Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-06
NICHOLAS ON TRIAL.
He ~ CHARGED WITH THr MURDER
Or Mills AND WIZ ~ OS.
The Jur, En-. pa''o.iea Ye,..'a's On Seq
srai N.tness-s E1an'n c4--1ip.
NILS uuus III.

The trial Of Philip Norman Nicholas
has at last begun, and ere many days
the public will learn whether or not the
law regards him as the murderer OF
James Mills and Judson Wilkinson.
For nearly ten months the bodies OF the
| drowned men have slept in their graves,
and during all this time the prisoner has
paced his cell and awaited the time when
| justice should mete out his deserts. Ten
months ago Nicholas was a ruddy, whis-
| kered farmer. with horny. sun-burned
| hands. Yesterday morning nj III O'CLOCK
when he was arraigned before the Cir
cult Court of Henrico county, he was a
| pale. careworn man. with many Wrinkles
| IN his face, and hands almost as white
/ a womans. He wore no beard, nut
I only a moustache. while the hair on his
| head IL rapidly thinning out. and his
/ whole expression shows signs OF mental
anguish and distress Whether this change
/ IN his appearance Is caused by long con-
/ fnement or remorse Is a question when
none can tell. for verify the case Is
knotty one. There are many reasons TO
think the man is guilty and equally as
! many which Indicate that the accused Is
/ innocent.
4 OUARTETTE OF LAWYERS.
Nicholas was represented by Messrs.
J ID. G. Richardson and III. NJ. smith as
counsel. while Commonwealth s-Attorney
Conway r. Sands and Mr. George ID.
| Carter represented the prosecution Juuse
Wexford presided over the tribunal ana
the courtroom was filed with spectators.
Several OF the prisoners friends occupied
seats near him, but the accused seemed
more absorbed in the occupation or chew
Z ing tobacco than In paying attention 10
the proceedings.
The prisoner, after being arraigned ana
before pleading. moved, through counsel
/ TO reject the alleged record OF the Hen
( rico County Court u June l2th Inc mo-
ton was over-ruied and the prisoner eX-
/ Cepted The defence then moved 10
quash the venire faclas under which
the grand jury was summoned and
the officers return thereof. This motion
/ was also over-ruled, and the accused again
excepted Again, and with the same sue
cess the lawyers entered demurrer 10
the indictment. The prisoner entered a
plea Of mot guilty" after when MS
counsel made final fruitless EFFORT TO
quash the process under which the petlt
jury was summoned.
An hour or more was spent in the eX-
animation OF veniremen, and shortly aiter
O'Clock the court took four hours
the list OF the jurymen was completed
Their names are as follows: MeSsrs. W.
n Ford. j. W Taylor. G. w. bottoms
lin Garter. Hugh ID. Smith. Joseph 1hr-
ner. John Warraner. George Lyme, tous-
ton johnson, 81. &. Willard, w. i. 'tohl-
son, and l.. l.. Gum.
BEGIN TAKING EVIDENCE.
The first Witnesses examined were
, Arthur Ray and Joseph Pearman' the
hoatrnen who discovered the bodies or
Mills and Wilkinson after search OF
several hours Their evidence was I'M
important.
MIR =. Ashby WIckham, upon whose
: premises Nicholas and his supposed We
tins lived, was Questioned at some length
bv tire lawyers lie gave lucid descrlp-
I ton Of the place where the alleged crime
occurred, and described the actions vi
Nicholas after the double drowning oc-
. CURED. His evidence was rather in favor
OF the accused. and he stated that the
prisoner told him he did all In hi' power
to avert the calamity which occurred.
Mr. I. G. Redd. a prominent county
surveyor. enlightened the jury as To the
location and topography OF Tuckahoe
Island. thu neighborhOod In when the
men lost their lives.
The court then adjourned 10 meet again
this morning AZ. 10 o'clock.
Mrs Mills the wife OF one OF the drown
el men. and "A most important witness IN
; the case. Is now quite sick.