The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-15

forth by me in a letter published ~
tO-days issue OF your paper. namely,
that juries are not always infaliiole'
and also the duty OF juries 10 give tn
prisoner the benefit OF every reasonable
doubt. You will remember that justice
implies JUST and righteous action
Then why not say a Breakdown OF
Justice in Floyd Aliens and Claude
Aliens cases
surely and my fellow citizens have
as much right to say this IS YOU have
10 say the other. In fact. We have the
more right because IL there be any
error. 4, should always be on the Side
Of mercy. AZ said before. in the
letter referred TO- the whole machinery
Of the law is so framed to give the
prisoner the benefit OF any reasonable
doubt. You say: 1t matters not VIVA
position the jury took. or what j; took
or did no. take into account. II utterly
failed 10 do It's duty" These are
sweeping words and ! would not pre-
sumo 20 utter them as my own
In the report - your special CORE
spondent in to-day's paper. We reah
soon after their discharge some OF tnc
Jurors were emphatic in the state
ment thas there was not sufficient evi-
dence on the part OF the Common
wealth to prove conspiracy or 10 sno"
that tho prisoner aided and abetted
the party who KILLED Mr. Foster Iher"
was no evidence At all 10 show ina
Sidna Allen fred At the attorney for
the Commonwealth. Juror Thomas \
Williams OF Fairfax. said that all 'ne
jurymen had gone into the box WIN
opinions rather unfavOrable to -9e
nrlsoner. bur that after hearing ihe
In 81 10
tai sblack mine). agreeing TO the com
arou1isr verdict as the best thing 10
be done for both sides. He added that
eight jurors would sign petition ask
ing that the prisoner be relieved OF the
sentence they had just inflicted
What do you think OF that; The
,aio-Itv ,or acqui,tal because. they
10 there was no evidence that h
va guilty as charged In the indict-
ment Ind they are honorable men
a Jury OF his peers would not pre-
sumo TO say that they violated tnelr
oa.hs wilfulIy and knowingly. which y
the same as saying that the Jury
~<afle.l 10 do It's duty" What would
have been It's duty in this cas-
Gud him guilty OF murder in the nrst
ao-~ee IN soi,e OF the conviction that
,ho evidence did not show ~ How
y-o,,ld thai d. for a breakdown OF
,,,s.sce-7 You say the state - shaned
~ :, hut 7 for one. do not feel AZ AL
ashamed Of such M My talk as. thar
- Mr. Thomas \. Williams. or FAR
fax.
.sto Sidns Aliens confession. ratneT
than stand another trial on anotner
5rdict-nent. re ali know that "a often
go,c even when man knows ne =
t,noce,t 90 escape a greater PUNISH
49, hecau~c circumstances are aSslns'
him rhe plea % guilty Is not always
% he taken ss confession Of gum
- 40 any more than plea OF not
e,iItv q to he taken as declaration
Of innocence. .-..,--
pardon ne. Mr. Editor. FOR naNihs
s.sd this much. bu; it Is an interesting
.,,,dv 10 note the >rsilty ~ human tes-
,s-nonv or OF mental impression ana
CONVECTION. Emerson says; bNeTN
mind has ITS own method We
,hinrs differently. hut We are All J"
.he same category when u comes 70
RI question Of faIlibiIity. -. wnen
~ lie Or liberty Of fellow -oe'n-
= IN n. balance. We ought to De very
csrsfrI 20 make due allowance Tor 'ne
onias,,s OF others. knowing tnat "e
our. ives have no monopoly OF WISDOM.
h,. .ha, We are all frail- fsiioie
- 80 wEBB. ". y.
p,wifnr Green. Va. Dec. - 49,