Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-15
IT'S LONG COURSE RUN.

killing of George S. Smith on the night
of the 22d of July, 1891, ceased its wea-
ry course between II and u o'clock last
Saturday night by the jury bringing in
verdict of murder in the second de-
gree and fixing the term of imprison
ment of the accused at eight years in
the penitentiary. There's an old song
which forecasts what is to occur in the
year nineteen hundred and one-Phil-
lips's release Should he survive his
term of Imprisonment will be another
one of the events of that anno Domini
at the dawn of the twentieth century.
That lesson Of the law has been taught
all concede, though some may not have
looked upon the olense as did the jury.
But it had been referred to them-the
prisoner had been their property, had
been at their disposal, his fate had
been in their hands for twenty-four
hours, they undoubtedly dellberated
and acted conscientiously, their verdict
has been accepted by the court and it is
now the duty of law abiding citizens to
bow assent, bury past preludices and
predictions and leave the convict to
his OWL reflections on the sad conse-
qnences of following false path in life
and the committal of rash act which
has wrought shipwrcck to his life, cast
the sable mantle over the household of
his victim and plunged his own into an
anguish which Time will not soon mol
lily.
1t has been nearly two years since
Phillips killed Smith and the courts
have been nineteen months in dispos-
ing of the case. He has had four trials
altogether-one in the police court, one
in the Court of Appeals and two in the
Corporation Court with four postpone
ments of the case in the latter tribunal.
The last trial began on Monday and
dragged its slow course along until last
night when, like all sublunary things,
it had to come to an end.
When the GAZETTE was put TO press
Saturday evening the jury still had the
case under consideration and, from all
that could be learned, it seemed as
though they would keep it before them
until finding they could not dispose OF
it they would return to court and ask
to be relieved from its further consider
alton.
The jury had been taken out of the
Court House for walk and the build
ing was later deserted. A few people
loitered in the neighborhood and await
ed their return. When the twelve
finally reappcared they repaired to their
room in the Braddock House in the
same deadocked condition they had
heen in since Saturday night.
a three-hour's thunder storm settled
over the city after supper and the jury
men could be seen in their quarters
from the street. Some smoked and
others walked about the room. Oc-
casionally an excited colloquy would
begin between two or three of the men,
which would end where it started
in a disagreement. Hour after hour
followed until the night had SO far
advanced that the clerk of the court
sent over to the hotel to know if there
was any need to keep the court house
open any longer in awaiting the jury's
return. The answer that was brought
back was not of an assuring nature.
and nearly everybody yawncd and
most of them who could do so went
home. About eleven o'clock, however,
it was announced that the deadlock
had been broken and that a verdict
was about to be reached. This infor-
nation travelled like lightning, and
in less than half an hour the court
room was packed more closely than it
had been at any previous stage of the
trial. The court officers were notified
and a bailiff dispatched for the prison
err. At twenty minutes to twelve
o'clock the latter was brought in look
ing careworn and anxious. Some little
difficulty was experienced in removing
his handouts, but he was finally placed
in the dock to undergo the terrible Or
deal of awaiting his fate from the lips
of the twelve of his peers. The crowd
kept the best Of order while Deputy
Sergeant Creighton called the roll and
Clerk Beach the number of each jury
man as he answered to his name.
When number twelve had answered
'here," Mr.. Beach then put the query
to them, Gentleman, have you agreed
upon verdict" Mr. H. A. Mid
dieton. foreman, Immediately hand
ed in a piece of paper,
the contents of which proved to be as
follows and were read aloud: 1--WE,
the Jury, find the prisoner guilty OF
murder in the second degree, and fix
his term of imprisonment in the peni-
Tertiary at eight years." AS the last
word left the clerks lips the crowd
gave vent to their feelings in a deatening
strain which was seemingly cross
between rebel yell and Comanche
war whoop. Crowds rushed to the
prisoner to congratulate him, but were
promptly checked by a bailiff.
Dir. Burke, for the defense, moved
that the jury be polled, and each man
had the verdict read to him and was
made to answer that that was his YER
dict.
Mr.. Burke then moved for an ar
rest of Judgment and a new trial.
The court replied that the verdict
would not be recorded until to-day,
when the motion and exceptions would
be considered.
Phillips was then taken back to Jail
and at about II o'clock the room was
cleared.
A reporter of the GAZETTE saw Phil
lips in his room in the Jail yesterday
morning Immediately after a lady had
left who had visited him and read the
Bible to him. His Sisters had also visit
ed him earlier il the morning. Phil
lips looked much brighter, was more
ri IL o,,;Jontl,, fo1t rol;ovod