The gold leaf., 1900-06-21

1ury. find the prisoner guilty OF man
slaughter and ascertain his punishment
at three years In he state peniten-
Diary" was the verdict Of he jury i'll the
case Of the Commonwealth vs.. J. T.
Roane Riddick-
The above verdict was reached at II
U clock this morning. Few spectators
were in the courtroom when it con-
vened at s: 80 a. m. The jury were called.
and their foreman. VIM. A. Short, an
uounced that no agreement had been
reached, and in his opinion one could
not be reached. The court ordered the
:;heriff to take the jury to their room.
Mr.. X. =. LAWS the only attorney
present for the prisoner, held a con-
citation with Mr. Huford, the attorney
.or the Commonwealth. iii which he
suggested q cOI:promise verdict, but
these gentlemen We're unable TO agree.
AT 1918 o'cI"o!; the jury were brought
into court. TEcy had not agreed.
MI Davis stated to them that the
question ot Insanity vas an uncei tain
ne, hat this vas very serious maj
.cr. I..c II..uIer MS Il poor man. All
.le had Il! q al ms father had had been
pent III the tiI..I. and he hoped that
he juIy nitsi.t yet be able to agree.
.le suggested u cOE!pi olnige verdict OF
.nan:laCG:ItrT.
Il 60 Lo: want to force any man 8
conscience" sid the :.peaker. but as
this Is Lot Il question OF fact. but OF
JpniLn, | biggest d COInprUlGise'
MI. Euf,id replied: Il do not think
he jury :huuld he kept together longer
than is E,ttS$aIy to ascertain that
upon full discussion and comparison OF
heir views they are unable to agree.
y Ne!Gict, " hch is compelled by keep
ng tie JuIy in confinement longer than
hat, IS lot the unanimous consent con-
INFLATED. 1 90 not agree with the
.-ieWS expressed by Ir. Davis. as to
ne basis of 1G!cencnt suggested by
lin.
"Mar~i.uahtcr Is killing under the
lnpCiSc Of passion upon prOvOcation.
,efoic there is time for reflection, and,
81 t" ;I.ls. the jury have been fully in
tructcd. l adhere to the views which
/ expressed to the jury in my argu-
.nent CHAT. If the prisoner il not insane,
.e is LiG1ubteGly guilty of murder in
he inst gee, and while some Of the
Jury, Ia" doubt. entertain this view,
till, i thele is d doubt upon their
'.inGs, Il verdict of murder in the sec
nd G,Hlec would do full justice to the
| ,ris,I'y, "a: he could be transferred to
,n asylum! if he should really develop
ymptcrus Of insanity: and, If he did
| not, confinement in the penitentiary
| ;Cr eighteen years would be q milder
| punishment than the law provides for
| MS oifense."
Tn" jury retired to their room and at
| 1886 O'clock knocked for paper. A few
uinItes later they We're brought into
he courtroom and the foreman stated
:" IT," court that the jury had agreed
upon 4 verdict.
MI. Davis Informed the prisoner and
he minister's face was study
He was Visibly moved and closely
-y"d each juror as he took his seat
IT, clerk asked: Gentlemen, have
,"u nGlecj upon your verdict?'
The Gui elIan, Mr.. Short, replied that
hey rad
The clerk then said: ~ R. Riddick,
't:t:d up" (Mr. Davis repeated the
words IA the ear trumpet of the pris-
rI"rl. lie obeytd. Then the solemn
Nolds of the verdict were read, and
Immediately repeated by Mr.. Davis to
| III Prisoner.
.le VAS much affected and could
scarcely control his emotions. The
| Jury vas then thanked by the court for
| PATIENCE. etc. and dismissed
| AIR. Davis moved that the court set
| Tie verdict aside, as being contrary to
| tie la" and evidence. He said that the
| :i.utiGn was merely formal, and he did
| ;rt think he would insist on it, but he
= ishet! 20 consult with the other attor-
| "yys for the defense. and asked the
| "ourt 10 adjourn until Tuesday, the
| fSth, when lie could say positively the
| i'm" the defense would pursue. The
| y inlrnp6
| that date.
Mr. Davis told the prisoner at the
| tilne court had adjourned. and the re.
| ilE was that he left the matter en-.
| tirely IL lis attorneys hands, believing
| that lie would DO the best he could 70,
| him.
| When interviewed. the foreman of the
| jury, Mr. short. said that until thi.
| morning SIN cf the jury were for YER
| dict of murder in the first degree ant
six were fer acquittal on the ground o
| insanity.
| The six Y no We're for the extrem.
| penalty tl,n agreed to a verdict O
murGt! in The second degree and final
| ~. af,'r thc addresses of the attorney:
ON each side. the jury agreed on man
slaughter. I'd the punishment at thre,
years III ti.v r,nitentiary.
" Hch the jury was adjourned Ovel
.aturday Afternoon until this morning
! one of Tie Jurors stated that each sid,
was so determined they would stay a
La"rcncvri!le and eat up all tn,
! chic kens i'll Brunswick county befor,
re"edinS from their respective posi-
| tions.
The friends of Rev. Mr.. Riddick wer,
willing To accept almost any verdic
| WITHIN reason in order that ther,
| might not lie occasion for a new trial
| 1t was not so much the cost as tn,
fearful ordeal to which members of tn,
| family would be subjected. The vener
| able father OF the prisoner Rev JOSEPH
IL Riddick. has been in Petersbur:
since he gave in his testimony. He /:
| a physical wreck. The wife Of tn,
| young preacher has been confined t,
| her room for more than week. anC
| Mr. Walter 5. Puage. brother-in- law
and one of the counsel for Riddick, i:
| very much indISposed. He came oye]
to petersburg yesterday.
There Will be no appeal taken. Rid
| dick Will be brought to the penitentiar,
in few days. If ii appears that he i:
cray after he leao hes there he will b,