Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-28
GAMBLER rOCLK'sNERyG.
Confessed a Murder on the witness.
stand and Saved Another's Life.


dian school now il, were occupied As an ar
tiIlery post, and the soldiers aud the stu
dents from the south who were attending
Dickinson made things pretty lively and
helped the gamblers TO live. one morning
a soldier was found with bullet through
bis heart on bridge over small streIn
on The road from the barracks TO the town.
Foulk aud a fellow.ganbler were arrested
and tried for the murder. FOulk was tried
first, and acquitted on an undoubted
Gfibi, By the way, Foulk was
firm believer in the STONY Weller"
doctrine, and in all the scrapes IN which he
was concerned he never failed to prove an
aibi. The evidence in the trial OF Foulk's
supposed accomplish was damaging TO the
prisoner at the bar. one lady who lived
near the scene OF the shooting Identified the
prisoner, and swore that she heard pistol
Shot, ran to the door, and saw him running
ha,Iess from the scene OF the murder. She
was certain that II was the accused man,
because there was a lighted gas-lamp near
her door which enabled her to get good
view OF his features. Other evidence equal
~ strong was introduced 10y the state, and
a conviction seemed assured.
When the defence opened no one believed
that the case made by the State could be
shaken. FOuk was the first witness iorthe
defence, and a> it was known that he was To
testify the courtroom was crowded 10 SUI
location. A. he was sworn and took the
stand there wa, perfect quiet. Every one
had an idea that there was something
coming. but no one was prepared for what
happened As Foulk took his seat on the
WINES stand he turned to the stern, gray
haired Judge. and, I'm a clelr, calm voice
that could be heard In every part OF the
room. SAID
Judge. before | te.tify in the case
want to ask you question. Can ever be
tried again for the Killing Of that soldier?
For a moment the silence was almost
painiul. People in the rear 81 the room
placed their hands blck Of their head, IN
order TO hear better. but no one but the
venerable Judge seemed to have guessed
what was tcc:::".ii""5. lie evidently did. for he
replied in solemn, severe tones, that were
rendered all the more impressive by The
dtaihly stiffness:
$50 far o. human law Is concerned, Slr.
Touk, YOU are a free man. No earthly
tribunal can try you again. For any part
YOU may have taken In this murder you VIII
have TO answer only To the great Judge be-
fore whom we must all be arraigned. Be-
tween you and your Maker this case now
r,~iS."
Foulk was the ouy person In the room
who was not affected. A. coolly ~ |, he
vas talking TO a circ'c OF friends, he re-
piled:
Thank you, judge. You are man OF
| honor and know the law, and beiyc YOU.
| wish 10 solemnly swear, then. that Killed
! that soldier. You have acquitted the wrong
man
The effect Of thi. cool. deliberate state
| mcnt, made in 4 voice that never trembled
and could be heard hy every one in the
courtroom, may BE- imagined. Atoncc the
silence was broken hy EXCAVATIONS VI sur
prse and indignation, which. however,
were quickly suppressed by the judge.
| Then, as coolv a. he bad made the confess
| sion, FOulk told the story OF the murder.
| He said that a. he was crossing the bridge
| he met the soldier going IN an opposite di-
rCction. They were old enemies, and hld
Recently had a quarrel over the green cloth.
FOulh said that aS soon rs the soldier >iW
I'm he drnN bis sabre and started f'r hin.
"Not wishing to Kill him." FOulk contin.
ned. 81 drew a little old fashioned p"ppc.-
box revolver and shot n HIM four times,
but a. he still kept coming at me-. jumped
"a the bridge. drew ny -, and Killed hun.
did il IN scf.dcfence. ii had no, killed
him be would have killed ne.
re evidence OF the lady, who eworc
that ,he saw the prisoner at The birImninS
hailc,, past her door, was easily explained,
ard furnished another instance Of Foulk's
wonderful nerve. When he jumped oil the
bridge hi, bat fell Of and fl)ated down thu
stream WHEN the ,olGicr fen FOulk ran
down the street: but did not -ee tine LADY,
Standing in the door. When be had gone
little way he remembered that his name
va, written in III, hat and thlt Il il was
found II would lc used a, evidence
against him. Waiting for moment,
AID seeing that no one hat been a.
traetcd by the shots. be deliberately r.
TUNED 10 the scene OF the shootin-. wldrd
down the stream. found hi, hat, and went
uptown through an all '. That va, nerve.
IRE lady was honest in her testimony. but
>lc va, simply mistaken, D. was afterwards
proved conclu~iyely. OF course the de-
i,udaut was discharged. \, 10 Fonlk',
ai6i-well, be- could alway~ get an ann
wien be- wanted one. iii, story of the
killing wa, aftcrNard, proved TO De- cN-
actly correct. Altogether. the scene in tue
courtroom was a very dramatic one, aud
doubt il IL has ever been cquIllrI.