Year: 1879

WHEN BROUGHT UP TO RECEIVE I'll


SENTENCE.


Richmond Special to the New York Herald.


There was quite dramatic scene in tn


Hastings Court room to-day when Johr


q. Poindexter was brought up to receiv'


his sentence of two years imprisonment il


the penitentiary for killing G. G. Curtis o.


the third of March last. The prisoner wa,


neatly dressed in dark Prince Albert suit


He did not appear much depressed. anG


his tall, slender figure and rather hand


some features showed to advantage. The


court wss in session nearly an hour, wher
the clerk ordered Poindexter to stand up


and asked him IL he had anything to say
why sentence should not be pronounced


Much to the surprise of everybody he made


an address. which had evidently been pre-
| pared. for he read from few sheets oi


paper WHICH weFs covered with interlinea-


tions and scratches. Its delivery affected


many in the court room, and none more


visibly than his Honor, Judge Christian.
Poindexter said 'May 1t please your


Honor, if l bowed my head to this sentence


and did not protest against the injustice OF


this verdict, a verdict which, If ratified by


this community, makes me the first victim
of a revolution in traditional sentiment
of my native State, that has educated me
to believe that the defense of a woman Ia
one Of the first duties man owes to soci
ty and himself, I should DO false to my
self and false to every feeling that goes to
form the strongest conviction of innocence
in my own breast. No one more
deeply deplores this sad and most unhappy
tragedy and the unfortunate circumstances
that led thereto than myself. My feelings
will not permit me now, nor have the
strength, bowed down with sorrow as my
heart now is, to go into any extended de-
fense of my cause. not claim to be
faultless. l am but hannah, and moved by
those passions with which God in His
judgment hath seen fit to fill the souls of
men. As to the charge that l was filled
with malice in taking the life of the de-
ceas ed, do, In the name of heaven, plead
not guilty. Let me say 1t in the face of
God, as value my souls salvation, | had
no desire or wish to take his life, and every
feeling which may have had was crowd
ed from my mind by the all absorbing
thought that my life was at stake, and the
God given law of self defense alone con-
trolled my action. Willingly and gladly
would give half my days to return to his
sorrowing sister and friends the life which
lies on my hands, and raise from their
hearts the grief which no less
oppresses mine. will say nothing against
any one. Isimply ask that charity may be
extended to me and others, which I so
willingly accord to ALL 1t is noe enough,
your Honor, that the very foundation Of
my life will ever be fretted away by the
deep sorrow that must accompany me even
to my grave. THIS chastisement is surely
sufficient, the bitterness of which no heart
can know but my own. l do not complain
of the number of years contained in this yer-
dict. Sir, two are as good as twenty.
Suffice it to say, if this verdict is ever car
ried into effect, the sentence you are about
to pronounce is death sentence, that
crushes out of my life all hope, all happi-
ness, and leaves me what mans laws can
not take from me. 1. feel no sense of
guilt or disgrace but carry this verdict
into execution, and, with my nature and
the thought of those loved ones who are so
dear to me, should be utterly crushed.
In closing thank your Honor from my
heart for your sincere and feeling express
sions of sympathy"


In the beginning Poindexter read IN
firm and distinct voice, which could easily
be heard in all parts of the court room.
When he said, 81 do, in the name of heav-
en-, again plead not guilty" his voice rang
out in clear, strong and emphatic tones.
Thels was pathos in the utterance, Glad
ly would give half my days." and i" / ask
that charity may be extended to me and
others - but when he came to speak of
the bitterness of the chastisement his
words began to choke in his throat, and he
was greatly agitated, and it was only by
effort that he was able to
proceed. AS it was, few words were
stifed in utterance. Hats and hands were
placed before many faces as the prisoner
closed and stood with head bowed await
ing the dread sentence.


Judge Christian, his voice husky. then
sentenced the prisoner to be taken to the
for two years, the execution
Of which sentence was suspended until
August 18th, to afford counsel opportunity
to appeal to the Court of Appeals, which
meets July 10th.