Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-07-16


TgE BILLY WILLIAMS CAsE-The trial Of
Billy Williams, indicted for the murder of
noliceman Julian Arnold, in this city, in
NAV 1887, was Concluded shortly after III
o'clock Saturday night by verdict Of muir
der ia be second degree. AZ stated in the
GAZETTE, after Mr. J NJ Johnson had con-
clpdsd his argument for the Commonwealth
and without Instructions from the court, the
csse was given TO the jury about 4:15 CLOCK.
Court then took recess. Between and s
o'clock Judge Stuart took his seat on the
bench and instructed the sergeant TO notify
the arg to take their seas in the box.
Judge Stuart then told them that he was
golcg home but if they agreed upon yer
dict hy II O'CLOCK be could be notified and
would return He also told them that If
there was any legal question they wished
explained be would be glad to do GO. MIR.
G. Wm. Ramsay, the foreman of the jury,
then asked instructions "a to the legal mean
Ing of reasonable doubt" which were Civ
IN. wien they again retired. Shortly after
II o'clock conclusion was reached by the
iury and Judge Stuart, who had been mott
fed, took MS place on the bench. The pfi.
soner was brought into Court, aud the crowd
admitted, who we're warned by the Court
to make no demonstration when the YER
dict was rendered The jury were then
brought into court aad Foreman Ramsay, in
answer to the clerks question If the jury
bad agreed upon verdict, said I'VE have"
and read the following 1--WE, the jury, find
the prisoner, William Williams, alias
Billy Williams, guilty of murder in the
second degree, aud fix his term Of i'm
prsonment at five years in the penitentia-
+, lo6
Judge Stuart then complmented the jury
for the patient manner ia which they had
listened to the trial and discharged them.
Motions for arrest of judgment and for
new trial were overruled, and the Clerk
told Williams to stand up, and asked him
the usual question whether be had anything
to say why sentence should not be passed.
Williams said :"Your honor, [ understand
that am sentenced to prison for five years.
] am an inuocsnt mao, and 1t was showed
by the evidence, and l won't stand it day"
Ju ige Stuart then said William Williams,
you hava been tried by jury and found
guilty of murder in the second degree, AMI
sentenced to five years mprisonment. 1t is
now my duty to pronounce sentence, and
direct the Sergeant of this Court to
return you to the city Jail. and there
keep You until the adjournment Of
this court, alter which he shall trans
fer you to the penitentiary at Richmond ]"
Counsel for prisoner then asked the court TO
suspend the execution of the sentence till
they could prepare bill of exceptions which
they would take to the Court OF Appeals
The court then adjourned till today and
Williams was taken back to Jail. The
stay OF proceedings will be entered as soon
as the bill Of exceptions is prepared and
Messrs Cation and Greene say they Will at
once commence the work, % they tee con
fient that the evidence did net warrant the
verdict of the jury. 1t was agreed amorg
the Jury that what transpired in the room
should not be made public, but it is report
I'd on the street that the jury on one ballot
stood eight for acquittal, three for conviction
and one not voting. The verdict it is ad-
United was compromise verdict and was
agreed to in order that the jurymen, who
had been on the case for three days. might
go to their homes, and 40 indispositon on
the part OF some TO have the whole matter
gone over again in new trial. Had the in
eictment alleged or had the Jury found the
fact that Williams had been twice before
81 ut to the penitentiary his sentence Of five
YEA = would by operation Of the law become
a sant, 'Vce for life, as the new code of Vir-
pinia nre crbes that when any suoh con-
vjcf shall h, >Ve been twice before sentenced
in the United States to confinement in the
peritentary he shall be confined in the pen.
iteptisrv for life As, however, the new
c1de d d not 90 into operation until year
after the murder, its a APPLICATION toWiliams's
case might have failed.
Il ia said that the verdict being one OF
conviction will necessitat the pa,sment py
the city OF the $500 rewat q offered ltHr the 9
arrest and conviction of the murderer NJ
OF er Arnol1, hut the question as to wheth-
er those who first arrested Williams in
Baltimore or Officer Slack, who arrested
him in Washington, after his escape from
i4ii, will get the money, will have to be
settled hereafter.
PEABODY NORMAL INsTITUTE.-The at.
tendance was largely increased again by ar