Guilty, Yet “Not Guilty”
August 12, 1899
Summary
The jury deems a white man who has assaulted a 12-year-old black girl not guilty, and the judge condemns the jury for their biased choice.
Transcription
It is announced that Leonard Parsons, (white) criminally assaulted Oedelia Shepard, a twelve year old colored girl and was tried at Dallas, Tex, Aug. 2d for the crime.
The jury of white men after deliberating half an hour brought in a verdict of “not guilty.”
The evidence was conclusive, and the verdict is said to have been a complete surprise to all in the court-room.
Judge Clinton is reported to have used anbatantially the following language in addressing the jury:
“You are men of integrity and of intelligence; but like all other men, you are liable to make mistakes. That is what you have done in this case. You have acquitted this boy and in doing so you have set at liberty on who is guilty.”
But what is the use of commenting further? The man who charges that criminal assault is confined to the citizens of color, not only falsifies the facts, but is so filled with racial prejudice that he could not be believed on path where the interests of the two races were called into question.
The liberal minded white element will yet assert itself, although from the present indications, this generation will have been dead an hundred years when it comes to pass.
The jury of white men after deliberating half an hour brought in a verdict of “not guilty.”
The evidence was conclusive, and the verdict is said to have been a complete surprise to all in the court-room.
Judge Clinton is reported to have used anbatantially the following language in addressing the jury:
“You are men of integrity and of intelligence; but like all other men, you are liable to make mistakes. That is what you have done in this case. You have acquitted this boy and in doing so you have set at liberty on who is guilty.”
But what is the use of commenting further? The man who charges that criminal assault is confined to the citizens of color, not only falsifies the facts, but is so filled with racial prejudice that he could not be believed on path where the interests of the two races were called into question.
The liberal minded white element will yet assert itself, although from the present indications, this generation will have been dead an hundred years when it comes to pass.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Elias Sturim
Citation
“Guilty, Yet “Not Guilty”,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed May 12, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1047.