Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-01-19

the mystery CT tie killing OF George Smith.
He core .uded by saying there was no evil
dence to prove shat Philips did not act on
the night OF the shooting il metnodicsl
and deliberate manner, ADO everything coz
neosed With the cese shoNed IL to have been
as cold.blooded murder So was ever COM
mitted. It was ten minUtes TO ole o'c.ock
when Mr.. Johnson concluded.
Judge Norton subsequently, delivered the
charge to the jury. occupying about an hour
and s-half. during which he charged the
iory that II 10 their opinion the accused
cnmmitted the crime with which he Wss
charged In q premediated manner 1t was
their duty to bring in e verdict OF murder In
the first degree. L, on the other hsrd, 1t
was clear to them that en- tho nishe OF the
shooting be was Ia &c cratic or irfesponst-
Bile condition OF mind, thelr verdict should
be al acqp!tts.
The Gaze was then, at 2:3O this ao,ning,
given to the jury, and the court SCI turned,
the Jadge announcing thatit would Dc again
convened when the jury arrived at YER
dict, and the tired court and spectators PFC
cseded homeward.
Shortly before 10 o'clock this uorniog The
court was notified by the Deputy Sergeant
having the jury In charge that vstdlct bad
been reached end the Judge sPprised OF tee
fact. The ja,y then entered ne room. The
prisoner had in the meantime been placed
In tbs dock, bat it was 35 minutes later BE-
fore the Clerk, Mr. Beach, who bad been up
nearly all right, appeared, during which
time Pnillips's anxious state OF mind placed
him In g terrible ordeal The Clerk having
taken his Mace az bis desk, to the usual
query, "Havo tbs jury agreed upon YER
die. ?'be wss handed The following, which
ne read:
"We. the jury. Gnd the prisoner guilty OF
murder in the first degree
"T. L. CHASE, foremsu.'
An audible murmur Of surprise csne from
t1a assembleae, which was sppasentIy pal-
tlcipsted 10 By the court AID the attorneys
on both ;i1es. The prisoners face assumed
an i'm mediate flush end lie evidenced per.
.urbs Oh of spirit Ter few minutes but
soon resumed Els norma! condition.
The Judge asked the counsel for the de-
fenae II they wanted the jary poied. but
they e0s@eIed tlat such procedure would
be- unneoessary.
The Jury was then discharged.
Mes;rs Bral { ard Burke mads The usual
motions for a new tisl and 3 stay Of ja1g-
ment. Mr.. Brent said he he'd DO desire to
argue t 10 case now, but might GCr!rg Q
day present to ihe court additional ansboli-
ties.
Ths Court then adjourned uui! to.mor.
row.
Philips, upon bang spoken t, by g re-
porter of t:e GAZETTE, said hs wac very
much surprised az the verdict. He vas
later hsndcnffed and tsken to jail.
The triel OF Paiiios for tee killing OF
George s. Snta on the riett OF tts 22d OF
las July. has doubtless excited mere inter-
eat ia Alexandria ead caused mere excite.
! merit than any similar case in the past haif
cei t1ry. Every day the prisoner was
placed In the dock the room was packed
nntil tbis morning. the room has been packtd
t. oveih)Hing. All eotts CT surmlses as 10
the issue o! the trial have been made. aid
this morning the gsnssal imuregsion was
ttas the accused would g. br = few years
in the peni,entisry, while some ente thned
the opinion thas he would be acqa d.
Bat few supposed that verdict fer the *.
IRENE penslty Of the lew would To rendered.
Those who did we're, CT courte, not sur
pr'sed at The verdict but lie msjo portion
OF the community was-eVan those memf era
| Gift who beieve!i just-Es ti,r ta..led when
| 1t was announced.
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