Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-18
CLARK CONVICTED.
THE VERDICT GUILTY OF vOLuN'
TARY MANsLAuGHTER.
Punishment Five Years In the Penitsn-
tiHry-Biiis OF Exeeptiop-An APP
peal to He Taken.
rspoc,a, telegram to the pi.ps.cn.I


DAsvu.LE. Va. February l7.-The "a
nous Clark trial Is ended and the commu-
nifty breathes a sigh of relief. When
court met this morning at Q o'clock the
jury came in fresh after q nights rest.
After going to the jury-room for few
minutes they returned and said they were
ready to render o verdict. The prisoner
was told to stand up and look upon the
Jury, and Foreman Wittker answered that
the verdict of the jury was " Guilty"
The written verdict was then read to the
effect that the Jury found the prisoner TO
be guilty of voluntary manslaughter and
fixed his punishment at five years IN the
penitentiary.
CONGRATULATED.
The Court congratulated.th jury on the
faithful ald patient attention they had
given the case and said they were entitled
to the thanks of the Commonwealth.
MIR. James Il. Harrison then arose and
said that his friend, Colonel Aylett, had
thought that some of Mr.. Harrison's re-
marks in his speech before the jury were
of a personal character. and he desired 70
say to the Jury that nothing was further
from his intention. Colonel Aylett grace
fully accepted Mr.. Harrison's graceful ex-
PLANTATION.
woMAcK WAS JOKING.
Judge Aiken then called attention &c
Colouel Aylett's complaint against Deputy,
Sergeant s. ID. Womack. who had had
charge of the Jury. Colonel Aylett asked
that Mr.. Womack be put on the stand. lie
then asked Mr.. Womack to state II he had
a conversation with Policeman Cousins, o.
North Danville. on thursday. Notnach
replied that Cousins had asked MN WhAi
the verdict in the Clark case would be and
he had replied that Clark would be
acquitted. Cousins said he and MomacK
offered TO bet s.. WOmack further ex-
planned that he was Joking with Cousins
that be had said nothing TO the jury ana
had heard nothing from the Jury as 10 the
verdict. The members Of the jury were
then called on, and all spoke IN tne hish-
est terms of Womack. they said tha'
Womack had faithfully carr ca oSt tne
instructions of the Court, and that ne was
entitled 10 an honorable acqulttal OF any
aspersions that Colonel Ayiett's complaint
might have carried with IT,
AN IYDIsCRETIoN.
Colonel Aylett sand he had nothing t.
say against Mr.. Womack. HIS only or
fence, he thought. was a mere lndlscre-
ton. but out of abundant caution ne
thought il well to ask that the Jury De
placed in othe- hands. Mr.. WOmack was
honoraDly acquitted.
now THEY STOOD.
II Is understood that the jury originally
stood five for murder IN the second de-
gree aud seven for manslaughter.
The defence made motion for new
trial. but did not argue II. and 1t was
promptly oyerrued by the Court.
20 coNeprp,Cv
One of the interesting questions involved
in this trial was the charge by the Pro-
bibitlon organs that Moffetts death was
the result of widespread conspiracy on
the part of liquor-men and politicians to
put him out of the way. But counsel on
both sides. especially Colonel Aylett. of
King William. counsel for the prosecu-
ton, scented the idea Of conspiracy. and
all agreed that none other than j. i. Clark
was IN any way concerned IN the killing OF
Mr.. Moiiett.
TRUTHFUL AND BRAVE.
Mr.. Mofett had his enemies IN the CON-
mnnitv by reason of the bitter fight be
had made against those who did not agree
with him in his extreme Prohibition views,
but the community at large believes that
he was sincere. though misguided and in
tolerant; that he was truthful. and that
he was as brave as any man who ever
espoused cause.
AN APPEAL.
Counsel for the defence will tomorrow
morning present to the court bills of ex-
ception and ask for suspension OF SEN
tence, with view to taking the case 70
the Court of Appeals on writ of error.
1t was reported here to-day that the jury
would sign petition for Clark's pardon,
but members of the Jury said they had
not SAID anything of the kind.
ACCEPT 1T.
Messrs. w. w. and II. q. Mofett, when
asked what they had TO say about the YER
diet replied that they were law-sbiding
citizens, and as such accepted the verdict
without comment. The jurors returned
home to-day.