Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-14
Jury Finds Him Not Guilty Of Kill
In Patrick Mcdonald.
THE VERDICT cHEERED
Convicted Accessory to Crlme may be
Pnrdonod-sat Blowers as work
In windsor-A Mrs. woodland Dead
mnrringe fan Hsio of wight Fu-
neral of Mrs. nosers-Two Roocp-
tions Ycstorday.
Especial to virginian-PIlot.)

Suffolk, Va, Feb. 13.-Sam Beale is
free When an Isle Of Wight county
jury came down at $50 o'clock this
evening and brought a verdict of ac-
quittal wave OF applause passed over
the densely crowded courtroom. For
a short time The officers could not top
the overflow of pent up emotion. Out
on the green the news of freedom was
flashed and there were further swells
OF gladncss Friends and relatives of
the defendant were present in large
numbers, and n spontaneous swell of
JOY washed away the awful suspense
which had been wearing on their nerves
SO long.
The jury was occupied one hour and
lnree-quarters in arriving at verdict
Ihey retired at exactly 4:45 o'clock.
when Colonel r. L.. Boykin. States At.
torney. had just finished an argument
OF an hour and three quarters.
THE SPEECHES.
The speeches, including those of Colo
mel Boykin and Judge Brooke last even
Ing. filled eight and one-half hours of
time Court opened this morning at
1880 o'clock. Attorney r. e. L. Wat
kins, OF Franklin. argued for the de-
lehse IN compact statement thirty
minutes long. Then came Attorney S.
H. Edwards, Of Isle of Wight, who
MADE a strong talk on the same side.
lasting one and one-quarter hours. At
torney w S. Holland, of Windsor.
closed the defense in q taking plea of
Two and one-Quarters hours duration.
Colonel Boykin, who grew eloquent al
times. closed his plea for the Common
wealth at a quarter to O'Clock,
THE CRIME.
Sam Beale was accused of m1rderinp
1oao Mcdonald, tramp April 8,
1899. Mcdonald was at Beale's home
and 1t was charged that he was hea fen
with bean poles and afterwards ki1led
"A Norfolk and Western freight con-
ductor found the tramp's body on the
I,lnroau tracks near Windsor, ApriL IL.
l'oth legs had been severed and there
were other marks of Violence. The
Coroner's Jury, which viewed fine ,-a-
mains. did not suspect murder
AFTER lying In earth q week or two
the Dody was disinterred. and DR.. Gavin
RawiS. who conducted the AUTOPSY. do
cared that the man was dead before
the train struck him. Five persons
were suspected, among whom were
Beale. James Brittle and Ed. whita
colored. These were indicted. Beaie,s
pond. originally SO, 900. was Increased RI
sio.O0o and afterwards to 10000. When
the trial began $4,000 was refused
9eales friends and relatives stood by
eight days
BRITTLE MAY BE PARDONED
Now that Beale has been acquitted,
there may be made an effort to have
pardoned James Brittle, who is serving
I'VE years term for being an access
sorry. Brittle was accused of hauling
McDonald's body to the railroad tracks,
lie also may have done some scrapping
with the tramp.
The case of Ed. White was continued
for NP
sible that Colonel Boykin will enter
nolle proSequi
'Beale tonight went home to his
FAMILY. Mrs. Beale has been i'll during
the trial.
SAFE BLOWN OPEN.
Three professional cracksmen blew
open the postofflce safe at Windsor
NJ -miles.from here,Iu o'clock
this morning and secured about $50 In
cash and lot OF stamps
The men escaped. These professional
safe-blowers always do in this section
safes nave been blown open and robbed
at Suffolk, Smithfield, Waverly and
other points within the past few years.
ana there is no record of q burglar
having been caught. There were three
or four of such jobs In Suffolk.
Before the three crackmen left Wind
sor they were shot at several times by
Mt. Jenkins and other citizens The
iopoerS we're heavily armed, and they
returned the fire as they ran. No one
WIS hurt.
RAIN BOTHERED tom"
As soon as possible Hurricane Branch
was summoned. IIe left for the scene
with Tom, the celebrated bloodhound
| and made the trip to Windsor in an
hour and four minutes. Men, armed
with shot guns rifles and pistols. were
| there ready To pursue the burglars as
soon as light dawned.
| Rain began falling In the meantime
and Tom could not trail the robbers.
DOWN WITHOUT A HITCH.
| The safepopping was we'll done The
| men got through the front door by
forcing the lock and without disturb
ing those who slept upstairs The safe
was neatly drilled. The dynamite,
glycerine or giant powder blew open
the door with n noise that woke sew
eral persons. but the crooks got their
booty without being bothered
When the first persons arrived at the
scene of the explosion the smoke had
| not yet cleared away.
| MRS. WOODWARD DEAD.
Mrs. Missouri Woodward. wife of tho
late r. L. Woodward, died at o'clock