The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-26
GOvERNORSHOWS
MERCY TO NEGRO
Takes Eight Years From Sen
tencc for Robbery ii, Streets
of Norfolk.
----------.
OPPOSED BY PROSECUTOR
OPPOSED BY PROSECUTOR
Tilton Says 1t Puts a Premium
on Robbery, and That
Man Should Be Hung.

Governor Mann yesterday clipped
eight years from the sentence OF Davie
Hines, Norfolk negro, who was con.
victed of robbery from the person and
| given eighteen years In the peniten.
tiary. He has served six years. and
| this Communication gives him the right
to apply to the board of directors for a
parole pardon, more than half the term
| having been completed.
Illness prison record is not good
which prevented the Governor from
considering an absolute or conditional
pardon.
The petition for clemency was
and Endorsed by Judge Alan r. Hanck-
el the trial Judge. 1t was, however
Attorney John G. Triton. Three Of the
ing two could not be located.
No other petition was sent up. Hines
Is represented by Attorney Raymond
NJ. Hudson, who came to Richmond
yesterday and secured executive action.
Sentence Illegal.
The Governors action was based
upon the legal point that ten years
was the limit for which Hines could
The prisoners lawyer argued that
purse snatching. of which the negro
was guilty. is not robbery. but larceny.
1t was designed, 1t is said. at the
time OF the trial; to impose a heavy
which had become rather common in
Norfolk This object. It Is alleged, has
been achieved Illness old mother,
who lives at Goldsboro, has been In.
teresting herself in his behalf
In Houston's case, 81 Virginia. page
267, in referring to the section under
which Hines was convicted. says: 1.-THE
first clause, under which the indictment
was found, applies solely to the agra
n nate tad Nv,
the means expressed in that clause, and
is wholly disconnected with the second
clause, which affiXes a wholly different
punishment to a robbery committed in
any other mode or by any other means"
Says Should BE Hung.
Commemorative Attorney Tilton,
however, declared in letter to the
Governor that Hines deserved no con-
sideration at his hands, and, in fact.
said that he fully deserved hanging
and should be made to serve every
hour of the eighteen-year sentence the
trial jury gave him.
He knocked down an elderly lady,"
says Mr.. Tilton, .'over sixty years OF
age. in the streets of this city. by a
terrific blow in her face. and tore a
pocketbook from chain in her hands.
lie was seen by number of our citi-
zens and sailors, who gave chase and
pursued Hines to the docks. N desper-
alton he jumped into the river. citi-
zens and sailors jumping after him and
finally capturing him. He admitted his
identity at the trial, and did not, be.
cause he could not, offer the slightest
shadow Of excuse for his deed.
III you will examine the pardon files
in your Office you will find that this
convict made similar application
through other counsel to your prede-
cessor, Governor Swanson who prompt
ly refused to interfere, and l hope
you Will do likewise.
Nothing but misplaced and maudln
can be urged in his behalf, |
and to show him clemency would sim
ply put premium on highway robbery |
here. I earnestly recommend that the |
petition be refused"