Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-05-29

tluauuel btOWhs Ollle hoSss NQuAe
Johnson and Anna Taylor.
This was allowed by Judge Humid
ley and the people were dismissed
from custody. They were happy ov-
er the elimination of the controversy.
IL is hardly needless to state that had
they been tried at the last term Of
the court all of them would have re-
ceived penitentiary Sentences at least
and probably one or more Of them
sent TO the electric chair
Judge Hundley granted the plea
for a change Of venue and Mamie
Taylor. who is represented by Hon.
II ~ smith. Jr. OF this city will be
tried in Prince Edward county. to-
gether with Fleming Stepney and
Robert Johnson This will end the
celebrated case. Mamie Taylor was
bailed in the sum OF $4,000
That Judge Hundley felt keenly
the criticisms Of the fifteen white
citizens who issued a public state
ment relative TO these colored people
and citing the fact known of all men.
that they were convicted upon the
testimony of witnesses. who were
scared well-nigh 10 death over the
prospect of their being sent 20 the
electric chair is evident.
He is quoted as follows:
Gentlemen. you have been sum-
moned 90 take into consideration in
diCtmeuts of two men who have been
arrested since the last term of court
I'm connection with the Skipwith and
Johnson murder, and I regret 20 have
90 allude 90 an attempt of certain
people In tn. community Co Interfere
with the ordinary course of Justice
by publications iu the newspapers
the object of which was 60 array pub
Die sentiment on one side or the other
in these cases. This is the most ex-
traordinary and outrageous attempt I
have ever known TO try men by public
opinion instead of by the organized
and duly authorized tribunals estab-
iished for that purpose. and such
conduct viii not De tolerated for a
moment by this court"
Evidently. this learned jurist did
not consider his own charge 60 the
jury and his comment upon the YER
dict when he announced the sentence
upon the poor devils" that ne was
condemning 90 the electric chair.
He virtually included a whole race
OF people in his indictment. and all
though he has lived here with as and
we with him. he sent broadcast over
the country an impression that an
other Nat Turner instruction had
been "nipped Ia the bud" This was
done too in the face of the fact that
Virginia Negroes are at a premium in
every Northern community for the
reason that they are reputed TO be
not only industrious. well-trained and
In possession OF good manners. but.
that they are absolutely reliable.
We confess that the feeling and.
opinion that ne expresses relative
20 certain white citizens OF Powhatan
county were our feelings and opinion
felt relative 20 him and his deliver
ances. He was charitable enough to
conclude as follows.
II have thought that it might be
my duty 90 summon these persons TO
the bar OF this court 20 answer for
this attempt 20 interfere with the
administration % justice. but am
willing 90 believe, and do believe.
that some who participated in these
publications did il thoughtlessly and
without realizing the great impro-
priety OF their conduct Therefore
1 shall pass 10 by. only imposing upon
You the duty of entirely ignoring this
improper EFFORT 20 influence the trial
OF these cases. and 10 do your duty
by indicting these men IL you think
the evidence justihes 10. or by refus-
ing 20 Indict them If you do not think
the evidence connects them with this
murder"
We do not care to express an opin-
ion as 20 what Judge Hundiey's at
itude would have been had the crit
les alluded 10 been Of the colored
race instead of being Identified with
the white race
II goes TO show the impracticabu-
ity Of ever having a race war In this
section OF the country. Where one
white man opposes. two white men
VIII speak in our favor. All we
have 10 do is to continue to improve
our condition and be good citizens.
winning the respect, not only of our
white neighbors. but the good opin-
ion of our colored neighbors as we'll.
The Powhatan tragedy will long
be remembered by The colored people
or this state and we yet hope ami
believe that future facts and devel-
opments will demonstrate that five
lives were sacrificed and score Of
people punished both directly and in
directly for a crime that was never