Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-20

nau put foliccman Baker on trial. Their
criticisms OF that officer were unjust;
he was not there to defend Mr.. Baker.
but he was there as the commemorative
Attorney for the city of Richmond, show
ing the facts In the case OF James r..
WINNER. VINO stood charged with the
murder OF Samuel q. Thalhimer. He
added that Mr.. Ba.er had gone to the
houses referred to In his testimony and
In the arguments by the learned counsel
on the opposing side in the search OF two
women. who. u was believed could give
evidence In this trial man by the name
Of Bowers had reported these facts to
him as Commemorative Attorney. and
Mr.. Baker had simply been asked to find
the women and bring them to him. This
officer had only acted the part of friend
to the father Of the dead boy.
MUST ADJUDGE HIM CRAZY.
Mr.. Richardson here took up the in
structons given to the jury. and said
ttat there was only one contingency In
which the jury could bring in verdict
OF not guilty, and that was in the event
they should be fully satisfied that when
WINNER stabbed young Thalhimer he
was crazy. and did not know what he
was doing Along with this the Com
monwealths Attorney spoke of the
calmness displayed by the prisoner after
he had killed the boy i'm so ruthless a
manner. He spoke Of Winners own
testimony regarding the killing, and Of
his statements about going. out for re-
Venge. The various points upon which
the testimony of the accused was broken
down were brought out and the insanity
plea was ridculed by Mr.. Richardson.
In the course OF his remarks Mr..
Richardson told a very pathetic story of
a friend whose daughter had been be-
trayed. and the father had sworn tos
kill the man who had done the act. but
thought IL over He thought OF the ex-
posure and of the shame for his daugh-
ter and family. He learned that the guilty
party was under age, and, with his
friend. Mr.. Richardson called to see the
young man. There was a calm talk. and
to-day the young couple are happy with
a sweet home and child.
Mr. Richardson's peroration was forci-
bic and eloquent. He thanked the jury
and the Court for the patience and
courtesy shown him. and said that he
was sure the men who had been select
ed to try that case would do their duty
and that he and all other citizens would
abide by their verdict and be satisfied.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
1t was 12:4O o'clock when the case was
given to the jury. Only a few members
OF tndI 0ONN ltli lutI Stdlsf dhA vi.
Smith suggested that they might not
want to retire Then Mr.. Burwell, Of
the Jury. asked the Court to define what
was cooling time. He wanted TO know
IL coming from Seventeenth street TO
Fifth and Broad streets could not be
construed as cooling time. but Judge
witt said that was a question for the
Jury to decide, and then at 12:45 the jury
retired.
At 1:22 o'clock the jury returned to
the court-chambeT. and the result was
apparent a verdict of mot guilty was
rendered I'm accordance with the usual
form. and Judge Witt calmly said: "Mr
WINNER. YOU are discharged" The Judge
then thanked the jurors for their patient
and careful attention to the testimony
and the argument in the case. and Tor
the ability and earnestness that they
had shown i'm it's consideration. Court
was then adjourned.
There were cheers outside OF the cham-
Der. and many rushed forward TO shake
ha ,ds with WINNER who, all the while
had remained almost motionless ana
ouiet He gave evidence of his grati-
tudc and said that he desired the news
naners TO thank ali his friends for the
kindness they had shown him since this
trouble came upon him. lie ana MS
family then left the courtroom, took a
carriage. and drove to their nome on
Seventeenth street.
1t was said by one OF the Jurors last
evening that two members Of the jury
favored light punishment, but that all
the others were for acquittal from the
time. the case was given to them. These
two. after going carefully over the in
structions. agreed with the others. The
ground upon which the verdict Of mot
guilty" was rendered was that'Wimmer
was not responsible for his acts on the
evening of September 7th-
The Norfolk jurors returned nome last
night.