The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-09-06


The trial Of Mrs. Louisa Lawson, charged
with completely in the murder of her hus-
band, David G. Lawson, in the mountains
of East Rockingham, in March, 1875, was
concluded in Harrisonburg on the 1st inst,
in the County Court Of Rockingham, Judge
c. T.O'Ferlall, presiding. The jury brought
in verdict Of ''guilty," as accessory before
the fact to murder in the first degree. This
is the third conviction in this case.
Shifflet and Morris had been found guilty OF
the murder of Lawson, and sentenced to be
hung ON the 25th of September. If the ex-
IRENE penalty of the law is to be meted out
to Mrs. Lawson, we presume the date Of her
execution will be the same.
The Harrisonburg correspondent Of the
Baltimore Sun, September I'd, says.
The trial of Louisa Lawson, charged with
being an accessory before the fact of the
killing of her husband David G. Lawson,
in the Blue Ridge, in East Rocking
ham. OH the 18th of March, 1875, COM
menced in the County Court here fort
night since, concluded Saturday afternoon
in verdict of guilty, as charged. Argu-
ment in the case on the part of the State
was commenced last Wednesday afternoon
by Capt. John Paul, prosecutor. The jury
was an intelligent body of middle Gagged, Sc
rious-looking men, the most of them married
The murder with which the prisoner was
charged is known to have been the most
horrible ever committed in any community,
civilized or savage. Two Of the parties to
the murder, zone of whom is a brother of
Mrs. Lawson have already been sentenced
to be hung on Tuesday, the 25th OF Septem-
Der next. The testimony in this case was
substantially the same as that which con-
yicted and will hang the men Anderson
Shifliet and Silas Morris, the main witness
for the State being man named Samuel
Hall, to whom Louisa Lawson made admis-
mission involving her brother and herself in
the murder of her husband. Public senti-
ment was almost unanimous in the convic-
tiun that verdict of murder in the first de-
gree would be rendered by the jury. The
prisoner is defended by Messrs. John E.
Roller, George W. Berlin and r. B. Raglan,
Esqs.
The jury came into court Saturday at nine
O'Clock A. NJ. the court house being rapidly
filled by an audience anxious to know the
fate OF the woman. After stating their ina.
blity to agree the jury were remanded to
the afternoon, unless they should sooner
agree. The prisoner is middle-aged wo-
man, very illiterate, very supersticious, and
not vicious looking. Her early surroundings
were evidently of the worst and basest char
acter. She sat during her trial in the dock,
plainly dressed in black calico, with her
head partially bowed. One OF her children,
(she is the mother Of two bright-eyed little
boys) sat by her side constantly, the only be-
ing who seemed to show any sympathy for
her. Inc testimony in her case revealed
shocking life of shame and depravity.
After celebrating five or six hours the ill.,
rg again returned into the court and an
nounccd that they had agreed. The FORE
man then rendered a verdict of murder in
the first degree, as charged in the indict-
mcnt. The prisoner received the verdict
with great emotion. and was rcmanded to
Jail without sentence. She makes the third
person convicted OF the murder of her hus-
band.