The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-16
The Ex-hssstant Fire Chief Gets Three
Months In Jail
FOR A FfLORIOUS ASSAULT ON RYAN.
only Two Witnesses introduced h.,
the Commemorative Question
"i Malicious :utent--Thc Ar-u.
meats OF G0uttscl-rhc Prisoners
Gooh Character,

|
on on the charge OF fcloniously shooting
Chief A1artin J. Ryan on New Ycor's
| Day last. - .
| The case was called III the Corpora
| ''on Court with Judge Allan r. Hanckcl
on the bench at 10 80 o'clock. The cnnr.
room was well filled with spectators
while many members OF the bars sat in
side the rail Interested spectators.
| ne aged prisoner sat at Il table in
| 'front.' OF Judge Hanckel He was al
tehdcd ny his two sons. Col l.. ID.
Siaikc ably conducted Captain Woods
defense, while the prosecution was ren
! itSeEtc;: by commemorative Attorney
Duncan.
The following was the iury selected: ::
robert Johnson, George c. Bilups, "
Al. Hannah, John McWhcrter. c. G.
AlcliS. X. :. Dawson, l.. y. Smith, Fred
| tictchcr, Il. y. Colnick j. Thomas
| 'reilc. j. Hugh Henry ana 4. p. Pan
MI, ?crcy II. Jones. Brooke Taylor. ]
| II. i'urgess. Jr., and +. j. Deane, of the
Nenrc. were excused.
Clerk Dupuy read the Indictment, ana
Captain Wood upon being told to stand
| NJ. plead not guilty
Sni"nel Starke demurred To the indict-
mont, disG'aiming malicious intent on
the part of Captain Wood.
CiiiEF RYAN ON THE STAND.
The first witness placed on The stand
was Martin j. Ryan, Chief of tile Fire
i'epnrtmert. who reviewed thc causes
| leading up 10 the suspension Of his as
sisi3nt on New Years Day, when n,. naJ
E2CriNea reformation OF the intoxicated
condition of Mr.. Wood, and had. there
fore, issued orders TO exclude from the
! c &inc-houSe any one under the inilu-
cncc Of liquor.
lie was talking With Captain Wcbbcr
aiter reporting the matter to the Mayor
when Wood approached and asked II he
hAd ordered him barred from the en-
2inc-housc. When he answered a1iirma-
tFc.E the assistant chief became excited
ana rs he turned away. he heard the
report OF pistol. The first shot went
Wild, but the second struck him in the
pach. ami as he ran FOR shelter another
bullet struck him in the leg. He thought
ahout tive Shots We're tired.
Colonel Starkc cross examined the
witness. who disclaimeu harboring
malice against Wood either before on
after the Shooting
/ Detective Snowdcn than told how ir
saw Wood, who did not appear TO be
very drunk. come up ana speak TO Ryan; ;
| he heard n shot, and turning, saw Wood
iilinG rs he went He then rushed up
ana seized Ryau'S aSsailant and took
him 10 tho station-housc.
These two We're the only witnesses in
irounccd by the Commonwealth.
THE PRISONERS TESTIMONY.
The prisoner then took the stand in
his own defense. lie had, he said, been
a resident OF Norfolk for 1ifty-cight
years, during all Of which time he had
never before been ;trraigned in court.
On The day Of The shooting a friend of
hiI had given him gallon of whiskey
Of which he drank immO:lcrately He
had no malice toward Ryan and was
.freSnonsiblc when he committed the
iasty act.
lie remembered nothing Of the occur
renee except after The shooting while
nc was at the station he was asked
something about n lawyer. While giving
his Testimony the strain proved TOO
much for him and nc broke down COM
n!eteiy, but quickly recovered his COM
noSurc.
Cross examined by the Common
that he could not recall the motive that
actuStc0 him at the moment OF the
shooting.
Juror Johnston asked If he was in the
habit of carrying revolver and how it
happened that ne had one the day OF
the shooting
~ cannot explain now it came into my
Possession replied the ex-aSSist;n
chief.
CAPT. WOODS GOOD RECORD.
y number OF prominent citizens were
introduced Ia prove the good cnaractc.
OF Captain Wood.
Ex-Chfef Of the Fire Department,
Thomas Kcvi!l said that he had known
the prisoner from boyh0od; that he was
associated with him in an official cara-
city for years, a3G th!t his character
was good.
NlcssrS. Benton y. Thomas. ". y. +.
Slaugh ter. James Jordan and others also
rendered. strong testimony TO the Same
effect.
TIE ARGUMENT.
Colonel Starkc, in his speech to the
jury, dwclt upon the responsibility OF
his client at The time OF the shoe ing,
owing 20 his intoxicated condition. Ha
also emphasized the prisoners previous
good character in the community, as
testified to by prominent citizens.
Commonwcnlth's Attorney Duncan
admitted the weight Of the argument
concerning the prisoners good recard.
hut contendcd that the prisoner could
not be held Guiltlns:5 because he was
dunk lie held that there mus: !.aye
been intent. which, had Cup.&in Weed
| remained sober, @0uid probably never
| have found expression In an unlawful
iact.
rh:s t}osad :hc argument and The
Court IN: truce! tSe .}lE.t ,iia r: ti3 .s;y
for them % consider II regard nsf m