Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-02-20
PROMPT JUSTICE
FOR CRIMINAL
Walter Rippey, Who Committed an
Awful Crime Last Thursday, Was
Convicted and Sentenced to be Hung
on March 9th.

One of the most repulsive crimes that
has ever been committed in this section
occurred on last Thursday afternoon
about mile and half west of Poca-
hontas. The crime was a criminal as
sault committed by Walter Rippey, a
young negro man, upon the person of
Mrs. Mary Dancey, a widow lady about
twenty-six years old. She, with her
little boy about two years old, accom-
panied by Mrs. Armstrong, was on her
way to her home at Readsville. a small
village two miles west of Pocahontas.
when the deed was done.
1t has been our custom during a news
paper career of over thirty years to not
publish the details of horrible crimes
like this; and we will adhere to the Gus
tom in this instance. The culprit was
arrested at Coaldale, w. Va, on the
night of the same day he committed the
crime, and was taken to Pocahontas and
placed in the lookup. On Friday morn
ing he had a preliminary trial before
the Police Justice of that place. and
was sent on for Indictment by a grand
jury. AS there was some threat of
mob violence at Pocahontas, by direc-
tions of Commonwealth Attorney R.
o. Crockett, Rippey was brought to
Tazewell on Friday afternoon on a
special car, drawn by a special engine.
He was placed in the Jail here; and on
Monday was indicted by grand jury.
Judge Henson assigned as coun-
sci for the accused, Messrs. Chap
man q Gillespie, and Barnes Gillespie.
No man who was being tried for his life
could have secured better counsel. By
agreement the trial was fixed for Tues
day and at about eleven o'clock of that
day venire was impaneled. 1t was
composed of men who are of the best citi-
zens of Tazewell county. In selecting
the jury the court gave counsel for the
defense very great latitude in exam
ining them as to their qualifications.
Some half dozen or more were dis
charged because they had read accounts
of the crime and had formed and opin-
ion as to the guilt of the prisoner. Sew
eral others were made to stand aside
because they admitted that they might
be prejudiced against the prisoner on
account of his color. When the iurv
had been completed court adjourned un-
til l 30 p. m. At that hour the prison
er was arraigned and the trial begun.
The Commonwealth introduced but five
witnesses, including Mrs. Dancey, the
unfortunate victim, and Mrs. Arm
strong who was an eye witness to the
crime. The court refused to permit the
prosecution to prove statements and
confessions made by the prisoner after
his arrest and while in the custody of
officers. This ruling was made upon
motion of counsel for the accused, who
did all they could to secure a fair and
impartial trial for him. This they sue
ceeded in doing as completely as was
ever witnessed in any court. But they
could do no more. The defendant had
no witness that he could offer, and the
Commonwealth had made out a COM
plete case against him. After instruc-
tions were given by the court to the
jury they retired to consider of their
verdict. In a short time they returned
with their verdict, which was guilty"
But the court had to direct them to re-
turn to their room and reform the YER
dict, which was as follows:
1--WE, the jury, find the defendant
guilty as charged in the first count Of
the within indictment and fix the penal
ty at death"
The verdict was signed by D. j. Lit
ten as foreman.
Judge Henson then pronounced SEN
tence upon Rippey and fixed Friday,
March 9th, 1908, as the time for his
execution.
The prosecution was conducted by r.
o. Crockett, Commemorative Attor-
ney, assisted by Messrs. T. C. Bowen
and W. M. Minter. This was the first
prosecution Mr.. Crockett has conducted
since he was sworn in as Common
wealth's Attorney, and he had the case