The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-12

Such Was the Verdict Of the Jury IN 'he
Nicholas Case.


A great deal OF interest was manifest
I'd In the Nicholas case stefday, ana
h very large crowd was present AZ ~
o'clock In the moralng, when 9he jury
brouef In the verdict, which was muir
der In the first degree. The prlfoher
received the verdict calmly, though nc
looked pale when e was announced Coun-
,el FOR the defence asked the Court 10
set aside the verdict, one OK the grouhus
being that the drowning took pace III
Gfoctlapd county. and rot N HenilCo'
Thsre IS little doubt thGt the drowning
actually occurred in Henfico county,
however. though Judge Wexford stated
that he would look over the evidence IN
the case. and consider the request OK
counsel for the defence until next FIJI
day. ~.
Phnlp Norman Nicholas is white
man about forty years Of age, pale face,
dark ewes and hair. lie was charged
with the murder Of James Mills and Jud-
son Wilkinson on December 3, Jbyz. Inc
murder occurred IN the upper end OF
ucnrico county. near what Is known
ms Tuckahoe Island. Nicholas ana the
deceased went out hunting on the DAY
In ouestion. and while crossing the
river. which Is very deep in that neigh
borhood. the sllim sprung leak ana ne
gan % rapidly ON with water. All three
men furtlpcd out. and Nils and Wilkin-
,son tosf their lives in the stream, while
Tho accused swan ashore ana was saNen'
When he reported The drowning OF MS
compsnions. the suspicion Of his neigh
bors was aroused. and upon investigation
two holes. apparently bored win an au-
ger. were found TN the beat. TO aHd 70
Tho theory Of murder. two pieces OF corn
cobs which exactly fitted the holes we're
discovered near by. and this natufahy
led 10 the belief that there had been ioul
play. The suppositon, Of course was
that Nicholas decOyed the men, VINO
could not swim. into the boat, and then
pushed out the shoppers when he got INTO
the middle Of the stream.
The evidence al the coroner's Inquest
developed the fact that the prisoner bad
been on familiar terms with Mrs Mis-
and that there was no love between
Nicholas and the woman's husband. The
prosecution found no good motive Tor
the supposed killing Of Wilkinson.
The accused was arrested on the night
OF the 10th. and as TO bail was allowed.
he has been confined in jail for nearly
ten months. Prison life has disagreed
with him, and he now looks pale and
worn.
Inc case mas dllfdCltu IhuDh hNb'htA'"
during the past week. There were very
large number Of witnesses. and II required
FIVE days to take all the testimony, which
was long and tedious. Commonwealth S
Attorney Sands assisted by Mr.. George
u. Carter, conducted the prosecution very
ably. and both handled the case with a
great deal Of skill Messrs. Harry NJ.
Smith, Jr, and y. g. Richardson defend
cd the prisoner with much ability and
each made strong speeches I'm behalf OF
the accused. They had a very difficult
case TO handle, however, and the evidence
against the prisoner was quite strong. |
During the trial Nicholas sat calm ana |
apparently unconcerned. Like a great |
many people who witnessed the trial, he /
was somewhat surprised at the verdict OF |
the Jury. as a number OF those who heard /
The evidence were Of the opinion that such |
would not be the verdict while others
held the opposite view. The jury was
highly complmented by many for their |
appearance.