Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-03-21
TIE ACCoMAC RIoTERs.

THE ACCOMAC RIOTERS.
SIN my mind he was guilty of no
error he was chargeable with no ex-
aggeration. he was betrayed by his
fancy into no metaphor. who once
said, that all we see about us, Kings,
/ Lords and Commons. the whole ma
chinery OF the state. all the appara-
tus of the system, and its varied
workings end in simply bringing
twelve good men into a box"
Lord Brough Present State Of Law
The trial OF the alleged Accomac
county rioters at Norfolk. Va. last
Tuesday and Wednesday has attract
ed widespread attention and the ac-
Quittal OF Editor J. d. Uzzle on the
first day led the people of the state
20 hope that a similar piece Of good
fortune awaited the other two, s. l..
Burton and Sylvanus Conquest. The
result has been a great disappOint-
ment for the jury. composed prac-
tically Of the same men found the
last two guilty and fixed their pun
ishment at one year each In the Vir-
ginia Penitenuary.
We do not know by what process
Of reasoning this result was reached
but the effect of IL is no less outra-
geous. s. L. Burton had all of his
/ property destroyed by a mob OF white
men Every dollar he possessed in
T the world went up in smoke and he
emerged from the smoke and ashes,
so 20 speak. penniless and forlorn.
He had borne a good reputation and
had not INDUCED in either any in
cendiary utterances or undue inter
ference I'm white folks business.
Yet he is adjudged a rioter. while no
effort has been made to punish the
real rioters, who robbed him OF his
liberty and property and are admit
tedly guilty OF arson.
This then is the Justice" meted
to him. IL should be remembered
that he has spent many months in
the Jail az Hampton and some days
in the one at Norfolk. These men
belong to the type Of Negroes de-
scribed by Booker T. Washington.
They are the Negroes who will prove
themselves 20 be the most valuable
asset OF the Southland. The Com
monwealth's Attorney of Accomac
county was vigilant and active in
prosecuting the Negroes alleged 10 DO
guilty of rioting What will he do
in the cases OF those white men guilty
OF arson?
The law provides that the death
penalty may be melted. but no effort
has been or is being made 10 bring
these men TO justice But what is
S. l.. Burtons predicament? He has
lost all in this fight with race pre-
judice. Despite the fact that ne was
highly respected citizen. a man
Who had won the respect OF his fell
lows. both white and colored. he is
now condemned and told 20 80 In
side OF the confines OF the Virginia
Penitentiary TO labor with the hard
ened criminals and 20 come forth
il he survives ruined and a dis
graced man.
We arc led 20 enquire II this is
the picture 20 be presented 20 the
thousands of Negroes who have TAX
en- the better class OF white men at
their word and are endeavoring TO
prove themselves worthy OF their
commentator and support We
have noted this case with interest
and not until the penItentiary doors
have changed and slammed behind
them and the gruf words Of the
prison guards are sounding in their
ears will we believe that Virginia and
its Chief Executive will permit such
parody upon fair dealing and the
people Of the state countenance such
an evident miscarriage of justice
Granting that they were guilty. II
would be worse than cruel TO subject
these men TO greater punishment
than that they have already endured.
NO ceremony that to great ones
longs.
Not the kings crown, nor the depu'
ted sword,
The marshals truncheon, nor the
judges robe.
Become them with one-half so good
grace
AS mercy does. "-Shakespeare.