The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-27
ACQUITTAL OF THE
CHARGEOF MURDER
An Exciting Trial in the Court of
Giles County.
KILLED HIS SON IN = LAW,
The Wife of the Man who was Killed
Mortgaged the Farm TO Prosecute
Her Father. but Afterwards
Tried TO Acquit Him.

HARRISBURG. VA, January 2l-Spe-
cial.-The most exciting trial which has
taken place IN Giles county In thirty
years was ended tonight when the jury
brought in a verdict Of mot guilty" IN
the case Of Commonwealth VI. John ;.
Lawson, who was charged with the
murder OF his son-in-law, j. +. McCrOs-
key, on July 4, 1895
The Commonwealth attorney was as
sisted by Robert y. French. Esq, OF
Bland Courthouse and Colonel J. NJ.
French, Of this bar and the prisoner
was defended by the following well known
law firms and lawyers: Williams Brothers
& Porterhed, Johnston & Williams,
Judge George p. Cassell. Of the Corpora
ton Court Of Radforj. Colonel J. b. Peck
and y. O. Hardwicke. Esq. The trial
developed into a legal battle. which was
wagei hercely until the end.
HISTORY or THE CASE.
The circumstances attending the muir
der make it OF unusual interest. Nc
Croskey was the son-in-law Of Lawson.
having married his oldest daughter about
eleven days before the murder. Lawson
opposed the marriage but afterwards
became recOnciled and invited the run
aways home
The trouble between them arose over
a small piece Of land which Lawson had
bought and decided to his Oldest daugh-
ter. who became the wife Of McCroskey.
10 seems that It was the intention OF
Lawson that the lani should be a home
for his two daughters, and when the
older married he requested that she and
her husband convey one half interest
10 the younger daughter, which was
agreed 70. but afterwards McCroskey re-
i H,f fs,fr Ia IS
wfe's younger sister and attempted 10
drive Lawson from the land.
THREAT IF MURDER.
on the morning Of the murder ne MADE
several threats that he would Kill Law
son before night and went TO his home
about o'clock and ran him un1er shell
ter and about O'Clock he returned and
opened fire with pistols on the younger
daughter. Lawson, who was lying IN the
house on the bed. came 20 her rescue
and McCroskey opened on him. and after
several exchanges Of shots McCroskey
fell.
Public sentiment is strongly with Law
son. as IL was thought that McCroskey
was al fault in going 70 Lawsons house
and beginning Ere on the girl
When the jury brought in a verdict OF
mot guilty there was great applause
UT lllt court IupLN, ana Afterwards Law
son was forced 10 hold an informal recep-
ton i'm his room at the hotel TO shake
hands with the large number who came
10 congratulate him and 10 express their
qualification at the successful termination
Of the trial. Among those who called
were the members Of the jury that tried
his case.
FAITHFUL DAUGHTER
What lei TO unusual interest In the
case in the beginning was the fact that
Lawson daughter, McCroskey's wife.
mortgaged the home her father gave her
TO employ counsel 10 help prosecute her
father. but she afterwards reconsidered
her action and dismissed her counsel
and did all she could 10 acquit her father
The trial was begun on Thursday the
18TH and was carried on continuously
until tonight. There were thirty or
forty witnesses summoned on each side
and some Of the testimony was exciting
The jury was out about twenty min
utes, and ] have heard that there was
not a dissenting voice. All were OF
opinion that Lawson was entirely iusii-
fable and had acted in self-defence.