Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-11
ELL-KN0WN PEOPLE
ASK CLEMENCY FOR NEGRO
Petition Governor to Commute Sem
tence Of Lem Jones, Convicted
of Murder.
PARDON REFUSED WAGNER
Man Convicted Of Forgery Can Neith-
er Read nor Write, but Refuses to
Tell Who Was His Principal in
Crime.

City officials and prominent citizens
or Norfolk have interested themselves
in the case Of Lem Jones, a negro. con-
ricted In the Corporation Court of that
city on November 10 of the murder OF
isaac Alcck. merchant. in his store
at Washington Avenue and Proechcr
street. and sentenced to die in the
electric chair.
An application signed by a number
or prominent people asking tho Gov
crnor to commute the sentence to life
IMPRISONMENT was received yesterday
The merchant was murdered I'm his
place OF business at midnight, Septem-
Der 10. He was closing his store when
three negroes entered One drew n re-
volver and ordered him to throw nm
his hands, He seized clcaver which
| was lying on the counter and was
about to attack his assailant when the
negro shot him dead. The dusky high
waymen-Lem Jones Luke Dozier and
Dave McDonald-ned.
Jones and Dozier were captured.
Mcdonald escaped to North Carolina
but his Identity having been betrayed
ny his pals. he was arrested some time
later when he returned to Norfolk.
Mrs. Aleck. wife Of the murdered man.
positively Identified negro named
Howard as the man who shot Alcck
Howard established an alibi and was
released. subsequently Mrs. Aleck
identified Jones as the murderer
The three men were tried and con-
victed. Dozier and Mcdonald were
sentenced to serve life terms In the
penitentiary. but the jury fixed tho
death penalty for Jones. Jones told
the jury that he had conspired with
I Mcdonald and Dozier to rob the store
but that murder was not CONTEMPLATED
He said Mcdonald had surprised Dozier
and himself by shooting the merchant
Dozier later made confession In
which he corroborated the story OF
Jones. Mcdonald, however, had aided
the Commonwealth In the trial by tes-
tifyinG against Dozier, when the lat
ter was on trial. and for turning States
evidence. the term given Mcdonald
was reduced to eighteen years In pris-
on.
1ntercedng for Jones. the petitioners
direct the attention OF the Governor to
the fact that the widow Of the muir
dered man was just as positive when
she identified an innocent man as the
murderer rs when she identified Jones.
and that Jones was defended In court
by two young lawyers, neither Of
whom had ever before tried a case.
REFUSES TO PARDON
MAN WHO SHIELDS ANOTHER
IoNeIHoI mas re1uSed 10 grant
pardon to George H. WAGNER, con-
victed In April. 1914. in the Circuit
Court Of Henry County. Tho State and
county officials are convinced that
Wagner was not the principal in the
crime for which he is serving n SEN
tence. but believe that he Is shielding
his accomplce.
WAGNER was convicted OF forgery
In raising the amount of a certificate
OF deposit of the Peoples National
Bank Of Martinsburg from 500 TO
5000 1t was discovered after his ar
rest that WAGNER could neither read
nor write and was unable even to sign
his own name. He sturdily refused to
acknowledge, however, that he had an
accomplish. Finally, he was offered
immunity on condition that he disclose
the identity Of the principal in the
| fraud. He refused to turn States
evidence.
After WAGNER was sent to the roads.
Governor Stuart received a letter from
tho prisoner, who protested his inno-
ccnse and sued for executive clemency.
He was in a convict camp In Lee Coun-
~ when he made his appeal to the
Governor. The executive investigated
and discovered that the letter had
been written for Wagner by another
prisoner in camp. WAGNER again de-
citned to deliver up the man who had
forged the certificate of deposit for
him, hence the Governor has rejected
his petition