The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-10-09
An Immense Crowd of Farmers al the Cout-
house in Princess Anne.
A TRIAL JURY WAS QUICKLY SECURED.
The Prisoner Pleads Not Guilty TO the
Indictment Charging Him with
Murder-fIis wife Sits B3 Ri.
Side and Encourages IIim-Judrc
Bro"k's Yer, Novel Law Point.

49, ing 'N''ii tNiIN TURNER Ill the
county was there many driving miles
over muddy roads. And they came i'm
all KINDS of vehicles. from the two
Whecl SprinElesS fish cart to the more
comfortable family rockaway Here.
ana th"r" about the court room could
u" seen the face of an occasional col
ore" man on boy. The majority oi
those present came in response To a
summons HS a juror for there were
forty of the good farmers summoned
Tor TINS purpose. Many others were
th"r" as witnesses
Judg" j. NJ Keeling. who prosid.s i'm
me court. was carly in his seat Sh"r-
III Land ISSUED his proclamation. ana
men began the preliminary work in a
tflaI "t one OF the most sensational
murders ever committed in Princess
Ann" countN--a murder which shocked
everyone who has read it's details
1t was the trial of H. Il. Hrnch
charged with numbering George Hale
IN" dead mans widow with her six
small children. remained in Il wagon
n"hr IN" court-houSc and wcr" the ob-
JtC' "i many pitying chances Not
only was the COURTROOM filled with
people, but in the Vcstihul,. and yard
stood many men who had not attended
court for years
Eventually order was restored and
amid Il GREATNESS silence. a LAWYER
uroS" To his feet. II was Mr. H. H.
- 80, N'''''i''iiN 'stlNi : Attorney. VINO
asked that TN" joint indictment hr
tried In this Indictment H. H. Brock
lt"nIN Rraithwnitr and William
iiusheS. IN" last named one being col
or"u. wcr" charged with having ON
august lth last. with pistol loaded
with Eunpowdrr and two luadcn bull
lets murdered George Hale. at Jones
store. near Virginia Beach
hrock was represented by Judge II
Inckcr lsrookc of Norfolk, and McSsrs
W j. Whitchurst aud William McK
Noodh"us". while Captain John j.
Burroughs represented Hughes
Braithwaitr was represented 10y Judge
John Nicely. who was a little late in
putting in AN appearances
captain Burroughs. uS counsel for
Hughes asked FOR severance. and
Jndr" Brook" stated that he under
stood 1t was the desire of Judge Nicely
10 max" ia" same request. He, how
ever had no motion to make Tie was
PREPARED t" go on with the case. some
al TN" pr"limnaricS were gone through
with while waiting for Judge Nicely
ana tn" Commonwealth asked thar
rules ID" issued against several absent
witnesses. Tho rules were issued and
MAD" r"iurnablc this morning. About
l@;3o o'clock these absent witnesses APP
p"ar"d and the case against Brock was
called. the Commonwealth clccting to
Try tn" parties to the indictment sep
aratclN.
Brock was brought into court and
TOOK Il seat beside his counsel. Rraith-
waite aud Hughes were also brought
IN and took seats in front of the Judges
bench. All of them were neatly dress
rd, hut Brock looked somewhat .mn-
clai"d. probably due to his coniinc-
lnrnt IN tn" county Jail for two months.
NS IN" jury was being called Mrs.
llock, the prisoners wife. entered and
advancing 10 her husband. gave him "A
FOND embrace ana kiss. lie was then
arraigucd. tn" indictment read and
Hrock. IN answer Ia the question. Are
YOU guilty OF not guilty" answered in
a clear firm voice. Not guilty"
walter D. Ward was the first Juror
called. He had not formed or cypress
"d AN opinion ar discussed the case
ANA was accepted
w. G. Beaslcy had not formed on cN-
pressed an opinion. He was accepted
j w. Bright had formed AN opinion
and was rejected
John Il. stone, had not formed or OK.
pressed AN opinion. but had read tho
story of the crime in The Nirginian.
James T. Dawlcy had ncithc, formed
or expressed an opinion. He was ac-
rrptcu
Henry t. James answered satisrac-
toiliN ana took his seat In the box
VIM. y. Hartley had heard consid-
cradle. hut had no opinion and was
accepted.
Oscar Ship had expressed an opin-
ION, but had n" decided impression of
the prisoners guilt. He was rejected
Albert l.. White had read the papers
hut had formed no opinion Accept
ed
Nirginius Capps had not expressed
an opinion. hut had heard one man
say Brock ought TO be lynchod. II,
was accepted
|" l.. Gwinn gave satisfactory AN.
swers and was accepted.
y. @. Baum had heard the murder
talked Of hut objected to the nlic-
ton of capital punishment lie was
rejected
W W. COS knew nothing abou, IN.
| murder had not formed AN opinion
| II" was accepted.
| j. y Weed was accepted. he answer.
| ms the questions satisfactorily
| /. Y Baxter did not helicV, in news.
| papers and mad not read them. lie
! knew the dead man Accepted
u. ID. Batten had read ali and heard
! hpth parties. He had no fixed impress.
sion as 10 the guilt or innocence of III,
| prisoner Accepted
! Joseph Sawycr's replies were salts.
factory and he was accepted
| y. Is. Ives had not read the papers
| nut had heard something about The
| case. lie was accepted, making the
| fuIl panel of sixteen.
| y recess of one hour was taken Mt ! 2,
O'Clock, and when the Sheriff opened
court at 800 o'clock the trial proper
| OF Brock was begun. by striking from
the panel the names of J f. DawIey
William y. Hartley, j. y. Wood and
| d. ID. Batten.
Before the taking OF testimony bo.