Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-14
Smith Sentenced.


Electrocuted Friday, February
l8-Prisoner Makes Rambling
Statement to the Cour'-Grins
and Thanks the Judge for SEN
tence-Has Dreams of the End
of the World.
Warden Gambler AID Officers Rswlett
and Sampson went 20 the court house
of Alexandria county this morning for
the purpose of conducting Henry Smith,
the las. OF The four negroes convicted OF
participating in the murder OF Walter +.
Schultz, to this city. At lO:4O they ap'
pesred 10 the Corporation Court roon
with the convicted man and placed MIN
in the dock.
The court was subsequently called to
order ghon Judge Barley, addressing
Smith. asked him if he withdrew his ap.
peal for an arrest of Judgment and new
trial.
Smith replied that that matter vas In
the bands of bis attorneys.
Mr.. F. P. Russell, one of his counsel,
srose and stated that Smith bad made q
statement to hin and had been eau
toned against saying anything to others;
bat the prisoner had subsequently told
stories to Others. Mr.. Russell, how.
ever, said be was still prepared to do
what be could for him.
The Judge said Smith in letter sent
hiu, bad renourced the motion for az
arrest of Judgment and new trial.
Mr. B,umback, one of the counsel Tor
Smith, said the motion made after the
Jury had returned their verdics was 10
the interest of the client, and counsel
had done all io their power. II Smith,
however, did not desire new trial, his
couosel would not insist upon 1t.
The Judge said he had decided to over
rule the motion, and he ordered Smith
to stand up, and he was asked if be had
anything to say to show why sentence
should not be passed upon.
Smith stood and substantially slated
what was printed in bis confession Pub-
lshed in The Gazstte on Wednesday.
He reiterated that Chief Goods end
Officer Sampson were responsible for his
com mission OF perjury, and II time was
given him be could bring forward facts
to prove his charge. he again pro-
clsined the inuoceIce of the three men
now in the peni!entiary as we'll SO bis
own. and aaid be did not know who
killed Schal z. He went On to say that
1t was better for him to die than TO al
low three Innocent men to be electro.
cuted. Smith was earnest in his appeal
to the court TO see that he WAS not
lynched He VAS ready to be electro.
cu,ed, but did not want his body torn
to piecea. He appealed 10 God to wit
ness that he was innocent OF murder, al
though be had committed peflary. He
repeated bis charges against Chief
Goods end Officer Sampson and turn.
ing to The latter, who stood near,
said he could look him in the face
and reiterate all he had previously said,
Smith said he wanted chance to prove
nis innocence. He did not ask freedom.
as he had given up all, not dreadiDg
electrocuiou but having a horror OF
lyucbiOg,
Judge Barley interrupted Smith by
telling him he would be protected from
violence, end although Smith seemed
anxious to keep on talking, the judge
pronounced sentence as follows:
The crime of which you have been con.
victed Was one of the most cold blooded and
dsstar iiv murders e:er perpatrsted in the
criminal annals of this country. Thirty six
men as good citizens as are within tbs con-
fines of this state or elsewhere, rs good
Jurors as ever sat in q jury box, have, largely,
upon your statement of this crime convicted
three men OF being implicated with You in it.
Twelve other jurors standing equally high in
character and Intelligence have found You
guilty. The crime its, was revolving and
horrible in its details, but to this you have
add ID perjury. ana from your recent state
ment have shown that you carry within you
q heart as hard and as sinful and as black as
the crime itself which you have committed,
ami for which | am about to sentence you. y
case compara.le TO this in all its narrowing
details and surrounding circumstances has
probably never before been known TO history
md q deeper ard more consunlmate vii ain
than you never facet Il court of justlca. This
is the first case in all my experience where IN
passing the death sentence J have not bad
sincere regret | cannot say that Ill this case
II is, therefore, the senten e o. this court that
you be taken to the Jail at Fairfax county,
Va where you will he confined until taken
to the state penitentiary house of this stats
under the law, and then contlued therein un-
Ill Friday February Is, 1910, when you viii
be taken to the death chamber thereof, and
electrocuted until you are dead, dead, dead,
and may God have mercy on your soul.
At the conclusion of the sentence
Smith grinped and said, "Tbaok you"
The prisoner Was then removed from
the court room and subsequently, with
the officers in charge Of him boarded an
electric train a. the corner OF King and
Royal strsets and wss soon cut OF the
c tY Oh his way 10 the Fairfax county
iall 10 the few minu es he remsined ct
the corner number Of persons gathered
to see the prisoner of.
While in the station house Smith told
Mayor Psf that during his confinement
10 jail he bad capper aud messenger
VITO kept him posted as to everything
that was going on in his case.
Smith issued a1otber atement todsy.
The following are come extracts:
Most Honorable Citizens: l today. your
most humble prisoner, Henry Smith, feel 1t
nv duty to drop thess few lines 10 which you
may pay but little attention to, because IT IS
gone so far, and you msy say you don't be.
lieye me at all. The truth has just been tod
now. But did not write this letter to you
10 make V side good. or TO he free from
death. am satisfied Pm going to die for