Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-09-18
Killed for Honor.

BALTIMORE, Md, Sept. 11A.--
A special from Danville, Virginia,
states that the jury in the case oil
L. j. DE Jarnette, who has been
on trial for four days for the
murder of his sister, Mollia De
Jarnette, In house ~ ill-fame, re-
turned verdict az murder In the
first degree, with Il recommends
ton for mercy. A motion was
made for q new tiis. and the court
appointed yesterday for hearing
the argument ~ counsel. The
case has excited extraordinary in-
terest, and the verdict proves q
great surprise, rttei staining the
tact that the brutal hil,ing of the
unfortunate girl by the prisoner
was fully admitted. The Jury was
composed of nine whites and three
negroes, and able counsel swere
employed in the case, both for the
prosecution and defense. During
the trial the prisoner, young
and rather handsome man, was
apparently unmoved by the story
OF the terrible tragedy as related
by the witnesses. p. j. Burton
testified that he took
THE DYING DEPOSITION
Of Mollie DE Jaiuette in the hQlse
of ill-fame where she had been
living, known as "Blond's Hail.
on July S. In relly to the ques-
ton by the Mayor she said she
knew she was dying she said her
brother had treated her brutally.
rthough she loved him dearly, and
did not wish to see him punished
for having killed her. Her broth
er said to her: "Mollie, | did il
for your good. | had rather Bee
you dead than lead a life Of this
sort; / did 1t as a warning for my
little sister, and If it was to he
done over again | would do the
same thing to save her." During
this conversation the prisoner was
cool and collected, and admitted
that he was wrong. Witness fur
Their testified that De Jarnette
said that the evening before he
learned that his sister was in a
house Of ill-fame, and that he was
maddened by the intelligence. lie
at once
DETERMINED TO KILL HER
and took the frs, train for Dan
vile. He drank a glass OF beer
and then went directly to the
house. She was called down 10
the parlor, and he asked her to 70
to her room, saying that he wish ed
to see her privately. She took
him to her room, whereupon he
locked the door and drew his pis.
toll, but did not recollect what hap
pened afterward. Leila Lester,
proprietress of Blond Hall, test
fled that she saw De Jarnette ui.-
stairs with his sister, and soon al
ter heard q pi-tol-shot. w hen
the door was burst open saw DE
Jarnette standing in the room
with pistol ia his hands and
Mollie on the floor, bleeding from
the wounds. Witness removed
the clothing from the dying giri,
and as she was doing 50 DE Jar
nette inquired of witness If she
persuaded Mollie to come there,
to which she (Molie) answered
mo, brother.u He then said he
come to kill his sister and also the
landlady. A policeman, who was
also present after the shooting. tes-
titled that when they started TO
leave the room Miss De Jarnette
| put her arms around her brothers
neck and 800 F
ASKED HIM TO KISS HER GOOD.
I RYE.
He did so, and while in that 20
sition he said "This s. the kiss
of DEATH" On his way 10 jail he
said he came to Danville for the
purpose of killing his sister, and
was net sorry.for What he had done,
and was ready to take the conse-
quence5 for his act. DIR. Hoyt tes-
tilted that when he entered the
room the prisoner exclaimed; al
have done the deed, and have no
regret for it," Miss De Jarnette
then said: "AIy brother shot
me, but / want him forgiven for
what he has done.n He then APP
preached the bed and was tender
ly embraced by the girl, who ask
ed him 10 give her a farewell kiss,
which he died. There were five
bullet wounds in Miss De Jar
nette, and size fingered several
days. Another witness testified
that after the first shot was
fired Miss De Jarnette fell on
her knees and begged him
TO spare her life, but he con-
tinued to fire upon her. Dur
ing her fatal illness he asked the
name of her seducer, and she re-
| piled that
EDWARD LUTHER DECHERT