The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-07
SPOTSYLvANlA COUNTY.
Interesting Cases In Court-Bloody strug
gle In the Woods.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va, Dec. 6.-ISpe-
cial. Monday last the County Court of
Spotsylyania commenced with a criminal
docket ofseveral important cases, Judge r.
T.. Waller presiding. The first case YVES
that OF the Commonwealth against John
Lewis, charged with betraying Miss Iva
May Dunnaway on the 10th OF July, 1889.
The case lasted until late hour yesterday
evening, when the verdict OF the jury was
that Lewis be confined In the penitentiary
for two years. The verdict created no little
excitement. His counsel, Mr.. Dickinson,
offered a motion for arrest OF judgment,
which was overruled, and the counsel filed
bills Of exception thereto. The Court Will
hear further motions in the case for the de-
fendana on Thursday next. The prosecutriX
is very handsome blonde Of about twenty
years OF age. Her personal appearance in
court was indeed decidedly impressive, and
aroused much sympathy in her behalf
Lewis, the defendant, Is man OF some
pecuniary means, and OF highly respect
able family.
The case Of Jonas Jones, charged with
the murder Of his mother, was also tried.
The jury thought the accused guilty Of
murder in the second degree, and fixed his
punishment in the penitentiary at eighteen
years. On motion Of the defendant the
court SET tue NtIulCl dsluc anu BidHttu lut
accused "A new trial.
The greatly agitated case OF the Com
monweath against Jett, OF trespass, was
also tried. The jury was out but few
minutes, and rendered verdict OF not
guilty.
DESPERATE AND BLOODY FIGHT.
The week was perhaps the most exciting
one at the courthouse for years.
lu IA nftlnnrG
court had to be called from the courtroom
to prevent bloOdshed between contending
parties in the Lewis case.
About a mile from the courthouse. be-
tween the hours of II and | O'Clock in the
night, prominent citizen OF the county,
and MIR. Dick Hazlegrove, about twenty
two years of age, Of Richmond, were travel
ing on foot en- route to the house OF a gentle
man, living about half mile farther on, TO
spend the night,
The c0untryman says that, without the
slightest proyOcatiOn or notice, the Rich
mond man, at a spot where the forest is on
either side Of the road, and not very near to
any house, struck hin a blow on the right
temple that sent him almost insensible to
the EARTH Then he says his as
sailant jumped upon him and seemed
determined to take his life. From
the appearance OF the ground where the
fight took place, in addition TO other evil
dences, the struggle Of the parties must
have been desperate indeed. The earth was
turned up, large saplings broken down,
puddles of blood could be seen as If some
one had been butchering hogs there, and
blood was besmeared on the trees
around. The countryman in the con-
fict lost his knife, and thus ended
the fight. lie succ eeded in reach
ing a negro, cabin not tar OF, fearfully
bruised about his face, his clothes almost
rent in threads and covered with blood.
general alarm was giyeL in the neighbor-
hood, and at early noon following search
was made for the other man. BY the blood
in larger splOtches he was traced along the
road, through paths and IN houses,
and finally he was found In q
shuck pen, still bleeding pr0fusely.
From there. nearly mile he walked
back TO the courthouse still bleeding. DIR.
Voorhees, was called. and on an examina-
tion by him and Sheriff Harris Of the
wounds, it was found that his left arm was
nearly severed at The wrist, his throat cut,
commencing high on the lett cheek. laying
the flesh open so as to expose the upper and
lower jaw-bones, and extending to the back
of his neck. Two cuts were ON his head,
making wounds exposing the skull
bone, and three inches in length.
There were also several other cuts
on his body, making seven in ali. He was
srrected and brought before Justice Bey-
erly; but all parties refusing to testify IN
the case il was dismissed. the attorney Tor
the Commonwealth, a. B. Rawlings, saying
he would further investigate the case. The
friends of the wounded man took charge OF
h,m. and he was doing as we'll as could be
expected.