The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-24
DALLAS WRIGHT
/ GRANTED PARDON
Man Under Death Sentence Set
Free When Negroes Were
Acquitted for Same Crime.
BUCKINGHAM CASE AT END
Prisoners, Convicted Twice, Set
Free on Trial Held in
Richmond.

After being twice convicted and
sentenced TO death. tho three men
accused OF the murder of the
Stuart brothers in Buckingham county
more than two years ago, were set
free yesterday. Eddie Jones. colored,
was acquitted by Il jury in The l1ust-
ings Court, Richard Perkins was re-
leased because thc state will pot
prosecute, and w. Dallas Wight, the
white man in the case who has been
held i'll the Henrico County Jail for
more than n year under sentence Of
death. was granted an absolute pardon
by Governor Mann.
The case Is looked upon as one OF
the most unique in the history of Grim
inal trials In Virginia. Jones was tried
by Richmond jury at the direction
of the Supreme Court of Appeals With
Perkins he had been granted Il new
trial by the appellate court. while
Wright was refused writ of error
OH technicality, his bill of eXcep-
tons having been filed after the OK
pira ton of the time limit. AZ the time
of refusing the writ the Supreme Court
announced that II regretted that IL
could not take similar action in the
case of the white man. Following this
Governor Mann announced his inten-
ton of acting on the case OF Wright.
and would commute his sentence to
whatever punishment might be mcted
out to the negroes.
The evidence brought out against
Jones was not sufficient for Il convic-
ton, and at the direction of Common
wealths Attorney Foikes the jury re-
turned verdict of not guilty. The
state utterly failed to make out its
case.
This was followed by the announce
ment that the case against Perkins
would be nollc prosecuted. and an
order directing that the man be re-
leased from jail was at once made out.
Wright Quickly Pnrdoned.
Governor Mann Issued an absolute
pardon to Wright, who was under
sentence of death In the electric chair.
After the verdict with regard to the
negroes was rendered the brothers OF
Wright. accompanied by his counsel.
Judge a. s. Hall, called at the Cover
nor's Office. He at once signed the
order for the release of the man. max
ing no comment on the Jacket.
Wright was indicted along with the
colored men, and. at q separate trial,
was convicted and sentenced TO eXecu-
tioh. Later the Supreme Court granted
writs OF error to all three, but when
the decision came and the blacks were
refused Wright because of technical
ity in the preparation OF his appeal.
However. tho court recommended that
the judgment be suspended until final
settlement Of the case against the
negroes, the evidence against all being
Identical.
The action of the higher court In
granting the writ of error stayed the
execution. and the date went by be-
fore the decision was rendered. The
man has never been rcsentcnced, being
merely held in Jail until such time as
the other cases could be disposed of.
He has been in custody more than two
years.
When informed that he was free
luan Wright wcpt. He declared that
he knew nothing of the murder of
the two buckingham brothers. who
were killed and their bodies burned
when their home was set afrc.
The white man, who is about forty
years old. said that he had no idea
what he will do. He said he would
not return to buckingham, and was
anxious to get rs far away from Vir-
ginia as possible.