Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-09
SENTENCES COMMITTED.
Governor Mann Commutes the Sentences
of Calvin johnson, Richard Pines and
Eugene Dorsey to Imprisonment ior

1
| Eugene Dorsey to Imprisonment for
Life.
| Especial Dispatch 10 the Alexandria "a
| Zette.
Richmond, June 9.-Gov. Mann to-
day communicate life imprisonment the
death sentence passed on Eugene Dor
sew. Richard Pines and Calvin Johnson,
three OF the quartette of negroes con-
vcted of completely in the murder OF
Artist Walter F. Schultz, Of Chicago,
in Alexandria last year. The decision
of the governor, in the light OF the
evidence, apparently meets general APP
proval here Henry Smith, the leader,
was cIectrocuted last Friday.
The Richmond Times Dispatch OF
TODAY in commenting on the case says:
"A petition largely signed was forward
ed to the governor yesterday by Lewis
II. Machcn, of Alexandria, counsel
for Calvin Johnson. who has labored
for months to secure clemency for his
client, giving much of his time and ef-
forts to the case. Mercy to johnson
necessarily meant similar action for
Richard Pines and Eugene Dorsey,
since the testimony at the various trials
was practically identical. Several
kilograms were sent the governor yes
tcrday saying that there was generally
shared opinion that the men ought uot
to be executed.
In this view of the matter Judge l..
C. Barley and Commonwealth Attor-'
ncy Samuel Brent declined to coincide.
The trial Judge and the prosecuting
attorney believe the men to be guilty.
In fact, peculiar feature o: the case Is
that Judge Barley wrote to the governor
suggesting that if clcmcncy were exer-
cised at all it might be in the case OF
Henry Smith, who assisted the com
monwealth by turning states evidence.
However, the executive allowed Smith
to be clcctrocutcd last Friday.
Although Smith was quite evident
ly a perjurer, it is evident that while
the trial jury from Charlottesville did
not believe the story he told at the
trial Of his part in the crime, which
was that he was forced to aid in 1t,
they, nevertheless, We're convinced that
he was, as Judge Barley says, equally
guilty with the others, and my opinion
is that the jury were thoroughly iusti-
fled in their conclusions. | believed
then and believe now that Smith par
tcipated in the commission OF this
crime equally with the others.
Mr.. Machen's efforts in behalf of
johnson reached to the extent of the
issuance by him of a pamphlet. entitled
The Mystery Of the Death of Schultz.
In this he presented Il lengthy argument
in behalf of the three condemned men.
The case is difficult one, and the men
have been respitcd time and time again
to give further time in which to ex-
anime into the evidence. Governor
Swanson first gave a rcprievc to allow
an appeal to the Supreme Court, which
was refused, and then he passed the
matter on to his successor.
Walter F. Schultz, Of Chicago, was
found dead near Rosemont, in Alex
andria county. on the morning of Sun
day, March T. 1909. His throat was cut
or stabbed on the left side He had
gone to Washington presumably to at
tend the inauguration Of Pres ldent
Taft, the evidence indicating that he
had become intoxicated.
There was said TO he little or no
doubt that the murder was not COM
mttcd at the spot where the body was
found, for the reason that although
the iugular vein was severed, there
was practically no blood at that place.
1t was the contention of Mr.. Ma
chen that there was no satisfactory
proof that Schultz was in Alexandria
on the day of the murder, and, in
fact, he contends that the day itself
was uncertain. There is 4 theory that
he was killed in Washington and his
body brought to Alexandria county.
Smith stated n few moments before
his death last Friday that his COM
panions were innocent, and that he
was also. After his many stories con-
nected with the case. no one can be
found to believe anything he might
iave said at the time He was add
viscd by the commonwealth attorney
prior to his trial that if he would plead
guilty to murder in the second de-
gree he would be given an eighteen
year sentence But he refused to do
this and insisted upon trial.