pawnshop where he had sold it and if was recovered, Dorson admitted
several other assaults and robberies as well as having carnal knowledge
of a young black girl and was charged on all counts, He was tried only
for the murder of Howe in Princess Anne County and, prior to his trial,
he was examined by a Norfolk physician who stopped short of ruling him
insane but admitted that he was "strange." At his trial which was
held on January 2, 1931, the Judge esked each of the State's witnesses
if he had an apinion as to Dorson's sanity and each s tated that he
believed him to be sane, When Dorson was led into the courtroom at
the beginning of the trial, he trembled violently but seem to calm down
as the trial progressed, The jury deliberated for only sixteen minutes
before finding him guilty and when they returned to give their verdict,
he sat slumped down in his chair, his fingers fumbling the buttons on
his coat. There was nok appeal of the conviction and he was electrocu-
ted at the Virginia State Prison on Feb. 3, 1931.
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, Richmond, Vae, 12-20-1930; 12-21-1930;
1-3-1931; 2-3-1931
pawnshop where he had sold it and if was recovered, Dorson admitted
several other assaults and robberies as well as having carnal knowledge
of a young black girl and was charged on all counts, He was tried only
for the murder of Howe in Princess Anne County and, prior to his trial,
he was examined by a Norfolk physician who stopped short of ruling him
insane but admitted that he was "strange." At his trial-which was
held on January 2, 1931, the Judge asked each of the State's witnesses
if he had an apinion as to Dorson's sanity and each s tated that he
believed him to be sane, When Dorson was led into the courtroom at
the beginning of the trial, he trembled violently but seem to calm down
as the trial progressed. The jury deliberated for only sixteen minutes
before finding him guilty and when they returned to give their verdict,
he sat slumped down in his chair, his fingers fumbling the buttons on
his coat. There was nok appeal of the conviction and he was electrocu-
ted at the Virginia State Prison on Feb. 3, 1931,
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, Richmond, Vaey 12-20-1930; 12-21-1930;
1-3-1931; 2-3-1931
pawnshop where he had sold it and it was recovered, Dorson admitted
held on January 2, 1931, the Judge asked each of the State's witnesses
if he had an apinion as to Dorson's sanity and each s tated that he
believed him to be sane, When Dorson was led into the courtroom at
the beginning of the trial, he trenbled violently but seem to calm down|
as the trial progressed, ‘The jury deliberated for only sixteen minutes
before finding him guilty and when they returned to give their verdict,
he sat slumped down in his chair, his fingers fumbling the buttons on
his coat. There was nok appeal of the conviction and he was electrocu-|
ted at the Virginia State Prison on Feb. 3, 1931,
RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, Richmond, Vas, 12-20-1930; 12-21-1930;
1-3919313 2-3-1931 fi
ted "the Finginie state Poison co Pe 3, 10M
HOMO TSA Had Yay AAP ALA,
eva) a
Hy HI Hath
DORSON, Ollie
Dorson, alias Ollie Dawson, was a lO-year-old black man who lived in
Princess Anne Co,, Vae On December 18, 1930, he borrowed a single
barrel shotgun and that night he went to the cabin near Greenwich
where 58-year-old James T, Howe, a recluse who was a meber of a promie
nent and wealthy New Haven, Conn,, family, lived alone and spent his
time hunting, trapping a studying. Dorson removed a screen and was
opening a window when Howe fired a pistol at him several times, Dor-
son returned the fire with the shotgun and the charge struck Howe in
the left side, inflicting a fatal wound, After he entered the house,
Dorson bludgeoned the dying man over the head and face and then stole
a pistol, a coat and a money box, As he left, he discarded the murder
weapon and his own coat in a clump of bushes near the house and when
his coat was identified, he was arrested at his own home early the
next morning. Howe's property was recoverd and Dorson made a confessiot
in which he admitted having been at the scene of the crime but claimed
that another black man had actually killed Howe, The other man proved
an alibi and Dorson alone was charged with the murder, He then con-
fecegs ee pane Ubapary” nen’ Souk ortolie th WEARS ciatghman at. the
pee formerly worked for the company and he shot Brickhouse and bludgeone
im with another stolen shotgun on the night of Dec. 6, 1930, Be took
Brickhouse's pistol when he killed him and directed the officers to the
“DORSON, OlLie
Dorson, alias Ollie Dawson, was a O-year-old black man who lived in
Princess Anne Co., Va. On December 18, 1930, he borrowed a single
barrel shotgun and that night he went to the cabin near Greenwich
where 58-year-old James T, Howe, a recluse who was a meber of a promi-
nent and wealthy New Haven, Conn,, family, lived alone and spent his
time hunting, trapping a studying. Dorson removed a screen and was
opening a window when Howe fired a pistol at him several times, Dor-
son returned the fire with the shotgun and the charge struck Howe in
the left side, inflicting a fatal wound, After he entered the house,
Dorson bludgeoned the dying man over the head and face and then stole
a pistol, a coat and a money box, As he left, he discarded the murder
weapon and his own coat in a clump of bushes near the house and when
his coat was identified, he was arrested at his own home early the
next morning. Howe's property was recoverd and Dorson made a confessio}
in which he admitted having been at the scene of the crime but claimed
that another black man had actually killed Howe, The other man proved
an alibi and Dorson alone was charged with the murder, He then con-
Rss ity pine Mpa Hea SOULE NoeEAE th WEARS amtghman at. the
ad’ former worked for the company and he shot Brickhouse and bludgeone|
him with another stolen shotgun on the night of Dece es 1930. Be took
Brickhouse's pistol when he killed him and directed the officers to the
| DORSON, Ollie
Dorson, alias Ollie Dawson, was a O-year-old black man who lived in
Princess Anne Co,, Vaz On December 18, 1930, he borrowed a single
barrel shotgun and that night he went to the cabin near Greenwich
where 58-year-old James T, Howe, a recluse who was a meber of a promi+
nent and wealthy New Haven, Conn,, family, lived alone and spent his
time hunting, trapping a studying. Dorson removed a screen and was
opening a window when Howe fired a pistol at him several times, Dor-
son returned the fire with the shotgun and the charge struck Howe in
the left side, inflicting a fatal wound, After he entered the house,
Dorson bludgeoned the dying man over the head and face and then stole
a pistol, a coat and a money box, As he left, he discarded the mrder
weapon and his own coat in a clump of bushes near the house and when
his coat was identified, he was arrested at his own home early the
next morning. Howe's property was recoverd and Dorson made a confessi:
in which he admitted having been at the scene of the crime but claimed
that another black man had actually killed Howe, The other man proved
an up and Dorson alone was charged with the murder, He then con=
Mictrek sedge resSpeige ne! soln Mesa, Vss.Aaee astielyran af, the
lim with another stolen shotgun’ on on the ni ight ee ae gs son Bhnegepns
oe s pistol when he killed him and directed the officers to the
S, oo Bites a
HEC sce he a
