The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-21
fJustice" Sends $500 for Fund to
Be Raised by Public Subscrip-
ton and to Be Added to the
Large Reward Already Of
fered by the Governor
of Virginia.
HlLLsvILLE RELIEF FUND.
John A. Lcsner, Norfolk. -. $4,000
POPULAR REWARD FUND.
From "Junticc,' Hicbmond. .s20O.00

When. on. week ago to-day. four
brave men and true--Judgc Thornton
l. Massic, Commemorative Attorney
william NJ, Foster, Sheriff Lewis +.
Webb and Juror c. C. Fowler-wull,cd
20 death at assasslns' hands FOR the
honor OF Virginia, the intcErlty OF Jus
lice and sanctity Of the law. they car
ricd in their minds not only a knoul-
edge Of the fate in store for them but
the picture of loved ones al home de-
pendent upon their life and h:alth for
support Out of the Nrst horror ana
shock of the terrible crime has iinally
come TO Virginia men and women the
recognition OF what these women and
children gave UP for the Commons.
wealth. The people o: Virginia have
never been slow 10 honor elthcr In
word or deed, the sacrifices made In
their name. and from the FIRST deep
expressions of admiration for the he
/ role self-sacritice has ultimately come
visible tokens OF appreciation.
To turn aside from these bereaved
widows and children the RELENTLESS
hand OF want, relief fund wa. ycs-
J terday initiated by senator John y.
Lesncr. OF Norfolk, with q contribution
: OF $50. senator Lesuer IS one Of many
! Nun 4ll l. iIllt " 10 Bt.4'-NFN mat inN
best way OF showing tho states appie-
riation OF tho liom,ric sacrifice Of
these heroes Is TO proyid for their de-
penderte. No matter in what light tho
subject Is viewed. these women and
children became the wards OF Virginia,
the legacy Of m=n who held life as
laught when duty TO the State called
from the moment whom the numbering
bullet ended their careers In this life
Governor Approves.
h.i"s tUi'y ;n sympathy With the
laudablc proposition of senator Lesner
The Times Dispatch gladly takes up
Tue labor proposed by him. and viil
swell The fund which ne SO generously
started. Upon tn nucleus given by
Senator Lcsncr. The Times Dispatch
proposes 70 inauGurate campaign for
fund 10 be used in alternating the
needs % Whatever dependents wcr. ictt
hY tho four men slain In IIillsvilic on
THURSDAY March -. Contributions
should be sent addressed TO The
sDispatch, Richmond Va. ana a
daily statement OF rcc.ipts vii. he
: published.
When approached by a repor;c. 70,
The Times Dispatch last night in re-
gard 70 the proposed fund, Governor
Mann was cnthusiastically in favor OF
/ the movement.
!crnor. that regard II u. n most
! laudabIc undertaking and one which
Will reflect credit the GcucrosIty
nnh appreciation Of Virginia people.
! If II were tn my power to tnkc auch
action on the part uf tho State, the de-
I pendent relatives of these martyrs
would be put forever beyond danger 81
want. No moro praiscworth. use Of
i.anoney can he mndc than In the sub
4 rcription 10 this fund feel surc that
fif IL was possible for the murdered
heroes themselves to express their
choice In regard 60 the way Virginia
! should commemorate their deaths the,
! would be unanimous In approving the
plan TO cnre for their famtiIcs.v
While Il is morally certain that tho
| next Legislature will take steps to-
ward providing for the IN lintcnancc OF
these wards OF The state it will h..
! Two years at the ivaat before sucn ac-
ton can he taken, anu meanwhile
something should be done Immediately.
In the case OF judge Massic and Com
monwealth's Attorney Foster. life in
+, surancc in small amount is left 10
the families, but. so far as is known.
there is no such provision for the de-
pcndcnts of Sheriff Webb and Juror
! Fowler.
senator Icsncr's Letter.
The text OF the letter in which SEN
-. :.
10 the Editor of The Times Dispatch:
Sir,--I;cferrins to tho ringing and
orportunc editorial in your issua or
March IL, "Nirgina's Debt to the Hills
Vile Heroes desire to express my
warmcst appreciation Of your susgcs-
ton that the Commonwealth should
make fitting provision for the widows
and children Of these martyrcd publ,
servants, and to assure YOU that such
Il movement will meet with my hearty
support AT the next session OF III,
Legislature.
While firmly believe thar the
Legislature will he quick to follow
your views, the next session Is still
. Tar in the future. In the meantime,
the families of tho noble men whc
save up their lives in the performance
of duty in the service of the Common.
wealth should not be permitted to
suffer.
There is no time more opportune
than the present to show our appre-
:. citation Of the undyilg example of
courageous devotion these dead heroes
displayed. ana some immediate pro-
, vision for those nearest and dearest
to them should be made. am not
advised as TO the circumstances OF
their families or to what extent they
arc provided for, but think that the
people Of tic State should sec that
they are look ed after. and il should be
considered an honor Cor every citizen
TO contribute to that end.
IN furthcrancc Of this object, / am
(CoutiuucI on Second PnCcl