The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-20
ALBERT GU!NTLEY
WAS DlsC, nARGED
He Was Acquitted of the Charge of
Numbering Policeman Austin.
The JURY OUT THREE MINUTES
Commonwcalth'sAt Attorney Richardson
Said the Evidence Was Not suf-
fcicnt to Warrant
Conviction.

Alpert Guntley, the young Danville ne
gro. who had been on trial two days on
the charge of having murdered Policeman
Robert ID. Austin, on Monday morning,
April nth. 1895. was. at the suggestion OF
commemorative Attorney Richardson,
ACQUITTED of the charge yesterday evening
at o'clock.
The morning had been consum ID by
witnesses for the defence. wno ciear'y
proved an alfbi, and in the afternoon a
witness for the Go n uonwealth, WHO bad
volunteered his scr .ces. was heard.
The impression in the courtroom after
all the evidence had been given, was that
the accused would be acquitted. and there
was little surprise at the action of the
Commemorative Attorney and the jury.
The prisoner smiled broadly when he
heard the words mot guilty, and some
of the Danville witnesses. whose mission
here was not in vain, created 4 little eA-
element. Aside from this every-hi::s: s
orderly, and Dennis Rowe, the negro rEo
is alleged TO have ceel respo: si;,ic for HE
whole thing, and who had been IN stten-
tive listener during the entire proceedings,
arose and quietly walked nut.
AT the conclusion OF the examination
the Commemorative Attorney arose and
addressed the jury.
ASKED FOR ACQU1TTAL.
He said that the case was a most i'm
portant one. and that he had as his assis-
tant one of the abiest lawyers in the
State, referring to Captain George d.
Wise. All resources had been exhausted
in the case. The Commonwealth. wanted
to bring the murderer OF Policeman Austin
10 justice, but at the same time it did not
wish to convict an innocent man.
You have the testimony of one wit
ness, Albert Thomas Mr.. Richardson
said. who stated that he was positive
IL. hos G yy
the morning OF the shooting. and you have
The last witness On the other hand the
defence has introduced testimony in sub
sanitation of its claims to an alibi This
evidence YOU may consider asd weigh
IN your own minds.
..AR anxious as We are to punish the
murderer. ] cannot say That we are salts
fed with the testimony here given. and
cannot recommend that you find the ac-
cused guilty as charged in the Indictment
] have reached this conclusion after con-
sultation with the able counsel who has
assisted me- / leave the cause in your
hands"
The jury retired to their room, and in
three minutes they returned with a Feioict
of mot guilty.
JUDGE WITT AGREED.
Judge Witt, in discharsing the jury.
said that he entirely agreed with the
statement made by the Commonwealth s
Attorney, and that no other verdict could
nave been given in view. of the evidence.
The Commonwealth Attorney, altet
the case had been disposed of, said that
abou1 a month ago Arthur Thomas, the
main prosecuting witness. had made the
following statement in his office:
.,J couldn't say exactly positive thal ne
IS the man. but To the best OF my Know
edge he is certainly the man. SO lar as
my knowledge goes.
In his testimony from the witness chair
on Monday ne swore posltiVel! tual 'tie
accused WAS the man.
The witnesses for the defence from
Danyille. We're owing TO their inaoilits
to pay their own expenses and 1are, sum
1noned by the Commonwealth. ana t'es
were each allowed the necessary mileage.
rrhis was done by Judge Witt, after con-
r,,ltation with Judges of the Supreme
Court and Auditor Marye, who befeVed
that under the circumstances OF the~lil-
,,ortance of the case, the State should
secure the attendance of the witnesses.
THE DANNILLE WITNESSES.
Those who testified for the defence at
the morning session S. luas 49,
Emma Trimmer. Jane Richer, Lizzie
15am-tt+. priscilla Steel, Mary Hamlet,
Auer womack and Toney Maple. me
evidence proved that the accused was
an Danviie on the day of the murder.
The evidence of Mr.. c. S. Walters, OF
the PenlE,ertpn and Penn aactois' W
nanyflle. and James Watkins, OF the
same factory, for the prosecution. show
"a that the accused was in Danville on
the 1ath of April, 1898. and was employed
at that factory.
The last witness introduced was Thomas
Hs,,kns. a negro. who volunteered the
statement that he had seen the ACCUSED
in Richmond number oil unleS peIoie
+ne murder. but had not seen him since.
The Danville witnesses will return this
morning.
pense to the State.