The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-08-09
WRIGHT SECURES
LEASE ON LIFE
GOVERNOR MANN GRANTS NEGRO
RESPITE TO ALLOW SUPREME
COURT TO PAss ON CASE.
WAS TO HANG TODAY
APPoMATTox NEGROES ATTORNEY
ASKS WRIT OF ERROR FOR
CLIENT WHO CONFEssEs ON
EVE OF EXECUTION.
WAS TO HANG TODAY

! Governor Mann last night granted
a respite to Alfred Wright, an APP
pomattox negro. convicted of Grim
| inal assault on a white woman, and
! who was to have been electrocuted
! this morning.
| The governor granted the respite
| in order that the Court of Appeals
might have the opportunity to pass
on the question of writ of error,
| asked by Duncan Drysdale. of Lynch
| burg, counsel for the condemned
| negro.
! Assaulted White Woman.
Wright was convicted in the APP
| pomatto2 court of as4autting a white
| woman on a lonely road In that coun
! ~ several months ago. The woman
/ was passing by field in which Wright
was working when he seized her. ac-
cording to the evidence, and succeeded
| in accomplishing his purpose.
Attorney Drysdale came To Rich
! mond yesterday to seek a writ of
! error on the ground that the iden
tity OF the assailant had not been
| fully established. the negro all the
! time having earnestly protested his
| innocence. Mr.. Drysdale reached
Richmond yesterday morning only TO
be met with the news that his client
had confessed.
Nothing daunted MIR. Drysdale
! sought writ of error from Judge r.
III. Cardwell, the only member of the
appellate court in the city. but was
refused. He thereupon applied TO
Governor Mann for respite so that
the case could be passed upon by
the entire court. In the meantime,
Judge Cardwell had gone TO his Han
over home and the governor, after a
long conference with Mr.. Drysdale
determined to wait for word from
Judge CardwelI. Receiving telegram
from Judge Cardweil last night sug~
costing that the court should review
the matter. the governor gave out the
following statement, granting the re-
spite.
Governors Statement
A respite for Alfred Wright SEN
fenced TO death for the commission
of rape in Appomattox county was
asked for today by his counsel, 10
give time for the Court OF Appeals
TO pass upon his application for a
writ Of error, based upon the refusal
of the Circuit Court OF Appomattox
TO allow more time for the prepare
ton OF the case. This morning, the
governor. thinking that Judge r H
Cardwell. OF the Supreme court had
tPRt VI thC EcNoEu III Which tHr
facts were stated sent a telegram
asking Judge CardweIl If he had any
doubt of the prisoners guilt, and re-
ceived the following reply:
Hanover, Va, August s, 1912.
Hon. William Hodges Mann
Governor. Richmond Va.
The evidence not in the record. IL
being conceded. as understand from
counsel, that there was sufficient evil
a
sidered the record only with reference
to the question. whether the haste in
trial amounted to denial OF fair
trial and reached the conclusion that
7 would not be justified in granting
writ Of error. | would be better salts
fed. howevex II the full court reach
ed the same conclusion But that
judgment cannot be gotten unless a
respite is granted till after the court
meets at Staunton. and whether that
is proper under the circumstances is
for your determination
r. II. CARDwELL.
Heprievs to September
The governor after inquiring into
the case. being satisfied of the guilt
at the prisoner. had determined not
TO grant the respite until this telegram
was received. but after reading and
considering il thought he ought to
grant the respite until after the meet
ing OF the Court OF Appeals in Sep
TENDER. The governor viii not inter
fere with the Judgment of the court
as he believes In SPEEDY trials and
certainty OF punishment. The case is
therefore In the hands OF the Court
of Appeals. and II il does not set
aside the Judgment OF the Circuit
court Of Appomattox. the governor
will not interfere,