The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-01
MECKLENBURG'S
MURDER CASES.
The Trial of Bob Sturdiyant for Kill
ing Turner liggettS,
IT WAS A GREAT LEGAL BATTLE,
The Trial Lasted Four Days and He
Was Found Guilty of Murder i'm the
Second Degrec-Hite Has Been
Sent on TO the Grand jury.

BOYDTON, VA, April 3O.-SpeciaL-
The trial of Robert Sturdvant for the
burden OF Turner Jiggetts was begun
in the County Court Of Mecklen0urS
Tuesday. Mcssrs. c. J. Baskerville and
c. J. Faulkner represented the prisoner
and Z. C.. Goode the Commonwealth.
The prisoner is a very intelligent look
ing mulatto, forty years Old He mas
q good expression and when asked by the
clerk If guilty or not guilty replied
with q steady voice, mot guilty. lie
Is dressed in q neat suit of black with
n sporless white shirt and collar and any
one would think 20 look at him that ne
was dressed to be married, rather imam
on trial for his life. H.,
Tho prisoner and Turner Jiggetts, HVed
on the same farm. on December 'V'H'
Sturdivant saw Jlggetts throwing stones
at one of hts hogs. Sturdivant went 10
Jige4tts and demonstrated with him, Jls'
getts said 10 Sturdiyant. III you alg
here for a difficulty with me you iai
better go back h0me' StufulNdnt VIZ ~
left Jiggetts premises but soon returned
taking his gun ana telling MS 49,
yos going 20 Mr.. Codins. neisnDoi'
who lived beyond Jiggetts house. SUR
divsnt I'm passing Jigsetts' house iouhu
him at mis- stable. the difficulty was re-
newed when SurdNaut fired upon jig
getts with his gun. ,-
NUrRDERED MANS WIDOW.
The drst witness for the Common.
wealth was Eliza Jlggetts the Woo" OF
Tho murdered man. She was an ele
witness 10 tho killing ana stated SUI"
stanti3llv the facts as already given.
rbo diving declaration of the murdered
man was read 20 the jury. I'm TINS state
mont TTggetfs said that after tho iIs'
quarrel Sturdevaut Went % ms own
homo and returned with his gun ana re-
rov,ad Tho difficulty. and shot him as ne
U,as descending on the ladder from inc
stable loft. that he JiggettD was no'
mad and was not expecting "a ulillCul-s 4,
Bob Sturdivant the prisoner t's'Il ~.
o.. rorsiJarable length. and under tne
irving cross examination 10 WHICH
WIS subjected. he maintained hlinatll
,,itb ease and 20 all appearances WIKI
trufbfuIness and fairness. and ne so nm
messed those I'm attendance. He mace
ma denial OF shooting. but said mat ne
did so to defend himself from great bodliy
harm which he believed Jlgeetts lhle lu-
ed doing him. as he was a pow erIul,s
built man and greatly superior i'll
strength TO him.
LEGAL BATTLE.
The great battle by counsel was INC
,,d5icaI expert testimony. as very much
depended upon that evidence. A.,
Bob sturdivant. after four days tIial'
was found guilty Of murder IN the sec sec.
ond degree by the jury at o'clock lasl
Dtgbt This has been a hard-fought Legal
battle and every technicality Of the Ia"
,.bich couId be turned TO their advan-
tage by counsel - Ia,
The argument lasted nearly all DAY
..-i..o,.1o,, several members of the jury
Mere ere, taken take sick yesterday and the court
had to adjourn twice during the day IN
consequence of the illness OF one Oh inc
jurors. -, went. r,o,,.
ors last Tuesday. has been indicted by the
Grand Jury and the nth Of MAY tNed by
the court for his trial. He maintains a
stolid indifference 20 the diaooiical CRIME
he has committed. Great indignation is
fel- here over the tragedy and me peo-
pie request that he have speedy trial'