The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-17
FOR KILLING HIS UNCLE.
A Graduate of Princeton Convicted
and Sentenced to Five Years in Pri-
From the Ne,o YORK Sun.


From The NelC YORK Sun.
GLOUCESTER COURT House. VA, April
13.-Jashua 4. Ross who murdered his I'm
Gle, George Hughes, while the latter lay in
bed, was found guilty to-day of murder in
the second degree and sentenced by tue
jury to five years imprisonment in the
peniteGuiary Thus ends one OF the most
sensational trials in Virglnia's history All
the persons concerned are well known in
this state and in Maryland. Ross, the muir
derer, is only 50 years Of age, graduate
of Princeton college, and young man of
fine attalnmen.s. lie Is a native of New
York, Immediately after taking his
degree ne came to Virginia, and by
imitation If his uncle and aunt, Mr.. and
Mrs. George Hughes, lived at their house.
Some years ago he went to Baltimore to
practice law and opened an office. One
year later Mr.. Hughes moved to Baltimore
to have an operation performed on his wife,
who was suffering with tumor. She died
some time afterward. During his STAY in
baltimore Ross became acquainted with
Miss Rhoda Shipley. The courtship was
successful and the marriage followed in Au-
gust last. She is the daughter of Francis
NJ. Shipley of William L. Hooper a. Co,
and very handsome. Mr.. Hughes, who was
about IS years Of age, and very wealthy,
attended the wedding and invited the young
him. He said he was lonely since his wife
died. The invitation was accepted, and
soon the trio were installed in the Hughes
residence. For time they lived happily
together, and only recently the rich uncle
erected larger house and furnished it
handsomely. The young couple were very
popular aud the acknowledged leaders in
local society.
About four months ago Ross and his
uncle fell out, and it was noticed by the
naigh0ors that they were not on good terms.
Hughes often ate mis- meals at the hotel in
the village. Ii was thought at the time
that the young man was dissatisfied with
his allowance, his income being insufficient
to crafty his ambition. He had repre-
sented the county in the state legislature,
was already prominent republican politi
clan, and wanted to climb the ladder of
fame at more rapid rate. This probably
was the original cause of the GOODNESS
which eliminated ia the killing OF Hughes.
The crime was committed at about z p m.
on Thursday, Feb. "a. The old man had
been ailing all day, and went to bed early.
At about O'clock Ross walked
into the kitchen and told his wife
that Uncle George was dead. He
telephoned to the coroner and met that
official at tie door, leading the way to the
room in wlich the dead man lay. Ross,
quietly putting away at hfs pipe, said he
hdu Shot hughes, anu pOluLeu 70 Iue pistol
lying at the foot of the bed. At the time
he refused to assign any reasons for the
crime, but at the examination two days
afterward he mn 10 n long statement, in
whicH he accused Hughes of having made
Indecent proposals TO his wife. and of
attempting liberties with her. He said he
had heard rum0rs before, but on
the day of the murder his wife confirmed
the story. Said he:
"Hugnes was lying in bed smoking his
pipe and holding in MS hapd small vol
ume. | closed one of the folding doors to
the room that was open. He asked me
what | wanted. demanded an explaua-
ton of the matter. He told mo he did not
understand. / said: Yes you do lie
then rose to a sitting posture, AMI said: Il
know Rhoda has told you ALL aud told her
what | would do lie then said: Give me
the pistol / will shoot myself l told him,
no, | will do it myself Then shot him.
This WAS the evidence offered by the de-
Tense at the trial. 'fhe prosecution endeav-
ored TO prove that Ross had fearei that his
uncle would change his viii that had been
made in his favor, and that the murder had