Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-08
BLAYTON GOES FREE.
THE Jury ADJUpcEs HIM INSANE
WHEN he KILLED HIS WIFE.
n. WIN Go 70 the Williamsburg Asylum
City Hall, Court, and Couu-
ell News.

John II. BIayton, the wife-murderer. Is
to go to the asylum instead OF TO the
scaffold. His case came up In the Hus-
tings Court yesterday. and within an
hour from the time It was called the
prisoner had been adjudged not response
BILE and decreed a 1T subject for the
well-known institution Of the State At
Williamsburg.
For some time there had been intima-
lions that Blayton's mind was weak. ana
Il was agreed among the counsel In the
case that this point should be determined
before the murder trial began. In ac-
cordarce with this understanding a jury
composed of Messrs. X. J.. Brown. Jr.,
Thomas r. Otey, 3. F. Thompson. J. J.
Mitchell. Henry T.. Miller. J. +. Wing
field, William Lynch, J. S. Bass, A. w.
Rosene. Percy Montague. J. Il. Kearney,
and +. NJ -. Clarke--was sworn In to
pass upon the question. The accused had
as his counsel Messrs. ID. c. Richardson
and Il. #. Lacy. OF New Kent county.
whence the prisoner hailed. He occupied
n seat beside Mr.. Lacy in the court
room, and paid very little interest to the
proceedings In the case.
THE KILLING MAY Sd.
1t will be remembered that Blayton shot
his wife to death on west Clay street
near Brook avenue, on the morning OF
May Sd. and then tried to kill himself
with a Ratchet. When he entered the
tribunal Of Judge Samuel Il. Witt yester-
day morning large handkerchief hid
from the view OF the spectators the
wounds that he inflicted upon his own
head after having killed his wife.
As soon as the case was called Blay-
toms counsel submitted plea OF insanity,
and Judge Witt instructed the jury 10
inquire into the mental condition OF the
prisoner at the bar.
The first witness called was Or. W. 8.
Gordon, surgeon at the city jail. He said
that from the newspaper reports OF the
killing he took a keen interest in the
case, and from n statement made sus-
pected that the prisoner was a diseased
man. When the prisoner was brought TO
Jail ne found that he was suffering from
Brights disease. lie subsequently had
an attack OF vertigo and seemed TO be
under the impression that he was being
prosecuted. This, he said, was n symptom
OF that disease, and the sufferer was al
ways liable to fits of insanity. The French
called Il "folie Brightique." The prisoner
was liable TO become insane at any mo-
ment and was probably insane when he
slew his wife. His suspicion of his wife S
fidelity would have tended TO throw him
into a fit of insanity. In short, he re-
garded the prisoner as n dangerous man
and a fit subject for the insane asylum.
He was now in the last stages Of Bright s
disease and could not live very long,
ACTED VERY STRANGELY.
Mr.. r. S. Eggeston, OF New Kent. tes-
tilted that he had known the accused
FOR about forty years. The last time he
saw him was on May 9Th at Blayton' ;
brothers house. The accused acted very
strangely on that occasion. and was Ia
boring under the impression that some
one wanted to kill him.
Mr.. James Blayton, brother OF the ac-
cused cOrroborated this testimony.
Tho next witness called was Mr.. r. r..
Wilkinson, clerk at the Hotel Dodson,
who said that the prisoner came 10 the
hotel on one occasion and took a room.
Later he sent for the clerk, and asked
that a policeman be called; that he was
subject to spells when he could not con
troll himself and was afraid he would
alarm the house.
Sergeant Orange testified that the
prisoner had acted in peculiar manner
on May 18th, and Captain Hulce testi-
fed that Mr.. Bell, who had grocery
store in Blayton's house. had come TO
, the station previous to the tragedy and
asked that Blayton be taken up for
lunacy.
Dr. Gordon was recalled. and said the
testimony of the other witnesses was
what he expected TO hear. and simply
confirmed him in his opinion that the
prisoner was of unsound mind.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment. and the jury in five minutes re-
turned, finding that Blayton was insane
at present and when he committed the
fearful deed with which he was charged.
Judge witt then entered an order d.
recting that Blayton be sent TO the
asylum at Williamsburg.
EX-OFFICER WILLIAMS FINED.
The case Of j. Walter Williams, the ex-
policeman, charged with resisting Officer
William \. Shield. was called in the
Hastings Court yesterday. Mr.. Williams
pleaded guilty to the charge. and was
fined S25. which he promptly paid.
LAW AND EQUITY COURT.
Inc Law anu l|lully tOulb wa htp'
quite busy yesterday.
In the case of Christman. administrator
against the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company. bills of exception were filed by
leave Of court to suspend execution for
ninety days, in accordance with section
RAG. Code Of 1887. The bills Of exceptions
and the evidence will cover over l.5U
pages OF legal cap, written on the type
writer Clerk Winston says 1t Is the
longest legal paper ne ever saw.
The case Of HuGhes's administrators
against the Richmond Hallway and Elec'
trlc Company IS set for Monday, ana Will
be very apt 10 occupy several DAYS
Nessrs Pollard & Sands are counsel loi
the plaintiff. and Messrs. Cabel q
CabelI represent the defendant company
| The suit is for damages sustained by ule
death OF Lewis J. Hughes on the 18th
Of March. IA year ago, while oliing d
dynamo at the plant on Johnson's Island
Suits were instituted in ms trlDuhN
yesterday as follows:
BY James II. Dooley against Sydhor q
Sheppard for 500 damages.
Ev joseph w Burton against Il. =
Burton for SEQ damages
The Circuit Court was engaged yester'
! day m tl--ing the case OF the Rlchniohu
Agricultural Implement Company agalns'
Edmund Rutnn. The jury gave verdic'
in favor Of the defendant
Judgment for the plaintiff was rehuerso
! in the suit of Mrs. Il. Crowell against NJ
! Fagens. IN the sum Of So.
In the Chancery Court Junius y. MosDy
qualified as executor of the viii OF WI
! liam C. Barker. The estate is valued a
5000
COUNCIL COMMITTEE NEWS.
The Council Committee on Schools met
and organized last evening. Clty-ClerR
August called the body to order, ana Mt
John Mann, Jr., was elected chairman
and Mr. Joseph T. Mountcastie sub-chair'
man. Some routine business was trans
acted. and the meeting adjourned.
The committees which assemble in the
| city Hall tomorrow for organization are
! the following: