A Girls Love
November 13, 1897
Summary
Paul Davis, a black man, is acquitted of the alleged crime of raping a girl under the age of consent.
Transcription
Paul Davis, the colored youth charged with raping Cora Twitchell, a 15-year-old white girl, she being under the age of consent, was called in the Henrico County Court, Monday, November 8th and a new trial granted By Judge Wickham.
Thereupon Commonwealth’s Attorney Conway R. Sands entered a [illegible]
School-Children’s Fondness.
This is one of the most remarkable cases in the criminal annals of Virginia. Paul and Cora lived in the same neighborhood, attended different school buildings, but, were often seen going down the road to a point, where their paths would necessarily lead in different directions.
Wiser heads shook their heads gravely, and the attention of the Twitchell family was called to the intimacy. Cora would send notes to Paul, and when he did not answer them would come to the house where he was staying and remain there for hours.
Loved Him Dearly.
These notices as produced at the trial were of a most loving character. Her infatuation for the colored youth was the most pronounced kind.
Paul was employed for many months at the Twitchell’s farm. He slept upstairs, and had to pass through the bed-room in which Mr. and Mrs. Carlos A. Twitchell themselves and daughters slept.
For some cause, he left the place, but Cora was a frequent visitor to the place where he lived. It was discovered shortly afterwards that everything was not all right with Cora. An investigation of the matter revealed the truth.
Charged with the Crime.
Twitchell called on Paul and charged him with the offense. He carried him to the Henrico County Courthouse in this city and gave him up to the officers. A warrant, charging him with rape was sworn out. Twitchell testified then that his daughter was fourteen years of age.
Changed the Age.
Later, upon being advised that the age of consent was fourteen years, he swore out another warrant charging Paul Davis with [illegible] knowing a female under the age of consent. This time he swore that his daughter was thirteen years of age. This made it look dark for Davis, for under that construction of the law, Paul could be hanged.
When the prisoner was led from the Henrico County Jail for trial, Twitchell, standing in the door-way, drew a revolver, and fired at him pointblank. The bullet entering the abdomen and to all appearance being a fatal wound.
In the Same Jail.
Twitchell was disarmed, and for weeks spent his time in the same jail in which Paul Davis was incarcerated.
It was several months before Davis was arraigned for trial. Twitchell swore that his daughter was born April 19, 1883, and the alleged family records were produced to prove this fact.
In the meantime, a child had been born to Cora Twitchell during the month of March, 1897.
Testimony was adduced to prove that it was of colored percentage. Cora testified that Paul was the father.
A Nine Years Sentence.
Davis was convicted and sentenced to nine years in the Virginia Penitentiary.
Many persons called at the Planet Office concerning the case, and Squire George W. Thomas, counsel for Davis visited the editor requesting that he would assist in securing the necessary information from Buffalo, in order to prove that Cora Twitchell was born a year earlier than was claimed at the trial.
He stated that in those cities a record of births was kept and that this information would free Paul Davis.
That Grievous Charge.
He was charged with knowing a female under the age of fourteen years. If she were over that age, there would be no case against him and a new trial could be granted. Editor Mitchell agreed to secure the information.
He wrote to Mr. F. Z. S. Peregrino of the Buffalo Spectator, asking him to go to the office of Board and Health and secure the information. He sent the certificate, but it was not duly certified, and while good in New York State, was useless to the counsel in this. The bill of $7 there for had been paid, $, for the certificate and the other for the services. The certificate was returned, but was lost in the mails and a duplicate which cost another $1 was secured.
Could not Understand.
Despite the fact that an extract from the Virginia law was enclosed which required that such certificates shall be certified to by the Judge of and Court of a court of Record should be attached and Mr. Peregrino had entrusted the work to the lawyer, the papers were found again defective, being certified to by a deputy clerk.
Mr. Peregrino was prompt in returning the papers, but the attorney there, could not understand the requirements of other states. A bill for $50 was made out and forward to Editor Mitchell. Again, he had to return the papers and again they were not up to the requirements.
The Judge Granted the Request.
In the meantime, Lawyer Thomas and Editor Mitchell went before the Judge Wickham to asked him to delay the trial. He had decided to settle the question of a new trial, but finally consented so to do.
Even after this a further continuance had to be asked for. It was then that Lawyer Thomas decided to send Deputy Clerk T. F. Taylor to Buffalo New York with the papers to have them properly attested.
A Trip to Buffalo.
An excursion was scheduled for Buffalo, and October 5, 1897, he left for the metropolis.
He carried on the officials, who were very [illegible] and gave him all of the information asked for. He found out that the cost of the papers was nominal and regarded the changes of [illegible]. Peregrino’s attorney as exorbitant being more by far than the cost of his trip from Richmond to Buffalo and return.
He saw the physician who attended Mrs. Twitchell to her illness, and he testified that Cora Twitchell was delivered April 19, 1882. This corresponded with the record at the board of health Department.
The Doctor a Frankness.
He said that he had been approached by the Twitchell’s relatives about Cora’s age, but that he could not falsify his books.
She was born April 19, 1882, instead of April 18, 1883, as was sworn by C. A. Twitchell and wife.
