Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-26
THE TRIAL
OF BAPTIST
CHARGED WITH MUIR.
DER.
The Scene in the Court Room

kI6nheO DhQllbb was pIOukhb tntO
court in the custody OF the sheriff.
I,ost nieht was unusually quiet in the
town, and the soldiers with the prison.
er spent the night undisturbed in the
court. room. as the Jail is not suits BILE
for the accommodation OF the military
After the sheriff had made the usual
proclamation, the jury was empsneled
and tho witness sworn. The jury is an
intelligent body Of men. A military
company in q courtroom is q rare sight
in a Vir1inia court, but this is the case
today in one OF the courts OF Mecklen-
burg. Such q scene as this looks
strange in 9 court of justice.
At the opening OF the court Oom-
mouweslth's g Attorney E. 9. Goode, the
prohecutor, announced that he was
ready for trial. and ut the request Of
the court, Mr.. Harry Smith rs serving
as counsel for Baptist.
COURTROOM CROWDED.
The court room is fairly crowded
with spectators. The prisoner is
rather q bad looking man, and appears
unconcerned as to what is going on.
he is surrounded in the prisoners
dock by q squad Of soldiers. The Com
, monweaith's witnesses are sworn aud
the trial 10 now going on
xscoRTED By STATE TROOPS.
BoYpToN, Va, May 22.-Specisl.-In
the case OF Stephen Baptist the judge,
indeed, the entire court, together with
the detail Of soldiers and the prisoner,
with his counsel, left here this after
noon by rail for Buffalo Lithis Springs,
to visit the spot where the dead body
of Uncle Peter Jon 9 was iound on that
fatal day Sunday morning, and further
that they may hear the evidence of
old Miss Jones, the aged sister Of the
murdered man, who is too infrm TO at
tend court. They vill re turn tonight
ON the train which passes here be-
tween,8 and o'clock.
There were quite number OF witness
es examined this morning, and portion
Of the evidence WAS quite damaging to
she prisoner.
EVIDENCE cIRoUMsTARTfAL.
All the evidence lie purely eircum-
ssantial, but it is claimed that when it
is all In it will weave an unbroken
chain OF evidence SO convincing rs to
leave no doubt in the minds of the iu-
~ Of the guilt OF the prisoner.
The examination Of witnesses will be
resumed tomorrow, and the case will
not probably reach the jury before
Thursday. The prisoner 10 guarded
with the same vigilance az though q
death watch was placed over him. I
think he rather enjoys his notoriety
that is being given him, as his air is
that OF great Importance.
MUST HAvR FAIR TRIAL.
"A large crowd attended the trial in
the forenoon, but in the court room ey-
.erything was orderly and quiet. A
guard lie kept constantly at the court
house door, and the strictest orders
are given by the court to prevent any
intercourse between the jury and the
people. The judge, in his order, laid
great stress upon the Importance of
the prisoners having fair and impair
tial trial. Commonwealth Attorney
,Goode is sitting closely every word OF
the evidence, and is prosecuting the
case with great vigor.
BoYDToN. Va. Nay 23.-Ths jury and
court officers andahe military connect
ed with the Baptist trial were up near.
u all of last night. They returned
here this morning just before day and
neither the jury nor the military
were really in any condition for work
They reached BOffalo Lithia Springs
between and 4 o'clock. having driven
over from ClarksVille in vehicles. A
large crowd from that immediate
neighborhood and from many miles of
the surrounding country was in wait
ing. How these people got the news
of this move, On the part OF the court,
is mystery. for the citizens OF Boyd
ton did not even know of it. The
crowd seemed o god deal excited
when they saw the prisoner and it is
the opinion Of the officers that, but for
tie presence of the military an at
temps would have been made to take
Baptist.
DRMoNsTRATIoNs.
As IL was, quite umber Of persons
made threatening demonstration, but
realizing that the game was not
worth the cost," decided to desist.
The jury viewed the ground where the
murder occurred. They also examined
several witnesses, among them Mr..
Jones's slater Miss Polly Jones. This
old lsdy's statement was vague,
owing to her advanced age, and her tes-
timony cannot be relied upon before
the jury. The Judge remained over in
Clerksville last night.
The military said they we're broken
down from two nights loss OF lsleep.
There are but two lawyers engaged ia
the case, but Judge Homes has had ey-
cry Tact Of importance brought before