Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-30
THE EASTERN SHORE.
TRIAL OF RgvELL srURors.

Large Crswd N Atsssasnce--Pn Public fasersss-
TAs Cssss-,-s ssssers 81 TIE csse.
JCcrsspondenc oftne Richmond Dlspatchl
AccoMAcK, C. H., Jan. %, 1856.
For the last two days the quaint old
court-house at Drummondtown has
heen filed TO overlooking with people
anxious to witness the trial of j. Revell
Sturgis, who Is charged with having
killed Smith Mears last November.
The trial began yesterday, Judge
Esale Of Northampton presiding IN
place OF Judge Garrison, who considers
himself disqualified to sit in the case
owing to his connection with II before
his election to the bench. The prisoner
appeared in court neatly dressed and
attended by his wife and bright little
boy. Among the counsel for the de-
s fence are Congressman George ID. Wise,
Of Richmond Hon. John Medley, OF
Norfolk; State. Senator Blackstone, Up
shur b. Quimby, and John j. Gunter, OF
this county. Commonwealth Attor-
ney Fletcher is ably assisted by Colonel
Thomas II. Bsgley Browne.
Yesterday and to-day were con-
sumed in the examination Of witnesses
and long wrangle among the lawyers
about admitting the dying testimony OF
Nears. The Judge finally decided to
admit this as evidence, and counsel for
defence filed Q bill Of exceptions.
The crime for which Sturgis is now
On trial was chronicled in these coll
umns at the time that it occurred.
On the Goth day Of last November
Sturgis attended the horse-races at
Pupgotesgue, in the lower part Of this
county, and was returning home, when
be overlook Smith Mears, who lived on
q neighboring farm. Mears got up into
Sturgis's buggy, and both men rode to-
eether to Sturgis's store, where they
arrived about nightfall. They got to
drinking, and finally quarrel arose
between them about o small debt
which Mears owed Sturgis. Mears
cursed Sturgis, and the latter told him
to get out or be would shoot him. As
Mesrs was defiant and slow about going |
out, Sturgis rushed from behind the
counter and fred his pistol, the ball
striking Mears in the abdomen. Mears
then walked home, nearly half-mile
distant. and asked his wife for his pis-
tol, saying he was going to shoot a
coon. In going out Of his house Mears
fired one chamber of his pistol off to
see that it could be relied on, and then,
according to his dying statement, he
started back to Sturgis's house to have
it out with him. When he had gone
about half way his strength failed him,
and he sank down exhausted from loss
Of blood. lie lay there awhile, and
then dragged himself back to his home,
where he died the following day.
Mears was poor and rather thrift
less man, but he was known as an
honest and peaceable citizen. Sturgis
has long been one Of the most promi-
nent and successful merchants in
Lower Accomack, where he also owns
several large farms. He has wealthy
and Influential connections, and an old
county official remarked to-day that he
was the best-looking man that he had
ever seen in the criminal docket Of this
county. No trial has occurred here
within the last quarter Of a century
that has excited so general interest. In
spite Of the rain and mud people come
in great thropgs from all parts of the
county to witness the trial. The mar
row streets of old Drummondtown are
blockaded with top-buggies or car
riages, as they call them over here on
the Eastern Shore, and long before the
time for opening court arrives the old
courthouse that has stood here from
colonial days is so densely packed that
officers Of the court and the lawyers
can hardly gain entrance. Besides the
prisoner there are but three living wit
nesses to the tragedy--a white man who
was living in StuTgis's store when the
tragedy occurred and two negroes who
ran out Of the store when Sturgis threat
ened to shoot. The white man, who
was relied on by the defence as their
strongest witness, was badly used up
by the prosecution. Argument will pro-
badly begin late tomorrow, and the case
may be given to the jury on Saturday.
KALLIAS.