Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-03-01
THE TRAIN ROBBERS.

4AG 4hI14AN 4lOo01<4tAs
| As stated in the GAZETTE of that da,
the trial of the famous Aqua creel
train robber, Charles Morgan, closed a
Stafford courthouse yesterday. when
verdict of guilty on one indictment wa
rendered ard the jury fixed the penalt.
at eighteen years in the penitentiary
1t was two o'clock when PROSECUTING
Attorney White began the closin!
argument for the commonwealth, ant
il was four o'clock when he closed an'
handed to the jury the indictment, ant
the judges instructions TO The jury, ant
it was exactly ten minutes Later whel
they flied back with their verdict o
guilty, fixing Morgan's term at eighteen
years. Morgan's counsel at once movet
the court to set aside the verdict a:
contrary to the lew and the evidence
and because the jury had misunder
stood the evidence. This motion The
court overruled, and it was followed by
a motion in arrest of judgment, which
was also overruled, to allow which rul.
ings defense accepted.
Judge Ashton then, in a solemn and
impressive manner, asked Morgan il
he had anything to say why the
sentence should not be passed upon
him. He replied in a clear voice that
he had not expected to be tried at this
term of the court, and had no time to
prepare q defense, and that he was not
mentally or physically able to stand a
trial.
These are not good reasons, said the
judge, for not passing sentence. You
have had fair and impartial trial, you
have been ably defended by eloquent
counsel, your offense is most heinous
one; in view of the strong evidence
against you, you have been fortunate
in escaping the extreme penalty of the
law. The jury that tried you is as in
telligent and fair as could be gotten in
this community, and there is nothing
of which you can complain. There
fore, the judgment of the court is that
you be taken to the penitentiary of this
State and there confined for the period
of eighteen years. On the motion ofthe
commonwealth, the other four cases
against Morgan were continued until
the next term of the court. The COM
monwealth attorney then said he was
ready to take up Searcey's case, and
Searcey was brought into court.
Through Attorney R. II. L. Chichester,
who consented to act for Searcey on
this occasion, he moved for contin-
uance, which, not being opposed by the
commonwealth, was granted, and Nor
gan and Searcey were both ordered to
be taken back to the Jail at Fredericks-
burg. In Morgan's case suspension
of execution of the sentence was grant
ed until April 5, in order for counsel to
apply for an appeal. There was very
dramatic scene at the close of Mr..
Whites argument. Rising on his couch
Morgan said, 'Mr. White, you must be
very much afraid Of me, as you want 10
hang me-" II think you deserve to be
hung" replied the commemorative at
torney. AS Morgan was being taken
back to the Jail, he looked at Crutch-
field, the express messenger, and said !:
"I'll get even with you, d-n you.
You have put me in the pen for eigh-
teen years, but I'll get out yet"
Morgan was taken aback by the ver-
dict. He had persuaded himself that
he would be cleared. 1t is not known
certainly that he will take an appeal
but his counsel declare they will do so.
1t was learned last night that up to
Sunday three ofthe jurors were in favor
of hanging Morgan, and if there had
been precedent for the inhiction of
capital punishment the prisoner would
beyond a doubt received the severe
penalty.
The express people people are great
ly elated over the verdict, but are non
commital in regard to Searcey. Nor
gan had but little to say about the yer
dict, but remarked in his usual pleas
ant way that he still had hope and
would continue the fight so long as pos
sible.
Upon being advised of the verdict
Governor O'Ferrall telegraphed his
congratulations to Prosecuting Attor
ney White. The Governor telegraph
ed: "Train robbers will seek some other
State for their nefarious work. Vir-
ginia juries will uphold the law"