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5

The Commonwealth's attorney asked the jury to find the accused guilty of "unlawful shooting."

The Counsel for the Defence, as is usual in such cases, appealed to the prejudices of the Jury. Rice was an "Ex-Confederate soldier" a "Virginia Gentleman," a "white man." Powell was everything that was mean and contemptible; but the most damaging and damnable feature of the case was, he was a "nigger."

The finding of the Jury was as follows;- "we the Jury, find the Prisoner Robt. F. Rice, guilty of unlawful shooting, and sentence him to one cent fine and twelve hours confinement in the County Jail."

Thus has Justice once more been outraged, and the sacred right of the trial by Jury so carefully guarded by the Constitution, has been again covered with scorn and contempt.

The statement of this case in my monthly report would have been more complete, had I not anticipated a speedy trial, after which it was my purpose to forward the full

Transcription Notes:
---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-12-09 10:02:02