Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-06-08
HEWITT BROTHERS CONVICTED.
Dick and Lum for Murder In Second
Degree, Moss as AcceSsor.


Degree, Moss as Accessor.
The famous Hewitt case has at :
last been decided so far as the
circuit court is concerned. The |
jury, empanelled at Jacksonville
for the third trial of the case re-
turned verdict last Friday morn
ing, finding Dick and Lum guilty |
of murder in the second degree |
and Moss as accessor before the |
fact. The Times-Union and Citi-
zen of Saturday contained the fol-
lowing account of the closing
scenes in this famous case:
After three trials and an attempt
to secure jury in another, a de-
cisioh was reached yesterday morn
ing in the case of Moss Hewitt,
Lum Hewitt and Dick Hewitt,
who were charged with the murder
of their brother-in-law. J. T John
son, of Bradford county, nearly
two years ago. The jury, after
trial of two days and considering
the evidence tor one whole night,
came into the circuit court yester-
day morning with the following
verdict:
ave, the jury, find the defend
ants, Dick Hewitt and Lum Hew-
lit, gu lily of murder in the second
degree; and we further find the
defendant, Moss Hewitt, guilty of
teloniously aud maliciously incit-
ing, procuring and counseling the
said Dick Hewitt and Lum Hewitt
the said crime to 90 and commit.
"R. T. MASTER, Foreman
When the circuit court convened
yesterday morning there was an
unusually large gathering of law
yers and spectators in the room.
partly, no doubt, from the fact that
rom H -mmond was to be arraign
ed for the murder of the Roberts
family in this county, on February
18th, but it appeared that the
greater interest was felt in the trial
that was about to be concluded
with the announcement of the
iury's decision Prior 10 the ar
raignment of Hammond the jury
IN the Hewitt case sent word into
court that it had reached deciS
ion. The sheriff was directed to
notify the jury to prepare its YER
dict in writing, and to await the
call of the court,
RECEIVING THE DECISION.
When the arraignment of sew
eral prisoners had been completed,
the sheriff conducted the jury into
the court room. There was a
thrill of expectancy in the room as
the twelve men filed into the room,
bearing with them the decision
that meant life or death to thr' e
men Those who seemed least
concerned of all in the room were
the prisoners themselves, with the
possible exception of Dick Hewitt,
who seemed to realize the solemn
ty of the moment, even more than
did his brothers. AS the slip OF
paper bearing the verdict was
handed by the sheriff to the ERIK
and by him to the Judge. slight
shiver shook his frame, and bis
face took on paler hue Lum, the
brother with the weaker face Snd
protruding lips, never changed his
iounging attitude. and Moss turn
ed his face toward the bench with
out manifesting a sign of interest
in the proceedings that had SC
deep meaning for him.
After scanning the written
words for a moment Judge Cal
returned the paper TO the clerk
with directions that it should be
read. Every lawyer in the court
room leaned forward to catch the
words. The verdict seemed t
please the prisoners, who may
have expected the verdict thai
would have meant DEATH They
received the words with.@evident
satisfaction. the color coming bacI
to Dick Hewitt's face, while tn,
others simply moved to chang
their positions and rearrangec
themselves in their chains, unit
they were returned to the Jail b,
the sheriff. Sentence was no
: passed, nor did the attorneys 70