Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-09-18
DtCI0R PLEADS FOR
lives OF KECrOES
Lcwes Physician Thinks
Condemned Men Deserve
Only Lie Sentence
PARDON BOARD
TO iEOPEN CASE
Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL.


DOVER, Del. Sept. 1s.-A special
session OF the State Board OF PRrdons
was held here yesterday afternoon
with all the members present TO give
Dr. w. r Messick OF Lewes, a hear.
ng He had been both instrumental
n bringing the three Negroes. VII.
liam Prettyman. Adam Hargls and
Webster Purnell, indicted and con.
victed in Sussex county in February
last for the murder OF Harry Parker
IN September, 1915 TO justice. and
elso in asking for n reprieve from
the governor until a further hearing
could DO had with the hope of secur.
Ing a Communication Of life sentence
for the condemned men on the ground
Of newly discovered evidence.
DR.. Mesaick made q statement 70
the board relative TO his absence at
the former meeting OF the board, that
OF his being told he need not appear
before the board. the RfIidavits pro.
duced by counsel being sufficient, and
also TO tell the board what he knew
OF the murder of Harry Parker. In
asmuch as he was one OF the first
citizens OF Lewes 10 begin an investi-
cation Into the murder after the State
detective Of Sussex county had failed
to secure any evidence looking to-
ward an arrest of any one supposed
70 be implicated In the murder.
DR.. Messick was frank In his state
ments TO the board that he believed
the three Negroes guilty OF murder,
but not OF first degree murder, HIS
opinion being that the murder OF
Parker was the result of a drunken
brawl, with no generalization what.
ever. He further stated, as had previ.
ously been represented to the board
by counsel for the three Negroes,
that some OF the witnesses in the case
at the trial had not told all they knew
OF the murder, and he believed that
II certain persons could be summoned
10 appear before the board In person,
the board would have an opportunity
10 interrogate such persons and So
cure possibly additional evidence,
which might show a sufficient conflict
Of testimony to convince the board
that misrepresentation had been
made at tho trial.
DR.. Messick also intlmated, as had
been intlmated before the board at a
previous meeting, that possibly a white
man might be implicated in the affair,
the belief among some Of the Lewes
people being that such was the case.
DR.. Messlck further stated that as
much as he knew about the case from
Investigation and otherwise he would
always believe that II the three
Negroes are hanged, It would be a mis-
carriage OF justice.
Chancellor Curtis, I'm interrogatlng
Or. Messick at some length, asked the
doctor II he differed with the court
and Jury who had tried the case, giving
DR.. Messlok 20 understand II was the
disregard of courts and juries that
caused lynchings. etc.
Dr. Messick replied that while he
would not say that he dlsregarded tho
acts Of tho courts or the juries, he felt
miscarriage Of justice would GER
tainly be manifest II the three Negroes
were hanged Or. Messick said he
would not want that jury TO sit on his
case Dr., Messlck said that in his iudg-
ment, certain errors had been made In
the case, and that had such errors been
righted the possibilities are that the
verdict IN the case would not have
been more than second degree murder
After a fun discussion Of the case
members Of the board agreed that the
one and only point made by DR.. Mes
slok was as 10 the degree Of murder
and not the innocence OF the men.
The board. In executive session, con-
sidered at length all phases OF the case,
which has now been before them three
times, and finally agreed TO give one
more hearing on tho questions involved
in DR.. Messick's statements. The board
adjourned 10 meet next Thursday
at 1890 o'clock, at which time
the following persons VIII be summon
ed to appear before the board and tell
what they know concerning The affair
William f. Wilson, Napoleon B. Regis
ter. Scott Hart, ]. Stockley Ingram,
Nathaniel Hughey Mrs Nathaniel
iughey, Mrs. Thomas zimmerman,
Mrs Thomas Mitchell.