The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-04-26

CERTAINED AT TWO YEARs-THE PRIs-
ONER GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE
! vERDICT-A SAD sCENE-PROBABfLITY
THAT The CASE WILL GO TO THE sU-
PREME COURT-THE POINTS SAVED BY
| DEFENCE.
! Hastings Court was called TO order; the
| signed by the Judge, and the roll-cail OF the
jury had. as usual. Two or three members
of the jury looked particularly bright and
cheerful, as il they had prospect OF an
| early conclusion OF the case and would soon
be at liberty to hear the sweet songs of the
| birds ana scent the buttercups and daises,
as POLITICALLY pictured by Mr.. Young on the
day before.
| GENTLEMEN, HAVE YOU AGREED?
Every member Of the jury having an
swered to his name, the Clerk (Mr. Jinkins)
asked, Gentlemen, have you agreed upon
q verdict 20
Mr.. Janney. the foreman, rose from his
seat, and said in n low and rather unde-
cided tone, "No. SIR" Thereupon Judge
| Christian said:
Sergeant, take the Jury to their room.
Come this way, gentlemen, said Sergeant
Lee, and the iurymen filed out OF the court
| into their room.
81 told you so. It will be another hung
jury" said many Solomon.
IN WAITING.
The crowd N waiting for the verdict was
| large, but yet not us great rs when the
speaking was going on. The space outside
Of the railing, allotted to the general public,
was dcnsely packed-the colorcd element
predominating.
There were about dozen privileged
seats unoccupied-a thing not usual at any
stage of the case.
The prisoner was in 4 medtatiye mood.
During most OF the time he was leaning
lack, his chin upon his hands and his el-
bows upon the arms OF the chair. His face
| is a fine one. No man in the courtroom
had better one. Throughout he had acted
with great composure.
AyERDIcT.
The jury, after an absence from the court
room OF about giteen minutes, returned to
| their seats.
The Clerk (Alr. Jinkinsl: Gentlemen OF
the Jury, have you agreed upon verdict!
Dir. Janney, Of Alexandria (the foreman)
| We have.
The Clerk John Z. PoindeXter, stand up.
The prisoner arose; there were some
movements Of the muscles o! his face, but
he was evidently nerving himself TO hear
| the worst, and he appeared calm and SELL
reliant.
PAINFUL ANNOUNCEMENT.
The Clerk: Gentlemen or the Jury, look
! upon The prisoner. What say you? Is lie
| guilty OF the murder whereof he stands ill.,
dicted or not guilty?
| Mr. Janncy Cooking ct the prisoner):
Guilty.
| Mr.. Janney then passed the Indictment to
| the Clerk, who read the verdict OF the jury
endorsed on the back Of the indictment in
the following words:
| We the jury find the prisoner, John E.
Poindexter, guilty OF voluntary mansaugh-
| ter, and ascertain the term Of his imprlson-
mcnt in tie penirentiary at two years.
HENRY JASSEY, Foreman.
EMOTION.
The prisoner at the word "guilty"
shrank as il fearful Of what was to follow.
At pcnitentiary "a dreadful sound. to
| his cars-he could no longer bear up. bis
legs weakened and he sank into bis chair,
rested his head upon the bar, and concealed
his face with bis hands. No sound escaped
his lips: but tue anguish of that moment
had never been equaled in his life, unless
when he found that he had killed Curtis.
His brother Thomas. who was seated be-
side HIM, tried for Il moment to retain his
composurc. But in vain. He bowed his
head close by the prisoner, and the TWO al
most literally mingled their tears. 1t was
noticed that at least one OF the jurors had
tears in his eyes.
POLL THE JURY.
Mr.. Young turned to the Clerk and said ::
"Po!l the jury"
The Clerk then said to the jury: "Gen-
tlemen, as your names are called you will
each respond whether the verdict l have
read is your verdict or not"
The Clerk then called over the name OF
each Juror: Michael BosSart, Henry Jan
ney, l.. u. Calkson, Richard S. Wind or,
William Chauncey, and Horace L. English,
OF Alexandria: J. r. Moore. Henry D. Cen
ther, Jr., O. j. Doggatt, j. +. Woody, Will
liam E. Jeilrlcs, and George II. Peyton, Jr,
OF Fredericksburg. Each Juror responded /:
THAT is my verdict"
AND so SAY Y0U ALL.
The Clerk then recorded the verdict Of
the Jury in the record-boOk, and said:
"Gentlemen of the jury, heurkcn 10 your
verdict as the Court hath recorded it. You
say that the prisoner, John +. PoindeXter.
is guilty of voluntary mansluughter, and
YOU do ascertain the term OF his imprlson-
; mcut i'll the penitentiary at two years. And
so say you ALL"
: The Jury nodded their assent to the ver-
dict as recorded.
THANKS TO THE JURY.
Then the Judge (hS voice husky) thanked
the Jury for their patient attention and cX-
celcnt demcanor throughout the trial. lie
but expressed the common sentiment. Never
did twelve men listen more carefully. From
beginning TO ending not man tagged, and
not by nod or wink did they show what
their views were.
After receiving the warm thanks OF the
Judge, they were discharged.
The Judges eyes were filled with tears,
and the hand raised before them but poorly
concealed his emotion.
SUSPENSION.
After some little conversation between
counsel, Mr. Young said he would have
motion to submit to The Court, but was not
exactly prepared row, and would ask that
the matter be allowed to lie over until Mon
| day.
The Judge: Mr.. Wise the Common
weaIth's Attorney, have you anything 10
say?
Mr.. Wise: No, sir; have no objection
to make.
The prisoner was then remanded to Jail.
He got in hack with Deputy Sergeant
Tyler, and accompanied by bis brothers,
who have from the beginning stuck to him
l. I,.,r