Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1908-01-16
George N dgets Respited.
Governor Swanson Postp0nes Execu-
ton for Thirty Days.

ticipaied, and if any persons in this COM
munity had any idea Of bringing odium
upon the city BY mob violence, they will
be compelled 10 90 to the county Jail at
Fort Myer Heights and take their VIC
tim from one Of the cells therein, in or
der TO carry cut such purpose.
At late hour last night George Mid.
gets, colored, who was sentenced to be
hanged 10 the Jail yard ia this city be-
tween the hours of six a. m. and twelve
noon tomorrow, was taken from bis cell
by Officers Knight and Ferguson, placed
in carriage aud an hour later wac in q
cell in the county all.
AS was stated 10 the Gazette, Messis
z. d. BrumoaCk and Howard w. Smith,
counsel for Midgets, Lad an interview
with Governor Swanson in Richmond
yesterday. The latter listened attentive
ly TO the statements of those gentlemen,
as we'll ss 20 the reasons they urged for
q Communication Of the sentence Of the
condemned man. TIE lawyers slsO
asked his excellency that should be not
see bis way clear at present to take such
a course, that he would, at least, respite
Midgets until he could more closely re-
view The case.
The Governor, at first, seemed dis
posed to respite Midgels until the Slst
instant, but after reasons had beer
urged by counsel to show that such q
period was too short, be consented to
postpone the execution for thirty days
provided he we're assured the authorities
of this city could protect the prisoner
from mob violence in the meantime.
The Governor was placed in c)m-
munication with Judge Barley and Com
monweslths Attorney Brent, and upon
being assured that The prisoner could be
protected, concluded to grant respite
for thirty days-till February IA.
After this determination had been
reached policemen, ss stated above, we're
directed to remove Midgets to the Alex
andris county Jail.
Governor SHansOn told Messrs. BrHm-
back and Smith that it was bis purpose
to closely examine every detail of the
crime for which Midgets was sentenced
to be banged, SIS well as the appeal that
was made TO the appellate court.
Today City Sergeant Cox received 8
telegram from Governor Swanson stating
that be had respited Midgets till Feb
rusrY 18th.
At O'Clock this afternoon Midee's
had not been informed Of bis reprieve.
THE CRIME.
The crime for which Midgets was con.
vcted is still fresh In the m nds Of the PEG.
pie Of this city. 1t WIS committed On SsHr-
day night, October 20, 1906. According to
the evidence before tie Corporation Court,
e;rly that night performance was given on
the old fair grounds. Midge.s and another
eolored man named William Robinson, over
WHOM the police had exercised espionage for
| sone time, entered the tent with two cOlered
women who passed for their wives. The
TIVE colored men took offense at something
said 10 the women by other negroes and a
| a.ht followed. Officer Nicholson attempted
| % arrest Midgets and Robinson, but the two
men, aided By the women, fought the officer,
enc of the women having rounded him On
| the head with the butt Of pistol. The ne
gro nsn succeeded in escaping Aidgsts dis
charging two shots in the ground rs he ran.
! but the fwJ women were arrested. at'r
| OH .er GarveJ appeared on the scene and be-
gan a search for Midgets and Robinson. The
| latter could not be found, but the officer al
legged he saw Mldgets on the south side OF
King street, between West snd Peyten, aud
! opp escbed him. The square was dark aEd
TIE sidewalk had been dug up for the pur-
| pose { constructing sewer. Hence theie
was bHta narrow path on which TO walk
| Officer G,rvey, realizing he had treacherous
and dangerous negro 10 deal With, approached
hins and asked him If he boarded ct Wash.
Jaekson's house, ON the next corner. The
| darkey answered In the negative. The Off.
Ger asked hiM to accompany him to jack
sons ia order to prove that he was not one Of
| his boarder'. II was the Off 'er's int ntisn
30 get Nidgets TO the intersection Of King
and Peyton streets, and, with the aid Of by
islanders, take him in custcdy.l The negro,
| fsigning dOcility, agreed TO accompany On
Ger Garvey to the house. and walked en- the
narrow patti ia front of him. At this june
| ture Charles 4. Smnh, who had bsen c1llsd
upon to help the officers in the ii ht in which
| the women were arrested, rushed up and
seized the negro by his left arm. M'dgets.
almost quicker than it takes TO tell it, dis
! charged bis pistol in Smiths face, killing
Kim. Midget t., il is believed, supposed the
policeRl an hsd seized him when he shot, %
the former fired over his shoulder.l Aldgets
rsA and number Of people who were close
by at the time stated after lin, among thea
former English sailor named Frederick
Brooks, who, being unacqusinted with the
| 10 ality, tumbled into the sewer trench. The
fugitive fired several shots at his pursuegs,
! and some of the latter discharged pistols at
him. youpg man named MeeBs was posi-
tive be shot the negro ia the leg, asserting
tsat he saw him limp after he fred st him.
The murderer ,nesked back to the city after
the excitement had sui sided. visited house
where he had formerly lived, secured several
articles and was soon out of the State Of Vir-
sinia. In the early part Of last year he YVES
arrested In Harrisburg. Pa, and brought
back to this city. His trial took TlI e in the
CORPORATION Court last March. Micgsts de-
MED that be was guilty Of the crime Of which
he was charged, and attempted to prove an
abb, there being every reason to believe that
he wanted the urder attributed 10 Robinson,
his partner, who has not been heard OF since
ihs night Of the killing, When placed upon
the stand Midgets said that at o'clock on the
evening of October 20 he snd Robinson left
the Hotel Jackson and went TO the home Of
Robinson's sister After going to saloon he
Wsst to The show grounds. where they met
their wives. but did not go in the show with
them, Robinson kissed his wife and q
eolsred man laughed and Robinson started to
Kull "a calibre pistol which he had in a
belt and Midgets to1k the weapon from
hin Nidgeis then described the assault on
Officer Nichelson end said he was shot as he
ran through an alley, exhibiting scar on bis
left ankle. He gave Robinson's weapon back
20 bin and retained a .3S cslible pistol whioh
he carried. He went to the homo Of ROBIN.
sens sister and told her he had bean shot.
he first learned from Robinson's sistar that
someone els. had been sh t, but he toll her
that he did not thick such was the case.
Midgets told the vomsn ne had hit
Kan with the butt end Of pistol, however.
de later went to the race track ard remained
there until the next afternoon, when he re-
turned to Alexandria feeling sure that no one