Will They Be Convicted
April 4, 1896
Summary
The innocence of the women in the Lunenburg trials is reiterated in an opinion piece by the Planet.
Transcription
No one who has gazed upon the frank, open countenances of Mary Abernathy and Pokey Barnes and listened to the statements which they make concerning their whereabouts on that fateful Friday, June 14, 1896, can longer doubt their innocence.
When this fact is supplemented by the earnest declarations of Solomon Marable that the women are innocent, all of the cloud of uncertainty is lifted and they stand forth in all of the magnificence of conscious innocence.
And yet prejudiced men would go upon the theory that it is better that ninety and nine innocent persons should be punished rather than one guilty one should escape. It is known that, viewed in its worst light the chain of circumstantial evidence is glaringly incomplete in the cases of women. Before a fair and impartial jury, the acquittal of these women would be a foregone conclusion.
And yet, the populace or rather that element of it which discard reason clamor for the conviction of these poor women.
We challenge any one to produce the evidence upon which to convict Pokey Barnes. The same is true of Mary Abernathy's case. When the latter left the Pollard residence, the murderer or murderers proceeded to carry out their fiendish designs.
Now, with not a scintilla of tangible evidence to connect them with the crime, with suspicions not sufficient to convict a brute, it is demanded that the lives of these helpless females be offered up. God knows we are at times almost driven to despair when we consider the degeneracy of Virgina’s chivalry, note the soiling of that judicial ermine, which during days past and gone was the pride of this grand old commonwealth. Will a change ever come? Will there be a return to those better days which were source of pride to every true son of the Old Dominion?
Little did we expect to see helpless womanhood hounded and degraded, men converted into beasts and as utterly insensible to chastity as it is possible for brutes to be. But God holds the destiny of nations in his hand. He has all power and notes all of these miscarriages of justice.
A few more wintry days, a few more hilling blasts, a few more days of Spring and a few more visits of Summer and these prejudiced individuals will be gathered to the graves of their fathers and within the confines of the narrow tomb will sleep their last sleep.
Punishment will be visited and the wails of the Negro haters will be the beginning of the atonement which will have no end.
Mary Abernathy is innocent of that horrible crime. Pokey Barnes has never thought of committing murder. But summon your venire from Prince Edward Co., which is as agitated over the murder as is Lunenburg county. Secure a verdict of guilty so far as the jury is concerned, before it has heard the evidence.
Glut your vengeance upon the innocent and then fall back impotent with rage. None of this will bring back to life the inanimate Mrs. Pollard. None of this will restore the money which it is alleged has been stolen. But on the other hand, wailing children will bemoan the loss of murdered mother and heart-broken husbands and fathers will go sorrowing to their graves.
Solomon Marable, the day before he was to be executed and at the present time makes no secret about the murder, and reiterates that the women are innocent.
It is acquittal or death for the women. What will you do with them? They cannot be legally convicted. We shall await the decision of the court. For weal or woe we have cast our lot with these helpless creatures and shall stand by them to the end.
When this fact is supplemented by the earnest declarations of Solomon Marable that the women are innocent, all of the cloud of uncertainty is lifted and they stand forth in all of the magnificence of conscious innocence.
And yet prejudiced men would go upon the theory that it is better that ninety and nine innocent persons should be punished rather than one guilty one should escape. It is known that, viewed in its worst light the chain of circumstantial evidence is glaringly incomplete in the cases of women. Before a fair and impartial jury, the acquittal of these women would be a foregone conclusion.
And yet, the populace or rather that element of it which discard reason clamor for the conviction of these poor women.
We challenge any one to produce the evidence upon which to convict Pokey Barnes. The same is true of Mary Abernathy's case. When the latter left the Pollard residence, the murderer or murderers proceeded to carry out their fiendish designs.
Now, with not a scintilla of tangible evidence to connect them with the crime, with suspicions not sufficient to convict a brute, it is demanded that the lives of these helpless females be offered up. God knows we are at times almost driven to despair when we consider the degeneracy of Virgina’s chivalry, note the soiling of that judicial ermine, which during days past and gone was the pride of this grand old commonwealth. Will a change ever come? Will there be a return to those better days which were source of pride to every true son of the Old Dominion?
Little did we expect to see helpless womanhood hounded and degraded, men converted into beasts and as utterly insensible to chastity as it is possible for brutes to be. But God holds the destiny of nations in his hand. He has all power and notes all of these miscarriages of justice.
A few more wintry days, a few more hilling blasts, a few more days of Spring and a few more visits of Summer and these prejudiced individuals will be gathered to the graves of their fathers and within the confines of the narrow tomb will sleep their last sleep.
Punishment will be visited and the wails of the Negro haters will be the beginning of the atonement which will have no end.
Mary Abernathy is innocent of that horrible crime. Pokey Barnes has never thought of committing murder. But summon your venire from Prince Edward Co., which is as agitated over the murder as is Lunenburg county. Secure a verdict of guilty so far as the jury is concerned, before it has heard the evidence.
Glut your vengeance upon the innocent and then fall back impotent with rage. None of this will bring back to life the inanimate Mrs. Pollard. None of this will restore the money which it is alleged has been stolen. But on the other hand, wailing children will bemoan the loss of murdered mother and heart-broken husbands and fathers will go sorrowing to their graves.
Solomon Marable, the day before he was to be executed and at the present time makes no secret about the murder, and reiterates that the women are innocent.
It is acquittal or death for the women. What will you do with them? They cannot be legally convicted. We shall await the decision of the court. For weal or woe we have cast our lot with these helpless creatures and shall stand by them to the end.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Liam Eynan
Citation
“Will They Be Convicted,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed December 7, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1669.