Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-15
DANVILLE'S TRAGEDY
THE QUICK TRIAL AND CONVICTION
OF IDA sKEES.
The woman who Gave Deputy
c,t.. Murderer the Pistoi-Ver-
dict Of Eighteen Years I'm the fcni-
,cnt,ary-Other Danviiie News

pANVTLLE. VA. March H.-(SpeciaL)
,t..e.or-pol,ce Green williams returned
from Halifax county bright ana carry
,,s,ordav morning with a venire OF
,,r,rtv-four men, whom he had secured
,,~oygh the proper officials Of that coun-
-. The work Of selecting jury OF
,,elye men TO try Ida Skeen, the negress
,,licted as an accessory to the killing OF
pcrutv-Sherlr W. A. Cook. was begun
,,3 soon the following were chosen: b..
7 crimth. A. L. Watkins. j. II. Mebane.
Moore. T. j.. Chandler, w. a. Pet
80 r. Talley. J. w. Martin. A. A.
Cr,,,,.v ". a. Gray. c. A. Nesbitt, and
S. ~. Morris
number Of witnesses had been sum
,,or,3 on both sides. and the taking Of
,,,iarce was az once commenced. The
c.rmonwealth proved the purchasing Of
ne rIsiol by the prisoner; that when 1t
us purchased it was loaded. and that
.,o passed the pistol to Evans. Cook 5
,oyrierer. by tying II 10 a string made
f,om the bed clothing In Jail, and thrown
f-.-1 a rear window In that institution.
IyiJeuce also very damaging to the ac-
r,sel was given by several of the pri-
s1refs confined in jail with her rs TO adj
missions made in their presence by the
prisoner herself.
ADMITTED 1T.
The prisoner when put on the stand,
admitted purchasing the pistol and get
ting 10 to Evans, but said II was given
him for the purpose of protecting him
self from a prisoner in the jail. She fur
Their said she tried to find Mr.. Cook to
give him the pistol to give TO Evans. but
being unable to do So went around TO
the hack Of the prison and tied it to the
Itriug.
At the conclusion OF the woman's eff
deuce about 1870 L. NJ. one Of the juroiS
stated he was unwell. and court ad-
j0uraed TO this morning at o'clock
FOUND GUILTY.
Immediately after the Judge had
assembled the bench the jury had been
seated. and order restored. argument of
counsel was begun The prisoner was
defended by Colonies i. .. Withers and
J.. c. Berkeley. and prosecuted by Com
Inonwealth s-Attorney y. III. Massie.
The case was given TO the jury little
after l o'clock. and at O'Clock IA verdict
was rendered. fixing her punishment at
eighteen years in the penitentiary. Coun-
spl moved for a new trial. Ida Skeen, the
magnitude Of her punishment When
taken 10 jail she told her sister TO keep
Der clothes together for her until she
came back home
MEASLES.
So epidemic Of measles seems TO be
prevailing In Neapois. In some Instances
whole families of five to seven persons
alr down with the disease. IL is also
proving fatal. three deaths occurring yes
trfly The authorities and physicians
g'a doing all in their power 10 stamp it
QUE but their labors appear TO be fruit
JESS.
Row. DR. r. n. Sledd. pastor OF Main
Street Methodist Episcopal church, will
hold prayer services next week prepara-
tory TO revival services the week after.
Iicv. Mr. Maxey. his nephew, and a mem
Der of the Virginia Conference. Will as
sist his uncle.
Danville Senate OF the Ancient order
OF Essenic knights was organized here
tonight, with a membership of more than
d hundred.