Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-03
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Governor May Extend Clemency
to Howard Banks, Colored.
MAY BE LIFE IMPRISONMENT
Arrangements for Robbery and Re-
ceiving Stolen Goods.
ACCUSED MEN MAKE CONFESSION
News From Local Churches - Fire
Company Elects oficers-Gen-
eral and Personal.
snecia, Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF Ihe star'
ALEXANDRIA, Va, January 3. loo1'
Judge Louis C. Barley this morning re-
ceiyed a letter from Gov. Claude A. swan
son asking whether or not executive ciein-
ency should be shown in the case OIL t1o"
| ard Banks. colored, sentenced to De nanseo
| January II next for the murder Of Thomas
EIzey. also colored. The letter was the re-
suit of a visit made yesterday by Messrs.
,sacbap and Moncure, counsel for Banks,
asking that Banks sentence DO ooiii''o'o"
| to life Imprisonment.
When seen this morning Judge Barley
stated that he would reply at once to the
| latter He further stated that the ends OF
| Iustics will be subserved just as well by
| Communication of sentence to life imprfson-
| ment as by hanging; that in his opinion the
latter was even worse than hanging.
Continuing, Judge Barley said: VI
COURSE Banks received a fair ana imparcal
| trial at the hands Of twelve men, ana unoef
the circumstances they could not nave
perhaps, rendered any other Verolct put ~
INV onindon he Is a very illiterate negro and
| his hanging would be blur on the city.
| Judge Barley also stated that Banks sur
rendered himself the morning following Ihe
! shooting. 49,, o,
| Judee Barley's answer to the governor
| letter will be along these lines. and II is
| stated on excellent authority that Coy.
Swanson Will be greatly lllueiiSCo w 49,
Recommendations. If such be the case 1t Is
safe to state that Banks will not expiate
his crime on the scaffold, but will become
| a life prisoner at the Richmond penn
Tertiary.
| 7 etters were also received from the gov
ernor this morning by Commonwealth At
| torney Samuel G. Brent. who conducted
| the prosecution, and City Sergeant COX
| Mr. Brent when seen this morning stated
| that the murder of Elzey by Banks was a
cold FLOODED one and that Banks had re-
ceiyed a fair and impartial trial Mr.. Brent
| intimated that he would not recommend
| Communication of sentence.
Prisoners Conduct in Jail.
| In the letter received by Mr.. Cox Gov.
| Swanson wanted to know what kind OF a
| prisoner Banks had been since his lncar-
ceratfon Mr.. Cox did not make known
what reply he will make to the letter II
| is stated, however. that Banks has been
| model prisoner since he has been at tine
| city Jail, giving the officials at that lnsti-
| tuition little or no trouble.
| sergt. Cox this morning stated that he
| had abandoned the idea of using the scat
fold of the Prince William county author
| tiles, now at Alexandria county jail. He
stated that the expense incident to hauling
| and rebuilding it would be more than the
| cost involved in the erection of an entirely
new one This afternoon he received esti
mates from several local contractors anC
will perhaps award the contract late this
evening. Unless report is heard from
| Gov Swanson by the last Of the week the
| work of constructing the scaffold will be
| commenced about Saturday.
Mr.. Lewis Machen, who presented the pc
| tition to Gov. Swanson, Will arrive MONS
1 late this afternoon. Mr.. Charles Carlin
| who was also In Richmond on business, re-
| turned this morning In connection witt
| the case of Banks Communication MI Car
| lin stated that Gov. Swanson had inform
| ed Mr.. Machen that he would be guided en-
tirely by Judge Barleys recommendation In