Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-28
MASSEY INDICATED.
The Jury Say He Is Not Guilty Of The
Pilots Charges.
4 VERDICT FOR $1,000 GIVEN.
The Scene in The Courtroom Yesterday
Morning.
INTENSE INTEREST SHOWN.
A suppicmentnry Instruct"n-The
PLAINTIFF Says lie Is sntfshed-EH-
urcssIons of Opinion from Gov
ernor OFerraII and Attorney-Gen-
eraI Scott.
/ VERDICT FOR $1,000 GIVEN.
INTENSE INTEHEsT '"" y

NOAkA OAffNf ' 49, NNAf ~'s N.riNNieaAff
a large crowd gathered around the court
house this morning anxious to hear from
the lips Of the twelve good men and
true what conclusion they had arrived
at since their deliberations began yester-
day morning as to the question Of dam
ages In the Massey-Pilot $1,000 libel suit.
Ex-Governor William i. Cameron and
many other notables were I'm court The
venerable plaintiff was an early arrival,
and dcported himself with that quiet de-
3ucanor that has characterized him since
the opening day
The interest was intense Spectators
ana the counsel present were worked
tp u a high pitch of excitement. The
sound OF q football upstairs near the
;ury-room. or the slamming Of a door
was sufficient TO cause a craning Of necks
and a sUrging forward Of the crowd like
The rushing Of a heavy wave of the sea
a. the shore. At 11:2j n murmur passed
through the throng that the jury were
coming down. \ mad rush was made
for the courtroom by those standing
outside. and as the Jurors fled in one
iy one and his Honor raped for order
q hush that indicated the intensity OF the
excitement felt by every one came over
The courtroom
MURMUR OF DISSATISFACTION.
This was soon followed by murmur
a. Dissatisfaction and annoyance as the
foreman stated 10 his Honor that the
fury had simply come down for further
Instructions These Instructions, the fore
tran stated. the Jurors desired TO he
private. and they had, therefore. written
ont their questions. His Honor. after
reading the paper. stated that he wished
q confer with counsel on both sides. Mr.
Nicely came forward but IL was found
~ this point that none Of tie counsel
for the defendants were in court. and
cx-Judge Heath was sent for. In the
mean time Mr.. Nicely carefully examined
the questions on the paper that had been
handed 10 his Honor. Judge Heath and
Mr Heath. Jr.. arrived in a few minutes
They also examined the questions, and
stated that their nature was such that
his Honor would have 10 decide them.
and they desired 10 argue privately the
points with him before he gave his opin-
ion 10 the jury. ThcreupOn. his Honor
and the three counsel went upstairs,
leaving the jury in the courtroom TO
await their return. They returned at l2l5,
when his Honor read again TO The jury
instructions NOS 6. II. and another roa-
tive to actual and vindlctlvc damages,
and drew the distinction between the
two kinds OF damages. The Jurors again
retired 10 the jury-rOOm upstairs.
1t was about 2.2O o'clock when the jury
returned 70 the COURTROOM. and In re-
spouse 10 the question Of Clerk Warning:
Have YOU agreed upon n verdict Fore
nan ". W. Vicar said. I'VE have. We
ma for the plaintiff against the Pilot
Publishing Company. Sam. w. Small, and
Richard L. Byrd. and assess his damages
at 81 600 81 700 of which we estimate as
punitive and 500 "a actual damages, and
as to the other defendants We find them
not guilty"
Judge Heath. Of counsel for the de-
fence. moved TO set aside the verdict,
which was overruled by Judge Prentis
il is said that the defence Will not take
an appeal.
MIR. MASSEY SATISFIED.
The verdict OF the Jury is the talk Of
The town tonight Mr.. Massey was seen
bv the Dispatch correspondent. and said
he was satisfied with the verdict; that by
81 he was completely vindicated. He said
further that a $lC0 verdict IS as good as
one for 5000. In so far rs his ability 10
collect from the defendants was con-
cerned. lie leaves FOR Richmond to-mor-
row morning.
II IS understood that ten OF the jury
were for substantial damages ana that
the other two held out for an Insignificant
amount
GOVERNOR O'FERRALLS OPINION.
In answer last night to a Dispatch query
Tor an EXPRESSION OF opinion on the
verdict Governor O'Ferrall wired;
ALLEGHANY SPRINGS. VA. July q.
TO the Editor Of the Dispatch, Rich
moni. Va:
Replying 70 your telegram, / VIII say
That the verdict convicts the writers and
publishers as libellers. and thoroughly
NiuGicatcs MI Massey; but the damages
awarded are too small 10 deter libellous
journalism for gain and sensational pur-
poses in Virginia.
(SigueD CHARLES II. O'FERRAl.b
NOT AS THEY DESERVED.
Acknowledgement Scott TO the same
query replied:
WARRENTON, VA, July q.
To the Editor Of the Dispatch;
The verdict In the Massey-Pilot libel
suit vindicatcs the plaintiff and the Board
Of Education, but does not punish the
libellers as they deserved
(SigneD r. TAYLOR SCOTT.