The proof OF guilt tthe
: corpus dectil Is not established beyond RAJ
= tional doubt; the case was tried with undue
! and unconsconable haste and no opportu-
! nifty given to make available the subsequent
q ly discovered evidence; Illegal and mad
:, missble testimony was permitted by the
trial Judge to go to the Jury declared to
b. Illegal and inadmtsstbe by all the judget
z of the Supreme Court OF Appeals OF Wiz
: giria); material and important evidence
II since discovered render 1t impossible that
!. John, Weight could have committed the al
who did not testify and could not be OBJ
tanned at the trial. make 1t certain anu
7 positive that Wright was in Alexandria city
and not ut Luna. Park on September .. 1906
, the night of the alleged assault; Mabel es-
: ley did not Identity Wright as her assail-
: ant. but picked out Alabama Joe, and de-
= clared that he was the guilty man: Alabama
. 10, and Cap Turner (who WAS 1rst charged
with the crime and who admits being In
: the Immediate vicinity outside OF Luna Park
on September 0thp arc very similar In an
. pearance. and the strong opinions of the
a two Supreme Court Judges. Cardwel and
!. white, declare that the whole case Is SC
: saturated with doubt as to be totally with
: and insist that simple Justice demands thai
Il knau hnt,lI alnua had a pau ri r.