Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-03-07
1CoMMUNICATED.
WHO? WHO?

In the dark recesses OF the ampbi.
theatre of crime there ia nothing more
appalling than murder-tSkipg that
which human ingenuity hss so far been
unable to restore. Sitting in their lone
some cells in The Virginia peuitentisry
unconscious of their fats-and it's a
state that other people are in-are Rich
ard Pines, Eugene Dorsey, Calvin john
son and Henry Smith, all sentenced to
be eiectrocused on the 18th day of this
mouth for the murder of Walter F.
Schultz, the Chicago artist, March g.,
1909, 10 or near Alexandra. These
four negroes appear little concerned
about their fata. Pines, Dorsey and
Johnson, it will be remembered, were
convicted on the state's evidence OF
Hsnry Smith. They we're sentenced to
die some weeks ago, hut were respited
several times by Gov. Swanson, on &C.
count of pressure brought to bear by
those who believed that the man who
was made partner with the state in
ferreting ont the real criminal was the
chief sc,or in this horrible drama. The
last respite, just before Mr.. Swanson re.
tired from Office, was until March 18th.
IL the meantime Henry Smith is placed
on trial and refuses to accept the prof.
fered aid oil the commemorative att1r.
ney and prefers to stand on his merits OF
innocence of any knowledge whatever Of
the crime. In bis second confession be
acknowledged that Pines, Dorsey and
Johnson had nothing whatever to do
With the murder and that he deliberately
lied when he gave bis testimony for
which these three men are nearing the
electric chair. he also said he was in
nocert. The jury could not see it that
way and gave him death sentence, and
the Judge fixed the date at the same
time Of the other three. Judge Barley,
il will Do remembered, in sentencing
Smith, gave utterance to the strongest
language ever passed in death sent.
ence, and it was commented upon by the
press of this and other stHtss. Someone
has seen fit to apprize Governor Mann
OF the fact that this perjurer and believed
to-bs murderer is fit subject for execu.
tive clemency for the service he render.
ed the state. What was this service?
First. He said he sss walking by an
slley on one cold and rainy night and at
| the point of a pistol was ''torced" to
"get busv" and assist in robbing the
lats W. F. Schultz by the other three
pe2roes.
Second. He said he was "forced" to
help carry tie drunken man to an out of
the way place in order to escape detec.
ton.
Third. Ee asid he was forced to stick
sharp instrument in the murdered mans
throat and leave him there perhaps for
the dogs to lick his life's blood.
Fourth. He is an object for clemeDcy
because he now acknowledges that all
the above statements we're lies and he
himself is Innocent of shedding mans
! blood.
This indeed is a peculiar case. Govern
or Mann hes respited Smith until the
18th to look into the matter.
When the day arrives be will face this
proposition: Here are three men doom.
ed to die on The unsupported evidence OF
the fourth and the additional fact that the
three conld not establish an alibi. He
will also come in contact with the LAST
confession of the fourth mau, in which
the laltsr Gays bis, previous confes-
sicn was 9. lie. made ont of whole cloth,
sod disclaims any connection whatever,
himself, with the murder. What can the
governor do? The blood OF the NUT
dered man cries from the earth for ven-
geauce and heast.stirred people OF this
common qsalth want justice metsd Gu: to
the guilty without respect to petty
Jealousy which might go so for to sacri-
fee human life. 1t can be said that bot
for the fight made by ex-senator Lewis
q. Machen for Johnson, which, in faci,