A Peculiar Verdict
January 26, 1895
Summary
Black people did not receive fair trials and are presumed guilty without evidence.
Transcription
A Peculiar Verdict
We have had frequent occasions to refer to the inequalities of the law and the remarkable verdicts of juries. The following extract from the Richmond, Va., State of the 18th inst., is a case in point:
“In the Henrico Co., Court today Van Perkins alias Black Diamond was found guilty of assault on Misses Louisa and Matre Bolton and sentenced to twelve months in jail. Two uncles of the young ladies testified that the accused was at work on their farm some distance away from the scene of the assault at the time the offence was committed.”
These prejudiced men go upon the theory that where a crime has been committed by a colored person, some member of that race, be they innocent or guilty must suffer. What other conclusion can be arrived at when the two uncles of the ladies alleged to have been assaulted swore that Van Perkins, the man who is alleged to have assaulted them was not at the place when the offence committed.
What motive could the relatives have for shielding the colored man, when their nieces had been assaulted? But the jury gravely tells two gentlemen that they lied although the prisoner says he was not there and did not commit the offence. A colored man has absolutely no show in this section and to secure justice is an accident rather than and every-day occurrence.
Judge Wickham will be called upon to set aside the verdict and we will note with interest whether he is as forward in protecting the good name of his court as are some other judges whose names we might call, and whose actions we might mention.
We have had frequent occasions to refer to the inequalities of the law and the remarkable verdicts of juries. The following extract from the Richmond, Va., State of the 18th inst., is a case in point:
“In the Henrico Co., Court today Van Perkins alias Black Diamond was found guilty of assault on Misses Louisa and Matre Bolton and sentenced to twelve months in jail. Two uncles of the young ladies testified that the accused was at work on their farm some distance away from the scene of the assault at the time the offence was committed.”
These prejudiced men go upon the theory that where a crime has been committed by a colored person, some member of that race, be they innocent or guilty must suffer. What other conclusion can be arrived at when the two uncles of the ladies alleged to have been assaulted swore that Van Perkins, the man who is alleged to have assaulted them was not at the place when the offence committed.
What motive could the relatives have for shielding the colored man, when their nieces had been assaulted? But the jury gravely tells two gentlemen that they lied although the prisoner says he was not there and did not commit the offence. A colored man has absolutely no show in this section and to secure justice is an accident rather than and every-day occurrence.
Judge Wickham will be called upon to set aside the verdict and we will note with interest whether he is as forward in protecting the good name of his court as are some other judges whose names we might call, and whose actions we might mention.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“A Peculiar Verdict,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 23, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/94.