Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-21
NEGRO's PLEA FOR LIFE
AVA|LS HIM NOTHING
John Williams Must Pay With His
Death for Brutal Crime He
Committed.
HE is QUICKLY FOUND GUILTY
Tried Before Jury at Nottowuy
Courthouse, and Perfect Order Is
Maintained, Despite Great Crowd
Present-Now In Hcnrico Jail.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]

BLACKSTONE. VA, April eo--To die
by electrocution on Friday. May &c,
was the sentence imposed upon John
Williams. tho negro who assaulted a
young white girl four miles from this
place on March 30, at Nottoway Court
house to-day
When asked by the court IL he had
anything TO say before sentence was
passed upon him. the negro made an
earnest and impassioued plea that lie
he permitted to live and try to make
amends for the crime he had COM
mitted. which, he said. had been duo
To drink. lie told the court that II
would like To have the chance to live
and die natural death, and in the
meantime 10 make amends for my mis-
deeds. You have the power to show
mercy TO me as YOU hope to have it
shown yor, and in this tumult of white
people l 'vish 10 say that ii is my de-
sire to live u Christian life in the
future. and am willing to spend my
days in conhncment in order that I
may die natural death"
The negro showed by his mannor and
speech that he is above the ordinary
in intelligence and while very nervous
all during the trial. he spoke with
much composure and earncstncss in his
plea for his life.
HE WOULD NOT CHANGE
VERDICT IL HE COULD
Judge Southall replied that it was
not in his power to change the verdict
of the jury, and he would not do so
If he could. He said that a fair and
impartial trial had been given him, and
n verdict had hcen rendered i'm accord
nnce with tho law and evidence in his
case.
The prisoner was ordered back to
the iicnrico Jail, there to await, th.
convenience OF the penitcntiary au-
thorities when hc Will be sent for ana
the sentence of the court carried out
Perfect order WAS maintained during
the trial. which had hccn set for 10
O'CLOCK. but IL was five minutes after
IL when court was formally opened
The courtroom was first cleared OF all
except the officers, doctors, lawyers and
newspaper men, and fifty deputies were
called and sworn in
Thc doors were then thrown omen
ana every man searched for arms as
thcH entered the room. Due was found
with pistol. and he was brought 70
the bar of the court aud placed under
arrest. His trial for the oTensc will
take place tomorrow morniuc. The
largest crowd ever seen at Nottowav
Court was present, every county in this
section being represented. MOI a fourth
OF those present could gain admission
TO the courtroom, ana every window
was surrounded ny onlookcrs Only a
few negroes were present. they having
been advised to remain away.
Ihe court appointed three members
OF the local bar to defend the prisoner.
who entered plea of mot guilty" and
they discharged their duties ms we'll AS
they could under tho prcponderancc OF
evidence against the accused They
had several negroes brought into court
and placed on either side of Williams
to see IL the witnesses could identify
HIM. This they uuhcsitatingly did in
each instance.
'ht most interesting incident of the
triai occurred just nt this time. Iir,
COOK an old-time negro, wh,s% nome
is only few hundred nrds fr,n that
Ccntlnueu on Second pagr.)