The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-16
URQUHART FOUND GUILTY
Sentenced to Five Years Impris-
onment For Murder in 1870.
He Displayed Remarkable Nerve For
Man of His Age. How the Vcr-
dict Was Received. No APP
peal VIII BE Taken.
The Crime.
Special Dispatch to Tho yirgini.u.


wealth vs. William j. Urquhart. for the
murder of John T. Gay, on November
Sth, 1870, to-day rendered their yer.
diet, after a nights tlcliberation, find
lug the accused guilty Of murder ~ tho
second dcgroe, and aHcertaiuiue his
punishment mt five years imprison.
ment III the peEitentiary.
The jury, who were unable to ngreo
last night, and who were in the cus.
tody of the Sherlil at the Commercial
Hotel, were taken to their room in the
courthouse curly IN the morning, and
when Judge kilby called the court To
order at 1880 O'Clock It was announced
thnt the Jury had reached verdict
The jurors were filed III their box and
the verdict was handed to Deputy
Clerk Garner. The prisoner at the bar
was asked TO rise, while amidst intense
suspense and death liko stiffness. tho
following verdict WAS read in clearly
euunciuted tones: 1--WE, the Jury, find
tue prisoner guilty of murder IN the
secoud degree, aud fix his punishment
at five years i'll the penitentiary."
ALI eyes were turned on the nccusod,
who did not change his expression nor
move a muscle. He was as stolId and
unconoerned us the most listeless spec.
tntor. In fact, during the entire trinl
ha has retained remarkable nerve and
bearing and has never evnced, SO TAR
as detected, the slightest emotion nor
fenr.
MIR. w. S. Holland, OF counsel for
defense, asked the court to be allowed
half an hour i'll which 10 consult with
frienda and relatives of the prisoner as
to moving for new trial. The request
was granted, uDd after conference on
the court green 'Mr. Holland asked to
be allowed TO retire to an upper room
IL company with the accused. Ac
cordingly Mr.. Holland, MIR. A. Is.
Seldner, OF the firm of Nicely. Seldnor
y Warrington, OF Norfolk, the prisoner
and friends wele closcted, where they
remained III secret consultation till
nearly ! O'clock. or about three hours,
On returning MIR. Holland addressed
the court, stating tina, they had been
detained longer than WAS anticipated :;
that his only excuse was that the ques
ton disucssed was of grave aud vital
Importance. Their decision was TO ac-
cept the verdict, aud no motion would
be made.
The prisoner was told to stand up,
was reminded by the court OF the yer
diet alleging guilt and fixing penalty,
and was asked If lie had ANYTHING To
Say. He firmly replied: "Not word"
aud wns forthwith sentenced to spend
five years in the peniteutinry, to be
treated and occupied in the manner
prescribed by law After being re.
manded To jail lie weakened considerably
when, with inll force, he began TO re
alIZe the penalty, the term OF which,
"a u ~ Ia n r I,.n "A
and eufcehlcd constitution, he cannot
moro than expect 10 survive.
Owing 10 the preferences, sympGth-
les and prejudlces of the local public,
o considerable portion of which is con
nectcd with the family OF the prisouer
or his victim. either by relationship or
friendship, It is very difficult to asccr.
tam the popular acceptntion Of the yer.
diet. Many persoDs hold that, taking
the theory OF self.deiensc auduced uud
the period OF painful exile into con
sideratlon, the penalty should have
been lighter; whllo others equally as
sincere think the crime heimous one,
which should have been punished more
severely, while stlll others claim that
the victim was shot from ambush and
should sniicr the death penalty.
After talking with several OF the lnrv-
men, including tue foreman, relative 10
their standing when first retiring, we
learn that they wore this way: Three
for aCunlttal. one for voluntary mau-
slaughter, siX for murder in the second
degree and two for murder III the tirst
degree. The result, as IN all cases.
which are submitted to decision OF
twelve men, WAS necessarily compro.
mise.
The members OF the jury arc from a
section OF the county remote from tie
scene of the crime. are men OF good
judgment and high character, and thor
verdict by most unprejudiced minds is
considered just and equitable. Eleven
of the jurors arc members of the
church, While the twelfth has professed
religion, bnt never joined the church.
None OF tham are drinking men.
The most damaging part of the evi-
donce IN the lury's opinion, and that
which weakened the prisoners corfes.
sion and plea OF self defense through
witnesses Ramsey aud Gray, was the
statement that accused left his victim
without knowing the result OF lis shot,
vent home and retired TO bed after )
O'Clock III the morning. They also EN-.
phasiZed tho statement that the wbip
was tOuud near the victims right hand,
while the pistol was behlud him, which
weakened tue plea that Gay had drawn
his weapon when shot by UrQuhart.
The impression still RENAME to some
eItent that Urquhart was hired to com.