Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-02-20
THE CUBA LYNCHING.
FRANK GRAVES.--SAMUEL POSITION
Verdict of the Jury.
Murder In the First Degree, with a
Recommendation to the
sss Mercy Of the Court.
FULL PARTICULARS, INCIDENTS, ETC,

Yesterday morning the city was startled
with flying rumor that the jury in the
Graves oston case had agreed upon
verdict. Throughout the day groups of
citizens could be heard discussing the
great question" What will be the YER
dict2 "-but this had to remain a sealed
book until this morning The greatest
interest and anxiety seemed to exist in
the public mind, and the under-current
or ground-swell of popular sentiment
seemed to be dead set against the pris-
oners. Probably no trial heard and de-
termined within the limits of Shelby
county created so much comment and
excited so much interest among all
classes of citizens.
THIS MORNING
the Criminal Courtroom was crowded at
halfpast eight o'clock by all classes Of
citizens, who seemed eager and anxious
to learn the result Of the determination
of the jury. The prisoners were the OBJ
served of all observers, but they seemed
Indifferent both to public scrutiny and
the expected verdict. At nine o'clock,
precisely, Judge Flippin took his seat on
the bench, and said;
Mr.. Sheriff, open Court
The Deputy Sheriff, following the
usual formula, opened Court and the
minutes of Court for the previous day
we're read by the Clerk After waiting
a few seconds for the lawyers to get
seated, His Honor said
Mr.. Sheriff, call in that jury, and see
whether or not they have agreed.
The jury we're brought in from an adj
joining room and took their seats in the
jury-box. Judge Flippin ordered the
Clerk to call the roll of jurors, which
legal formula was complied with by Col.
Avery, Clerk of the Court, and each
juror responded to his name when
called. Col. Avery then addressed the
jury, saying:
Gentlemen, have you agreed upon
your verdict?" which was answered by
the foreman of the jury, who replied;
1--WE have, sir. =
This response created little sensation
among the vast crowd assembled without
the bar. Amid the hush of public ex-
pectaney, Colonel Avery read the fol
lowing
VERDICT:
I'VE, the undersigned jurors, find the
within named, Samuel Poston and Frank
Graves, guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree, as charged in the Indictment, and
them to the extreme mercy
of the court
Not single sound could be heard,
ave the voice of the clerk, as the verdict
as read The countenances of the
m 'soners revealed nothing, not even in
ere st, in the dread verdict just an
lounced. In few seconds General
sale rose up and asked that the jury
houl d be polled The clerk then called
,ver the name of each juror and asked
i'm, ais this your verdict2" To which
he response, 1T is, sill" was given by
ach member of the jury. Judge Flip
i'm turned to the jury and said Gen
lemen, you are discharged. "
The jurors left the box and disap-
,eared, mixing up with their fellow
itizens without. the bar, by whom they
we're warmly congratulated upon the re-
ult Of their deliberations. After the
ury had retired to private life, Gen.
,ale notified the court that the prisoners
Wished a motion entered for new trial
md in arrest of judgment, which motion !
ras entered by the clerk. Thus closed ]
N eventful trial, and the curtain dropped,
iiding the prisoners from public view for
time as effectually as the grave hides
he remains of the lynehed and muir
Tered Scho6eld u