This settled it. A statement duly certified, showing that no child was born to the Twitchell’s April 19, 1883, was also duly attested and the careful deputy clerk returned to Richmond with the result as set forth in the foregoing article.
Thereupon Commonwealth’s Attorney Conway R. Sands entered a [illegible]
School-Children’s Fondness.
This is one of the most remarkable cases in the criminal annals of Virginia. Paul and Cora lived in the same neighborhood, attended different school buildings, but, were often seen going down the road to a point, where their paths would necessarily lead in different directions.
Wiser heads shook their heads gravely, and the attention of the Twitchell family was called to the intimacy. Cora would send notes to Paul, and when he did not answer them would come to the house where he was staying and remain there for hours.
Loved Him Dearly.
These notices as produced at the trial were of a most loving character. Her infatuation for the colored youth was the most pronounced kind.
Paul was employed for many months at the Twitchell’s farm. He slept upstairs, and had to pass through the bed-room in which Mr. and Mrs. Carlos A. Twitchell themselves and daughters slept.
For some cause, he left the place, but Cora was a frequent visitor to the place where he lived. It was discovered shortly afterwards that everything was not all right with Cora. An investigation of the matter revealed the truth.
Charged with the Crime.
Twitchell called on Paul and charged him with the offense. He carried him to the Henrico County Courthouse in this city and gave him up to the officers. A warrant, charging him with rape was sworn out. Twitchell testified then that his daughter was fourteen years of age.
Changed the Age.
Later, upon being advised that the age of consent was fourteen years, he swore out another warrant charging Paul Davis with [illegible] knowing a female under the age of consent. This time he swore that his daughter was thirteen years of age. This made it look dark for Davis, for under that construction of the law, Paul could be hanged.
When the prisoner was led from the Henrico County Jail for trial, Twitchell, standing in the door-way, drew a revolver, and fired at him pointblank. The bullet entering the abdomen and to all appearance being a fatal wound.
In the Same Jail.
Twitchell was disarmed, and for weeks spent his time in the same jail in which Paul Davis was incarcerated.
It was several months before Davis was arraigned for trial. Twitchell swore that his daughter was born April 19, 1883, and the alleged family records were produced to prove this fact.
In the meantime, a child had been born to Cora Twitchell during the month of March, 1897.
Testimony was adduced to prove that it was of colored percentage. Cora testified that Paul was the father.
A Nine Years Sentence.
Davis was convicted and sentenced to nine years in the Virginia Penitentiary.
Many persons called at the Planet Office concerning the case, and Squire George W. Thomas, counsel for Davis visited the editor requesting that he would assist in securing the necessary information from Buffalo, in order to prove that Cora Twitchell was born a year earlier than was claimed at the trial.
He stated that in those cities a record of births was kept and that this information would free Paul Davis.
That Grievous Charge.
He was charged with knowing a female under the age of fourteen years. If she were over that age, there would be no case against him and a new trial could be granted. Editor Mitchell agreed to secure the information.
He wrote to Mr. F. Z. S. Peregrino of the Buffalo Spectator, asking him to go to the office of Board and Health and secure the information. He sent the certificate, but it was not duly certified, and while good in New York State, was useless to the counsel in this. The bill of $7 there for had been paid, $, for the certificate and the other for the services. The certificate was returned, but was lost in the mails and a duplicate which cost another $1 was secured.
Could not Understand.
Despite the fact that an extract from the Virginia law was enclosed which required that such certificates shall be certified to by the Judge of and Court of a court of Record should be attached and Mr. Peregrino had entrusted the work to the lawyer, the papers were found again defective, being certified to by a deputy clerk.
Mr. Peregrino was prompt in returning the papers, but the attorney there, could not understand the requirements of other states. A bill for $50 was made out and forward to Editor Mitchell. Again, he had to return the papers and again they were not up to the requirements.
The Judge Granted the Request.
In the meantime, Lawyer Thomas and Editor Mitchell went before the Judge Wickham to asked him to delay the trial. He had decided to settle the question of a new trial, but finally consented so to do.
Even after this a further continuance had to be asked for. It was then that Lawyer Thomas decided to send Deputy Clerk T. F. Taylor to Buffalo New York with the papers to have them properly attested.
A Trip to Buffalo.
An excursion was scheduled for Buffalo, and October 5, 1897, he left for the metropolis.
He carried on the officials, who were very [illegible] and gave him all of the information asked for. He found out that the cost of the papers was nominal and regarded the changes of [illegible]. Peregrino’s attorney as exorbitant being more by far than the cost of his trip from Richmond to Buffalo and return.
He saw the physician who attended Mrs. Twitchell to her illness, and he testified that Cora Twitchell was delivered April 19, 1882. This corresponded with the record at the board of health Department.
The Doctor a Frankness.
He said that he had been approached by the Twitchell’s relatives about Cora’s age, but that he could not falsify his books.
She was born April 19, 1882, instead of April 18, 1883, as was sworn by C. A. Twitchell and wife.
This settled it. A statement duly certified, showing that no child was born to the Twitchell’s April 19, 1883, was also duly attested and the careful deputy clerk returned to Richmond with the result as set forth in the foregoing article.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brian Schrott
Citation
“A Girls Love,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed March 15, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1218.