Virginia Justice
March 23, 1907
Summary
A white girl in Danville, Virginia, is found lying about two black men sexually assaulting her.
Transcription
Virginia Justice
That a Negro charged with criminal assault upon a white female, should be tried in the city of Danville, State of Virginia and escape not only the gallows, but be found not guilty and be permitted to leave that community alive is one of the wonders of the twentieth century and has called forth the poetic quotation which graces the commencement of this article.
The case is a remarkable one and to the spirit of fair-play, inherent in the better class of white Virginians is due the fact that two colored men are alive and well to-day. The facts are as follows:
Miss Gladys Shelton, aged eighteen years and daughter of Mr. B. R. Shelton of Amherst county, Virginia alleged that she had been criminally assaulted by a colored man or rather as they state it by a Negro during the absence of her parents. The assault was alleged to have taken place during the day at about 3 o’clock.
The white girl has broken the record by identifying two colored men as being her assailant. She said that she believed the Negro who assaulted her was Peter Hutson. He was arrested and with Herbert Steptoe who was suspected by the authorities and was also held by an authority. This white girl did not at first identify Hutson, but later that he was the man. The authorities had, however, such a clear case of an alibi for Hutson; that is, proof that when the crime was alleged to have been committed that he was somewhere else, that they did not press the case against him.
The grand jury did not find a true bill against him, but a true bill was found against the other colored man, Herbert Steptoe. The preliminary examination at Amherst Court House necessitated the use of state troops, so wrought up were the citizens of the county over outrage. The law requires that where troops are necessary at a trial a change of venue must be granted; that is the prisoner must be tried at some other place in the state.
Judge A. M. Aiken was the presiding Judge at Amherst C. H., acting in the place of the jurist who was sick. He transferred the case to his own district at Danville. While he is one of the ablest and most fair minded jurists in the state, this transfer was regarded as ominous. Danville’s reputation in all matters affecting the Negro is known throughout the country and that Steptoe had a chance for his life was not for a moment believed by anyone at a distance, at all conversant with the surrounding circumstances.
The prisoner was represented by Attorney William Beasley of Lynchburg. Although this country white girl had alleged that but one colored man had criminally assaulted her and although she had identified Peter Hutson as the man who committed the crime, and although he had been released and Herbert Steptoe arrested, she glibly swore that Herbert Steptoe was the man who criminally assaulted her.
By this time the white folks had become disgusted. Even the jurors seemed to tire of the job, for if Peter Hutson had established the fact by reputable witnesses that he was somewhere else at the time the crime was committed, Herbert Steptoe had proven that he was not there by evidence too conclusive and convincing to admit of a moment’s doubt. As a result the jury brought in a verdict of “not guilty” and the distinguished presiding judge not only declared that the verdict of the jury was in accordance with the evidence, by the commended them for their action.
He declared that it should prove satisfactory to the people of Virginia. Steptoe accounted for every moment of his time that day, and so conclusive was his recital and so well corroborated was it in every particular, that white men assisted in smuggling him out of Danville in order that he might not be the victim of the prejudiced Negro-haters who would deem it necessary to rid the state of a Negro charged with a heinous offense, be he guilty or innocent.
The motive of this white girl is past finding out unless it was to shield some person in whom she had confided her confidence. She goes back to her Amherst home discredited, and thoughtful white men have a practical demonstration of the embarrassing position in which the average colored man may be placed.
One thing we know is that the verdict of that jury will go far towards restoring the confidence of the colored people in the white men of Virginia. Despite the vaporings of men of the Mr. Thomas Dixon, Senator B. R. Tillman and Gov. Jas. K. Vardaman stripe, the day is breaking and the bond of union is being strengthened in all places where the blatant demagogues of either race are trying to weaken its strength and sever its strands.
Lynch-law must go!
That a Negro charged with criminal assault upon a white female, should be tried in the city of Danville, State of Virginia and escape not only the gallows, but be found not guilty and be permitted to leave that community alive is one of the wonders of the twentieth century and has called forth the poetic quotation which graces the commencement of this article.
The case is a remarkable one and to the spirit of fair-play, inherent in the better class of white Virginians is due the fact that two colored men are alive and well to-day. The facts are as follows:
Miss Gladys Shelton, aged eighteen years and daughter of Mr. B. R. Shelton of Amherst county, Virginia alleged that she had been criminally assaulted by a colored man or rather as they state it by a Negro during the absence of her parents. The assault was alleged to have taken place during the day at about 3 o’clock.
The white girl has broken the record by identifying two colored men as being her assailant. She said that she believed the Negro who assaulted her was Peter Hutson. He was arrested and with Herbert Steptoe who was suspected by the authorities and was also held by an authority. This white girl did not at first identify Hutson, but later that he was the man. The authorities had, however, such a clear case of an alibi for Hutson; that is, proof that when the crime was alleged to have been committed that he was somewhere else, that they did not press the case against him.
The grand jury did not find a true bill against him, but a true bill was found against the other colored man, Herbert Steptoe. The preliminary examination at Amherst Court House necessitated the use of state troops, so wrought up were the citizens of the county over outrage. The law requires that where troops are necessary at a trial a change of venue must be granted; that is the prisoner must be tried at some other place in the state.
Judge A. M. Aiken was the presiding Judge at Amherst C. H., acting in the place of the jurist who was sick. He transferred the case to his own district at Danville. While he is one of the ablest and most fair minded jurists in the state, this transfer was regarded as ominous. Danville’s reputation in all matters affecting the Negro is known throughout the country and that Steptoe had a chance for his life was not for a moment believed by anyone at a distance, at all conversant with the surrounding circumstances.
The prisoner was represented by Attorney William Beasley of Lynchburg. Although this country white girl had alleged that but one colored man had criminally assaulted her and although she had identified Peter Hutson as the man who committed the crime, and although he had been released and Herbert Steptoe arrested, she glibly swore that Herbert Steptoe was the man who criminally assaulted her.
By this time the white folks had become disgusted. Even the jurors seemed to tire of the job, for if Peter Hutson had established the fact by reputable witnesses that he was somewhere else at the time the crime was committed, Herbert Steptoe had proven that he was not there by evidence too conclusive and convincing to admit of a moment’s doubt. As a result the jury brought in a verdict of “not guilty” and the distinguished presiding judge not only declared that the verdict of the jury was in accordance with the evidence, by the commended them for their action.
He declared that it should prove satisfactory to the people of Virginia. Steptoe accounted for every moment of his time that day, and so conclusive was his recital and so well corroborated was it in every particular, that white men assisted in smuggling him out of Danville in order that he might not be the victim of the prejudiced Negro-haters who would deem it necessary to rid the state of a Negro charged with a heinous offense, be he guilty or innocent.
The motive of this white girl is past finding out unless it was to shield some person in whom she had confided her confidence. She goes back to her Amherst home discredited, and thoughtful white men have a practical demonstration of the embarrassing position in which the average colored man may be placed.
One thing we know is that the verdict of that jury will go far towards restoring the confidence of the colored people in the white men of Virginia. Despite the vaporings of men of the Mr. Thomas Dixon, Senator B. R. Tillman and Gov. Jas. K. Vardaman stripe, the day is breaking and the bond of union is being strengthened in all places where the blatant demagogues of either race are trying to weaken its strength and sever its strands.
Lynch-law must go!
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Lower Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Benton Camper
Citation
“Virginia Justice,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/470.