Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-07
A LYNCHBURC JURY.
Hill City Men TO Try the
PiIkinton Case,
A SPECIAL vENIRE ORDERED,
POWhatan Can Supply But Nine Comps
tent Jufymen.
ADJOURNMENT UNTIL TUESDAY.
After Examining Fifty-seven We
niremen and Securing SIX, judge
Miller Despairs of Getting n Lo-
cal Jury.

| POWHATAN COURTHOUSE, VA, Oc-
tober 6-(speclal)-It is impossible TO Sc
cure jury in Powhatan to try W. u. FlF
| kinton. who stands indicted for Killing
! State-Senator ". NJ. Flanagan.
This was made manifest to-day, and
| Judge Miller ordered that a venire OF
thirty be secured from Lynchburg, and
! adjourned his court until - O'Clock Tues
day morning, when the yeniremen from
| the Hill City will be in court.
out OF the venire OF sixty from this
county ordered Wednesday, six panelmen
were secured, making the total number
Of those thus far found competent to pass
on Mr.. Pihntons guilt or innocence
nine. Seven more are necessary 10 com
plete the panel. and this number. 1t Is
Thought. there will be no difficulty in Sc
curing from the venire to be gotten from
! Lynchburg.
The venirc Of sixty gotten together in
| Powhatan was disposed of most eXpedi-
tiously to-day. 1t was nearly 3 O'Clock
when court assembled, and ifty-seyen OF
the veniremen answered 70 their names.
! They were examined in rapid succession.
and AZ AIS. Just early enough for the
Richmond lawyers TO catch the train for
| their homes. the work was concluded ana
| court adjourned.
! HAD CONSCIENTIOUS SCRUPLES.
| There were several rather amusing dia-
logues between some Of the Veniremen
and the attorneys Seven of the ftty-
| seven had conscientious scruples against
| tho inniction of capital punishment. TWO
| had no such scruples and expressed the
belief that they could give the accused a
| fair trial. though admitting that they had
| formed and expressed opinions; six wehe
found TO be qualified for the service de-
| sired, and the remaining forty-two had
fixed opinions. which the majority en-
! phatically declared could not be removed,
| even by evidence.
Mr.. Pnklnton entered the COURTROOM
! shortly after the Judge ascended the
| bench. and took his scat by his counsel,
| with whom he frequently held whispered
| conferences. He was looking pale, and
| seemed exceedingly nervous. The strain
under which he is laboring has told and
is telling on him very peroepubly.
The NENIkB.
As soon as Dir. Pilkinton entered the
courtroom TIE yenire Of sixty was called.
and tho following gentlemen responded
| to their names: Charles Wynham, c. 5.
Rudd. George ID. Moseley b. G.. Hopkins,
o. q. GooGe, j. J.. Crump, W. L. Ken
| non. r. A. Justis T.. B. Scott. G. ).
| scott. f. &. Nichols ii. b. Amos, G. II.
| Simpson. John T. Utley, r. II. sledd, s.
A. Slcdd Il. j. Clements, j. j. Martin. L.
| *. Worsham. $. w. owen, T. f. Mayo,
|
! Clements. II. l.. Pierce T.. 3. Jones, +.
l.. Jones. j. G. Wuburn, J. II. Eanes,
VI. s. Royal, A. 4. Rudd. s. A Walthall,
| Leroy Flippen. Thomas Gills 4. a. Gray,
| r. G.. Porter Il. T.. Goodman, J. II.
Goodman. Eugene Shuart. J.. G. IAwton,
j. S. r. Burwel. Il. H. Hurt T. +. Al
len. j. b. Cox. ". 4. Allen, Ed. Garrett,
II. c. Stokes. Walter Parker, j. II. Wray,
J. r. Wilkinson. j. Ii. Bradley John Gil
liam. L. i. Word. j. G.. Jorday, Edwin
Hicks. George y. Martin, and NJ l..
! Hicks.
THOSE FOUND COMPETENT.
Those who were accepted were: NJ s.
Royal. who lives twelve miles west OF
the court house. and had heard nothing
Of the case save what he had read in the
| Dispatch; T. a. Gray, Of Bailsville who
had discussed the case "a great deal. but
had formed no opinion; II. II. Hurt, OF
Ballsville. who had heard but little OF the
case: T. T. Allen who lives on the amelia
line. and knew nothing except what he
had learned through the columns of the
Dispatch: W. A. Allen, who lives On the
| Cumberland line and had neither read
nor heard Of The case, save the bare fact
| that the shooting had taken place, and
Mr.. Eugene Shuart who lives at Belona.
ONE OF THEM.
| Mr.. Shuart, when asked IL he had any
| opinion as 10 the case, replied: None.
except that Pilkinton was too forward in
drawing pistol in crowd"
What do you mean by forward
asked Mr.. Smith.
Il mean that no didn't know where his
bullet was going to hit"
III We should prove that he shot in
| self defence would you think he did
| wrong2" queried Mr.. smith.
No: should have done the same thing
| if i'm self-defence," was the reply.
I'VE will accept this man." said Mr..
| Smith with smile.
| Mr.. Allan for the prosecution. next
| took the venreman in hand, and showed
that Shuart was at the Courthouse on
July 3D. and arrived shortly after the
tragedy. The Court, however. thought
Mr. Shuart competent juror, and he
was accepted.
TWO REJECTED ONES.
Mr. Walter Parker thought he was com
petent to serve on the jury, but
Mr. Smith disagreed with him, and Mr.
i. f. Mayo thought he was competent
while Mr.. Allan thought otherwise. BY
agreement between counsel both were
rejected, and thus the venire was eX-
hausted
THE COURTS VIEW.
Judge Miller then stated that he HAD
carefully gone over the poll-books for
suitable names. and did not believe an
other man could be secured in Powhatan
who was competent to serve on the
Jury. Counsel on both sides agreed with
him and then il was that Sheriff Baugh
was instructed TO so TO Lynchburg for a
special venire OF thirty.
There is great interest in the county
concerning the case. and sentiment APP
nears TO be equally divided as 20 whether
Mr. P0kinton should be convicted or ac-
quilted. The sentiment seems TO be di-
yided along political lines. the Demo
Gratis siding with Pilkinton, and the Re
pubHcans expressing themselves against
him.
The case will undoubtedly be long
drawn out. and the legal battle will be an
| interesting one. counsel on each side be
ing determined 10 fight TO the bitter end
The defence has secured tho services OF
Mr.. phil. " Cogbill. OF Chesterfield. 10
ala Messrs Wise and Smith, and Mr.
Edgar Allan Jr.. has been been asso-