The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-20
FOR KILLING HIS WIFE
THE JURY WAS OUT ONLY FIF-
TEEN MINUTES.
TRIAL OF MOORE FOR MURDER BEGINS
NSp' ciaI Jury empanneiI4d 10 Try Him. Case
Will be Pesumed TO day, He Killed
a Guard While Trying to
Make his Escape.
Make his Escape,

Ii Is rare sight in this county to
witness the trial Of two murdercrs on
the same day.
But the present term of Wake court
has been a remarkable one. Two murder
ers have been tried this week and
both have been convicted and sent to
the penitentiary-one for four years and
one for thirty. A criminal has expiated
his crime on the galIows, and yesterday
the trial of the third murderer was
begun.
Yesterday morning the trial of Alex.
Allen for the murder of his wife was
resumed, Judge George III. Brown, pre-
siding.
The case was concluded yesterday
afternoon at 3:45 and given to the jury,
which was composed of the following
gentlemen:
j. d. Partin d. G. Conn. T. C. Enniss,
\. B. Gardner, f. NJ. Martin, ]. e. Mas
sey. c. w. Lawrence, G. l.. Lorbacher,
I. A. Holland, w G. Norwood, w. L.
Moring and l.. u. WomHe.
These gentlemen were not long in ar
irving at verdict. In fifteen minutes
they fled back in the court room and
pronounced the accused. guilty.
The prisoner looked blan&ly at the jury
from his sunken eyes as the foreman
pronounced the fatal words He did not
show any outward signs of emotion, nor
did he when the judge pronounced SEN
tencc upon him. saying: Let the defend
ant be confined in the State prison at
hard labor for term of thirty years"
The evidence was soostrong, that Judge
Brown, turning to the jury said: Cen
tlemen, YOU have done your duty well"
Allen is negro about forty years old
and killed his wife on the night of last
December 23rd. 1t was most brutal
crime. TIE evidence showed that the mis-
creant strangled his wife to death by
placing a rope around her neck as she
lay in bed The testimony showed that
he had repeatedly beaten her, not less
than dozen times. He has no doubt
gotten his just deserts Allen and his
wife lived near the city. in the localitS
known as Watson's field.
Solicitor Pou was assisted in the prose-
cution, very ably, by Mr. Browne Shep-
herd.
Mr. Shepherd opened the argument be-
fore the jury for the tSate. 1t was a
splendid presentation, rejecting the
highest credit upon this young attorney.
1t was Mr.. Shepherds maiden speech
before jury and he was the recipient of
many compliments upon his successful
effort.
Messrs. r. c. Beckwith and Armistead
Jones followed Mr. Shepherd. and made
strong pleas for the prisoner. At the
conclusion of Mr.. Jones speech, court
took a recess for dinner.
When court convened in the afternoon
the argument was concluded by Solicitor
Pou. 1t is needless to say that the ar
gument was master one. There are
few prosecutors. or defenders for that
matter, who are equal to Solicitor Pou.
The case of Willard +. Moore for
murder, in the first degree, was imme-
diately taken up by the court.
Messrs. w. r. Snow and Il. y Simms.
counsel for The defendant, who were APP
pointed hy the court to defend Moore,
asked fer n continuance of the case I'M
til the March term upon the ground that
they had had less than four days to pre-
pare the case. had been unable to have
instanter capiases for material witnesses
served because some of the witnesses
could not be found in such a short time.
and lastly, because they had not been
able to examine Il States witness until
noon to-day.
Solicitor Pou said that the State did
not desire TO take advantage of the
prisoner and the counsel could exam
inc witnesses at night.
The work of selecting the jury was
then begun. 1t was selected from a
special venire of fifty and is rs follows:
+. G. Enniss. f. NJ. Dickson, W, G..
Jones, ID. c. Beck. j. G. Sanders. c.. T..
Hester, w. y. Lilies, w. $. Holden, T..
Broadwell, ]. II. Harp, Thos. Estes ana
T. A. Holland
The following witnesses were intro
duced by the State: DIR. j. j. l.. Me-
Cullers, coroner; j. NJ. Temple and Jno.
f. McKernon, the latter two being at
the killing. With the conclusion of
the testimony of these witnesses court
took Il recess till to-day ut 9:30 O'Clock.
The gun with which the killing was
done was exhibited in courr. 1t is an
ordinary. double-barrel shot gun.
Moore is the convict who made dash
for liberty on October 10Th, 1898, while
Mt work with squad of cOnvicts on the
Raleigh and Cape Fear Railroad, ut a
point a few miles from this city. he
secured Il gun when he made the break
and when they gained on him he fired
and Killed one Of the number by the
name of Shaw. The other guards cap
tured him.