Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-20
JURORS SPEAK OUT
They Condemn the Course
of Coione! Tabb.
JUSTICE TO HIS CLIENT
Sheriff Curtis and the Tall Man In Court.
Origin OF the G. "A. r. Trouble at the
Soldiers Home. John Skim
ner's Birthday.

The talk of the town yesterday wher-
ever one went was the sensational
COURTROOM episode of Tuesday evening
in which Colonel Thomas Tabb, the vet
efap attorney of this city, was the CEN
t1al figure. The occurrence, it is said by
those who arr. familiar with local judici-
al history, Is without parallel in the
annals Of Elizabeth City county The
general opinion is that Colonel Tabh
made a mistake. His purpose undbu BIT
the Ashby case. but it is held that in do
ing so he took desperate chances.
AS stated in yesterdays Pr,ss the jail
rors who took offense at the colonel's
remarks declared, SHORTLY after the ad-
1ournment of court, their intention to
bold an Indignation n1eeting, but after
listening to the advice of Common
weaNth's Attorney Collier abandoned
the idea, and. it was thought that the
matter would prove but a nine days
wonder and be forgotten.
Yesterday. however, its discussion wa 5
taken up with renewed vigor and it
was talked about on the streets, in the
StorsS and almost everywhere else
Members of the jury were twitted with
being incompetent, and with harboring
a desire to earn dollar by serving the
State. EARLY in thu day Colonel Ttabb
was called upon by one OF the Jurors
and asked for an explanation, and it is
said that he denied any intention. of re-
Meeting upon either the int lligence or
integrity OF his visitor or any. of his
associates. But despite the colonel's de-
niai the impression, prevailed that he
meant all that he said and the offended
jurors at once took steps to express
their lndlgna tom. As the members had
gone to their homes. thus rendering a
meeting out Of the question, one. of
tneir numrer was desIatch d to OBJ. a N
their signatures to the following paper:
We, the undersigned members of
the jury in the cast OF the Commru n
wealth against Ashby. feeling TINT we
We're unjustly criticised by Coone!
Thomas Tabb in his remarks to the
court ON the evening OF the 18th of jan
uiary. hereby take occasion TO publicly
express our indignation at sasd proceed
ans, and to express our condemnation of
the course pursued by Colonel Tabb in
lEdartcrly abusing anti trying to belit-
tie the fnteflI gence of jsNy which, hai
not at that time even had an opportanS:
ty Of EAssins on q Single point OF the
case.
"a. T. HULL, RID. HnPE
II: Q. JORDAN. F. NJ PHOEBUS,
GEO. saANT1MER, W. E. LEE,
II. l.. CROCKETT. D. NJ. GILBERT.
j. e McKHNSEY.
While 1T cannot be denied that Col
onel Tahb's action was both hasty and
dangerous, it is maintained by his
ftsnns that he meant no offense to the
gentlemen composing the jury after th5
retirement of Shelton, His purpose. az
above stated. was to secure a postpone
ment OF the cas-. and there was no bet
ter way to do it than to cause the. dis
charge Of the eleven men left in the box
As matter of fact ae knew that some
OF those sitting as jurors wsre doing SO
against their WILL that some were losing
money by being kept from their work
or their business and that all of them
1pr INT
and Impartial verdict in the chse.
1t IS far from The purpose of the Press
to influence public feeling an3 opinion
elthtr for or against Mr.. Ashby, but it
Is proper to say that Colonel Tabb's
mistake, if he has made one. should not
be charged to Mr.. Ashby's account
When the trial Us commenced in Febru-
airy let 1t proceed without prejudice. to
the unfortunate affair Of Tuesday last
but let it proceed.