Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-01-09
The Slayer of We!ton Given Ten
Years in Prison.
a History oftho Crimo Other Court
Matters Disposed Brother OF an
Alleged Murderer rut Under
nonds-Dcaths-Po
Especial to virginian-Pilot.)


county jury to-day avenged the death
Of John Melton by giving James Willie
Lawrence. his slayer, ten years in
States prison. Lawrence must have
been born under q lucky star and at
the right phase of the moon. He should
be very thankful for having his neck
saved.
Ills spinal integrity will be main
tanned because the State could not cs-
tablish malice, and for the further rea-
son that the defendant was drunk at
the time. 1ntoXicatlon is held here as
sn eXtenuating circumstance in some
murder trials. Lawrence had drank
gin to the point of responsibility. He
was defended by Judge r. II. Rawles
TILE CRIME.
Melton met death in a lonely road
near Wyanoke ferry December 90, OF
last year. He was riding in a cart with
Two companions, when Lawrence ap-
preached with n gun and shot him in
the head. The defendant had previous
~ fired a shot into the nearby forest.
when arrested Lawrence denied being
mad with Melton. and also said 1t was
not he who did the shooting. To-days
evidence banshed the latter PROPOSE
|tion.
TRUE BILLS FOUND.
The grand jury reported the follow
ing findings, all true:
Lewis Randall, breaking into Wartley
fwaltneys house; Sam Wilson, a dit
to offense against e. S. Norneet's resi-
dence; Nelson Williams, doing the same
thing to Joshua Richards domicile;
RnCS Of
tended victim being James Jones.
Wilson got two years for his lob.
John B. Primer qualified as a notary
public.
Julian II. Milteer was fixed to marry
people, he being a colored preacher in
the Christian Church. Bond was given
in $500, with John Holmes and Sarah
Boone as sureties.
Court will be In session again to-
lmorrow.
GILLTGAN HARD TO TAKE.
Jim Gilligan, in Isle of Wight county,
has been put under bond because he
threatened the lives of those most ac-
tive in helping the authorities to run
| down his brother, A. c. Gilligan, ac-
cused of numbering C. Beverly Tur-
| ner, father of the young girl who
scorned his love-
| l. OslhihSbCA tOlt IIic 10 -uaY NIllll-
| gan had been seen several times: 1t is
believed that the extent OF his fight
has been limited to very few counties,
and that he has been the recipient of
| food and comfort from sources not re-
mote from the scene of the murder
| Because of Gilligan's known despera-
ton and the avowed vindictiveness of
| friends he is not an attractive propo-
sition to the average unarmed citizen,
q mi n ~ AL Co., 1.t 49,, Il
TWO LADIES CROSS OVER.
Mrs. Sarah IG. Croker died at G
! o'clock this evening at the home OF a
son. Joseph w. Crocker, No. 43 Kilby
street aged ~ years. She had been i'll
just a week with pneumonia. She was
a member of the Christian Church
from which the funeral will be held to-
morrow.
The deceased was the relict Of the
late Alexander Crocker. She leaves
three sons, all grown-Joseph W., Jas.
c. and Benjamin Crocker.
MISS MANSFIELD.
Miss Kate Mansfield died at 11:2o
| O'Clock Sunday morning at her home.
No. 10 Wcllons street. She had been an
invalid for many years. The funeral
was held to-day from st. Paul's P. Z.
| SiurcH, rev. d. Is. Dunn, rector, Off
| ciSting. Miss Mansfield was a commu
meant. She was about "A years old.
| The deceased was a sister OF Mrs. T.
e. Chopper and Mrs. Josephine AIRING
ton. both of Suffolk.
STANDS FRIENDS ACTIVE.
| Democratic Chairman John c. Par
kcr and Sheriff ]. w Williams. Of
Southampton county, and John l.. Law
renee, of Isle OF Wight county. left to-
night for Richmond They 70 to work
for Senator Stands before the commit
| tee which will decide as to his eligibili
| ty in II Democratic caucus. judge ]. b.
| Prince was detained at home because
of the illness of his daughter Miss
Bessie. He and the Hons. A. NJ. Brown
| ley and J. benson Pretlow all expect to
appear before the committee. which
| Will begin work a p. IN. Tomorrow
PARAGRAPHS
| Misses Bette and Pattie Williams. of
| CORTLAND. who had been home for the
holidays, left to-day TO resume school
work at Petersburg
| Miss Hattie Parker Sunday gave n
5 O'Clock tea at her home. on Brooklyn
| Heights. 1t was complimentary to Miss
| Elizabeth Brownley Odom, who left to-
| day for her home in Pinetown, N. c.
| Postmaster Ben +. Gay, of Smithficld
was in Suffolk to-day on business con-
nccted with the administration of his
late fathers estate
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