Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-01-10
TsE ssULTZ MURDER CASE.

After the Gaz.tte wss put to press
Saturday evening 8 Telegram was re-
ceiyed BY Commonwtalth's At orney :.
G. Bent from Gov. CLAUDE A. SSauson
iodicsiing that The latter still has under
consideration The Communication of the
sentences of Calvin johnson, Richard
Pints, and Eugene Dorsey, who are COR
demned TO die 10 the electric chair next
Friday for the murder Of Walter F..
Schul z. Gov. Swanson said:
"Write me your views and recon-.
mendalIons Oh application for commute
ton TO life imprisonment Of three con-
victed murdeFers of Alexandria since
trial of Smith. Write immediately"
M. Brent, 10 bis reply, stated that ne
could see no reason for interference In
the sentences imposed upon the three
men. Mr.. Lewis q. MacheD, counsel
for johnson, will leave today or tonight
for Richmond to plead the cause Of his
client.
There have been many rumors ahoat
duripg the past iorty'elgbt hours
concerning Henry Smith, colored, who
was convicted OF murder 10 the hrst de.
gree BY jury 10 the Corporation Court
on Friday night for participation 10 the
crimes. It is said that the jury, after
visiting the alley in which Smith said be
found johnson, Pines aud Dorsey with
Schultz on the night OF March 6, repu.
dated the prisoners story, as they be-
Iisyed II would have been impossible for
all Smith described to have occurred
Without being heard by colored people 10
the ffeme kitchen adjoining,
A Significant fact 10 connection with
the case has come to light. On Satur'
dsy Smith sent a note to Judge Blrley
ststing that be did not want new trial,
aud requesting the Judge to sentence him
forthwith and send him to Richmond as
soon IS possible.
Many reports are 10 circulation, AID
during the past three days Smith and his
attorneys have been In close conference.
One of the reports Is TO the effect that
the condemned man Is about to MAKE q
statement which will exonersts john
SOD. Pines and Dorsey; also that a white
man from Washington participated 10 the
murder ofSchullz.
Another rumor Is, In substance, that
thu murder was committed 10 house In
the extreme northwestern section OF the
civ. and that the Body wss placed where
found late on the night Of March 6, and
not between 6 and z, as Smith had
stated.
Ibo,e In positions neither affirm ror
deny these reports. There, is, however,
firm belief that there Is something In
the wind and that there will be startling
developments during the next few days.
Since the above was written 1t has
been lelrued that Smith has made
statement, the purport Of which ia be-
ing closely guarded by the court officials
and The attorneys. Many believe the
statement confirms the speculstiops given
above, which, II true, corroborstes what
many have believed from the beginning
thai Smith was the principal In The
crime.
About 8 O'Clock this afternoon Smith
was removed from the jail 10 this city to
the Alexandra county jail.
Mr.. l.. II. Mschep, counsel for GAL
vim johnson, communicated with Gov.
ernor Swanson this afternoon, and
among other things called bis attention
to the rumors referred to above. The
governor requested Mr.. Machen to In
vestigate these reports and come to
Richmond and have q conference with
him.
The cost TO The state for the thirty.
70 veniTemen from Charlottesville to try
Smith amounted to $347.