The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-01
MURDER IN THE
FIRST DEGREE
William Woodson May Hang for His
Crime.
JURY OUT BUT A SHORT WHILE.
Plea OF the Defense Was Insanity. but
the Record Of the Man Did Not
Bear 1t Out-Motion for
u New Trial.
JURY OUT BUT A SHORT WHILE

William Woodson, the negro who on May
10th killed a fellow convict named Ambrose
Ferrebee, while the two were at work in
the shoe-shop Of the penitentiary, will, in
al! probability, hang for his crime.
He was found guilty, in the City Circuit
Court yesterday afternoon, of murder in
the first degree, and was remanded to the
custody of the Superintendent OF the peni-
tertiary, pending the preparation of bill
of exception by counsel for Woodson, Mr..
Roy Lewis.
Woodson was paced on trial before Judge
Wexford, in the Circuit Court, yesterday
morning.
The Commonwealth was represented by
| Commemorative Attorney Richardson.
and Mr. Roy Lewis acted as counsel for
Woodson. Upon arraignment for murder.
the prisoner entered a plea; of not guilty.
Mr.. Lewis made the usual motions. ask
ing that the indictment be quashed, on
the ground that the accused had not had
the advantage of a preliminary examina-
ton
Mr.. Richardson said the statues declared
that there was TO necessity for a pre-
iirinary hearing, and said that number
| Of most important cases had been disposed
Of without preliminary trial
RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
Judge Wexford said that convicts had
not the same technical privileges that
others had. but that he would give Wood
son all the privileges and rights that the
case demanded. He overru!ed the motion
made by Mr.. Lewis, and after the jury
were sworn the trial was proceeded with.
The following gentlemen embraced the
jury: Messrs. c. w Goddin. ]. T. Gray
NJ w Hardwood r r NOrthnn : G.
Shield, j. O. Sale, W. r. Coleman, J. H.
| Pecor. T. r Crenshaw. William simpson.
| A. F. Killmeyer and F. II. Habliston
The first witness was Superintendent
| George M Helms, of the Denitentiary
who testified that the prisoner and the
| man he killed were inmates of the peni-
| Tertiary. Coroner TAYLOR stated the
| wounds were in the neck, eight inches
| long and two inches deep. and that death
| was caused by the severance of the arte-
| ries
| Turner Green. a negro. Franz, Reed
white: and Pink Barber. a negro, all con-
| victs, eye-witnesses to the homicide. testi-
| fed as to the details of the killing.
FOR REVENGE.
Guard Oliver TO- whom the prisoner
| surrendered. said that the prisoner had
| explained that he cut Ferrebee because
| he had been beaten in his cell the night
| before. and that he knew of no bad blood
existing between the men.
| Other witnesses stated the circum-
| stances of the fight in the cell between
| Woodson and a negro named Jones. in
| which Ferrebee figured peacemaker
Another convict described the sharpen
| ing of the knife by Woodson preparatory
| 10 the cutting, and the Commonwealth
| rested
The defense introduced Assistant Su-
| perintendent Morgan. who said Woodsons
behavior at the penltentlary was <1od,
WITH the exception OF one OCCASION Wneh
ne cutNa feIIoW-prisoner,
Inc mother and step-father and other
! relatives Of the prisoner We're examined
| as TO the mental condition OF the man.
| Inelf evidence went 10 snow mat the
| prisoner az t.ilieS aP'eare" lfFa'oIai
ara had hts OF temper. When ne would DO
something that he afterNard regretted.
lie frequently complained OF having bad
feeling IN the mead. beileFed to be the
result OF a nloW recelyg0 some Inne ago
W - ''7''-> > f-0 ! Aio-s
"oooSoh was pun on the stand ana SAD
that ne had no lll-fee!lnS against Ferr2-
bee and dld not remember the clrcum-
stances OF the cutting ne 'hen Went on
IN a rafhoiihS soTe Oh lashion' osclAlh11hS
any intention OF cutting terrence ana