Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-27
NOW FOR THE JURY TO SAY.
Tho sallic Holmes Case Submitted But
No Verdict Ecached.

The case Of Sallic Holmes. on trial be-
fore Judge Wickham In the Hcnrico
County Court, for the murder Of her
little daughter. Irene. is now in the
hands OF the jury. IT was submitted
shortly before o'clock last night, and,
II being apparent that verdict would
not be soon reached. the jury was adj
journcd over until 10 o'clock this morn
ing
The Commonwealth closed its case early
yesterday their last witness being Dr.
Charles II. Chalkcy. who made an
autopsy in the case. His testimony was
Of "a strictly scientific character but con-
flrrncd the statement OF the two women
who shroudcd the child as TO the nature
and extent Of the marks on the body,
which were the result OF cruel beating.
Dr. Chalkley was not prepared. though,
to say positively that death was caused
by cruelty.
NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY.
The defence first put the prisoners
husband. Frank Holmes. on the stand.
Mr.. Sands objected on the ground that
the law passed by the last General As
scmbly permitting husband and wife to
testify for or against each other in both
civil and criminal cases was unconstitu-
tional in that it had more than one object.
This point was argued, Judge Wickham
sustained the contention Of Mr.. Sands,
and the defence excepted.
The accused then took the stand. ana
| at some length told of the dead child' =
| illness. She denied in toto having cruelty
| beaten the child, but admitted having
whipped her Irene. She said. was weak
| minded. and had a habit OF dcvourinG
| everything in sight whether filthy or not.
| For this she had repeatedly whipped her
| but never severely. The scar on the
back Of the neck She accounted for as
| having been produced by mustard
| plaster placed there for sore throat.
Br. Deaton, who attended the girl, de-
| nicd having said that death was the result
| of consumption Of the bowels as he
| was reported TO have said before the
| Coroner. but that Oring his visits tC
| her prior 10 death. he had never seen
| anything that would give rise 10 the
! belief that she had been cruelty beaten.
| His opinion was that death was caused
by Il complication Of diseases. He and
Or. Chalkley differed in their opinion on
several points. The defence put several
| other witnesses on the stand. but their
| :, stimony had no very material bearing
on the case.
| ARGUED AND SUBMITTED.
Tho argument consumed all the after
| noon. and lasted until about $50 o'clock
| The instructions given were chiefly those
| given by the Commonwealth, and Messrs
| Fowlkes * Mosby excepted to one or two
| Of them
| The jury. after being out few min
| utes. reported an early agreement un
| likely, and the Judge adjourned them Over
| until this morning
| other County Court Items.
| ON account Of the Illness Of Supcrin-
| tendent Sampson. of the Laurel Retorma'
| tory. the case of Guard George Brown
| charged with cruelty treating Frank
| Marks. an inmate Of the institution, winch
was TO have been tried before Justice
| Vincent yesterday, was again postponed
| for one week.
| Constable Mostly has recovered from the
| house of Edna Belle James (colOreD
| whom he arrested last Tuesday, a lot OF
| wearing apparel. which was stolen by th'
| woman from the residence Of Mrs. Dors
| Lane Justice Tyler Will examine int
! the case to-day.
| Malcolm Butler n diminutive coiorec
| lad. was arrested by Constable Branch
| yesterday on a warrant sworn out fo
| hln last June charging him with throw
| ing rocks Magistrate Tyler recognized
him for his appearance before him to-day