The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-07
old FRIENDS VISIT
WALKER IN JAIL
Charles City County Murderer
Claims That He Did Not
Get Fair Trial.
SAYS HE'S NOT AFRAID TO DIE
Must Pay Extreme Penalty for
Wife Murder Unless Higher
Court Intervcnes.
SAYS HE'S NOT AFRAID TO DIE

| neS re ali happy back there but
me-" sobbed young Newell Walker,
convicted Wife murderer. nodding yes
terday toward the gloomy cells in
Iienrico County Jail. from which the
strains OF song, interm!ngled with peals
OF careless laughter. noated into the
private office in which. under heavy
guard. he was permitted to talk for n
rev minutes with a delegation OF
friends from his home county of
Charles City. Gulping down sud :
den rising In his throat. one Of the
younger men of the party impulslvelv
graspcd the hand of the condemned
man. his former playmate, and hurried
out into the corridor. 4 woman open
ly resorted to handkerchief. while
the other members of the partX turned
away to hide the tears brought to their
eyes by the plaintive cry
walker was too overcome by the un-
expected visit to talk to his friends
They. too, were silent. The few com
monplace remarks with which they at
ment met with brief replies from
Walker. who was choked up with
tears whenever he tried TO speak
Did Not Talk OF Crime.
references to the crime, foR which
he must soon pay the extreme penalty
OF law. were avoided as far as posi-
bile, but Unexpectedly cropped UP. to the
discomfort of all. When Deputv
sheriff Garnett signifod that the time
limit had expired. Walker. with tears
streaming down his cheeks. and with
bowed head. walked slowly back to his
cell
The crime committed by Walker Is
said TO be one OF the most brutal and
ochberate In the annals of the state
Estrangcd from his wife he intcrcept-
co her in n field. and with n keen
edged razor. which he had carried for
1,,,1, 1.
practically sevcrtng the head from the
body. Two men. one standing TWENTY
I'VE yards on, witnessed the deed No
attempt was made to interfere. and af-
ter dropping the dead body OF his Wife
Walker went TO the home of a neigh
Dor. informed him OF the act. and af-
ter washing his hands. hunted up the
sheriff and SURRENDERED
Not Afrnid to Die.
Il amt afraid TO die" Walker stat
ed yesterday to a reporter for The
Times Dispatch. but surely didn't
htten to try no one. Why. rather than
stay another day on the case, them
men, after telling Judge Tyler that they
could not reach verdict. went into
the jury ROOM and before you could saw
Jack Robinson returned and told the
Judge that II was the electric chair
for me-"
walker. since getting n shave and
haircut IN the County Jail. makes a
good appearance. lie has fine, curly
dark hair and gray eyes. While not
especially bright he Is OF average in
telliGcnce. and except when conversine
on the subject OF his alleged wrongs
speaks nationally. He has no hesitancv
IN speaking OF the crime. but will not
discuss the sordid details. No ATTEMPT
Is made to deny the charge his chief
desire being TO offer his wife's conduct
in eXtcnuation.
Even at the last minute / begged
Mary TO come home again." he stated
yesterday.
piled.
Then everything got dark. and I
began slashing away he continued,
with tears in his eyes II could not
help myself. but God knows did not
mean TO do It, They said | had car
rled razor for several days but II is
lie. had it honcd by a friend. and
had slipped 1T into my vest poke
that very morning. My wife deserted
me and my three small children, but
was always ready to forgive her I
even offered one man $40 In cash IL
he would go TO her and get her to re-
turn to our babies"
Married Eight Years.
walker Is young. He is barely
twenty-seven years old. Since early
childhood he has been at work. and
work of the hardest kind. Friends saw
he married above his station, and that
was the cause of his domestic diffi-
culties The couple had been married
just eight years when tho crime was
committed. Mrs. Walker was tho
daughter of sawmill operator, while
her husband was II wood chopper and
farmer. There were three small chill
dren by the union, the eldest being
1--WE years old. Mrs Walker was TWEEN
ty-four years old when murdered
Il am ready to go anywhere they
say, but who will take care Of my old
mother and the babies?" he asked His
friends withheld tho news that tho
children had been adopted by three
separate families. and that his mother
had given up her home and gone off
to relatives.
His aged mother and the three chill
dren appear to be his whole concern.
Little hope for new trial remains.
although his attorneys are confident
that the Supreme Court will see their
view OF the matter. Walker, however,
is respondent, and sits staring modify
from behind the bars, hoping against
hope
Unless the upper court or the Gov
ernor intervenes. Walker will go to
his death on September Is. The crimo
for which he was convicted was com
mitted on May IS in Charles CITY
County. Walker was found guilty on
June %, and was brought to this city
last Friday by Sheriff Il. S. Minor for
safckeeping.