Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-11-17
TRIAL OF JOS. LUCAS.
he ANSWERS FOR KILLING THOMAS J.
CRAPT0S.
The Jury Cor Wet Him Of Murder In the Sc
cond Degree and Give Him Five
Years in the Penitentiary.

The case OF Joseph Lucas. charged With
the murder OF Thom1s Jeifries Grafton.
was tried in the Hastings Court yesterday.
Colonel NJ. l.. SpOtsw0od represented the
State and Messrs. 5. u. Wit, G. V. Mere
dith, and S. Taylor Evans appeared for the
prisoner.
THE KILLING.
On the night Of the 2lst Of last May ball
took place at Blenner's Park. Grafton was
the eaie-keeper. and one Of the patrons OF
the ball was Joseph Lucas. The latter
had q dispute with the former over
the gate.iee. The parties came 10 blows,
and were soon separated. After the 'all
Grafton and Charles Fleming "a friend OF
Lucas got into a difficulty. Lucas came up
IN The mean time and picked up stone and
threw II, striking Grafton on the bead, knock
ing him nscnsIble. The former made his
escape and spent the remainder OF The night
at the Fair-Grounds and soon worked bis
way to Dsnville, where he was arrested and
brought back here. Grafton lived until the
7th Oi June. but was never well enough
10 tell ANYTHING about the fray. After his
death Lucas was indicted for murder.
The witnesses for the Commonwealth yes
tcrday were the same ~ those who testified
at the CorOner's inquest, and their state
ments did not differ materially from what
they said on that occasion.
TIE pavlng-hlock with which il Is said
Lucas struck Grafton IS wedge-shaped, and
weighs nine pounds four ounces.
STATEMENT oP ACCUSED.
Lucas's counsel put the prisoner on the
stand Yesterday 10 testify in his own behalf.
lie said he was drunk on the night that he
struck Grafton, bat claimed that the
deed was done In self-deience. He
stated that Fleming was the only
friend that he had present that night
After he had engaged in the fst-hght
with Grafton he knew the latter was
very angry with him. While Grafton and
Fleming were engaged IN row ne heard
some one say "NOw is the time TO Kill the
d-n rascal" and he thought they referred
to himself. He picked up a stone about the
size Oi an egg and threw into the crowd and
immediately left. and spent the night IN an
clubhouse at the Falr.Grounds, rs be thought
that the crowd would beat bin. Prisoner
declared the stone which was exhibited In
court was not the one thrown by himself.
bnt that the one which struck Lucas was not
larger than hens egg.
sPEECuEs.
with the testimony Of the prisoner the
evidence was closed.
Colonel Spotswood opened the argument
in a few.miuutcs' speech. saying that he
would not ask the Jury for verdict OF mur-
der IN the first degree, but be hoped such
crimes would not 20 unpunished.
Mr.. Evans followed in a short speech FOR
the defence. asking the jury to show mercy
to ms client
Hon. :. b. Witt made splendid effort in
benllf OF the prisoner. He did not claim
that his client had not acted wrong, but TO
err was human. The deed was not COM
mtted in cold blood but in the heat Of pas.
sion. He believed in the punishment oi
crime, but he would ask the jury To- dc9l as
mercifuiv o. possible with the prisoner. He
reminded them that the verdict would not
only affect the prisoner but his young wife
and little child (boih OF whom were present).
Mr. witt made very feeling speech. and
the prisoner, as well as his wife, was moved
10 tears.
Mr. Meredith closed the argument for the
defence. He claimed that Lucas only did
what any other man In his place would bave
done-defcud himself lie asked the jury
10 bring in verdict to acqult hun OF any
crlme.
Colonel Spotswood closed on behalf Of
the state. and asked for verdict OF murder
in the second degree.
the VERDICT.
The case was then given TO the Jury, who
after about fifteen minutes consultation re-
turned with a verdict ~ murder in the
second degree aud fixed the punishment at
i've years in the peniteniiary.
PERSONAL.
When the verdict was read Mrs. Lucas,
who was sitting by The side ~ her husband
with their little four yesI-old boy on her lap.
buried her face IN her hands and wept bitter
IT, The prisoner took the announcement
very coolly and lifted his title son on his lap
and tried to comfort bis s0rTOwlng wife. lie
was left alone with hi, family on one side of
me room FOR q few minutes and was then
taken down to the jail.
Lucas does not look 10 be over twenty-five
years old, is splrely built, and weighs about
$50 pounds. He has a halr-lip and a long,
bOyish face.
llil wife appears 30 be few years bis
senior and has pleasant but caTe-worn face.
Grafton was ibirtyfour years Of age and
left a wife and two children, the youngest OF
which was Just eight weeks old at his death.