The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-19
Jury Took Less Than an Hour to
Reach a Decision.
!! M'ILWAINE'S FINE SPEC
Pupe's Friends Surround Him With
Rcioicinss-A His.o ory Of the TraS-
cdy-Thc Prisoner Tells the Cir
cumstances in Il Strai.ht.-
forward Manner-Clcar
Case of. SclEDefense.
Especial Dispatch to The Timcs.)

PETERSBURG, VA, Jan. 1S-F. J. y
Pape, charged with killing Richard H.
Harris, was acquitted here tonight The
jury was out three-quarters OF an hour
Eleven jurors were ready to return the
verdict. not guilty, as soon as the instruc-
tions had been read. The action OF the
Jury meets with universal favor. Pape.s
friends surrounded him in crowds to re
joice with him over his acQuittai-
A FINE SPEECH.
State Senator w. &. Mcuwaine, for the
Defense made one of the finest s9eeches
ever heard in a criminal court in this
city.
Pane took the stand this morning and
gave his evidence in a straightforward.
positive manner, seeming in no way to
conceal any details of the shooting, to
which he was the only witness
Pape came TO Manchester, Va, from
Fort yVayne. Ind, when seven years of
age, and lived in Manchester seVera,
years He is now twenty-one years ola
and has lived in Petersburg but a few
months.
THE ALTERCATION.
On the night of December 18th last
some friends called at his clearinghouse
for him to go with them for walk. lie
went and the party after awhile went 70
Prospect. Hotel anu there Hicl j. IL. L q
vey He was a stranger and wanted TO
see the town. They started out with
him, and about | o'clock went to Rob
inson's bar-room. Harris, II. S. Wager
and J. r. Justice came in and game OF
cards was proposed. All went upstairs.
Pape and Banks did not play, but look
ed on while the other four did. fape
never PLAYED cards for money. During
the game Banks suggested that P2vey,
Z sFl.a tca,. bfsiuEr cheated q Harris
drew his pistol and said: If you are
looking for trouble that's me-" Banks
said he wanted no trouble, but liked to
see fair play. Justice then struck
Banks, who told him he had nothing TO
do with the discussion, Justice struck
him again. and by then the two men
were engaged in the corner fighting.
THE TRAGEDY
Pape rose from his chair, and as ne did
SO Harris attempted TO draw his pis-
toll Pape put u chair up before him and
told Harris TO shoot il he wanted to.
He did not shoot, but went to help JUS
tice who was already badly beating
Banks Pape tried TO pull Harris away,
and struck him Harris then tried to pull
his pistol, but before he could do so Pape
took it from him, and as Harris advanced
he SHOT him twice. Harris and Justice
left the room, and Pape, fearing they
were waiting down stairs to attack him.
Jumped from the window with Banks and
carried the pistol with him for protection.
not knowing whether Harris was hurt or
not Banks suggested that they leave
town and he waited wtlile Banks got his
tools He was waiting on the railroad,
but when Banks came back Pape said he
would not leave, and came back to Pc
ters0urg and met an officer and went
WITH him to the station Pape said he
had All opportunity to leave the room
but would have left the two men beating
MS friend and he thought it was his duty
TO stay.
SEVERE ss-EXAn11NATION.
The prisoner was put through a severe
cross examination but his direct teStt-
rnony was unsh1ken. He seemed to tell
all the facts and eyaded no questions, an
swering all directly. A number OF witness
es were sworn, al OF wnom testified to
tae good character Of Pape-
Dean and Cflazer testified that Harris
always carried Il pistol and that on Sat
urCfay night, before the shooting, he told
| them he had received anonymous letter
| and showing them his pistol. said: IF I
| find out the author / shall go on the Hill
| again" meaning Court House hill TO be
! tried.
| No further material evidence was given.
| Court adjourned at y o'clock and the jury
| and prisoner went TO view the scene of
! the shooting. y recess was taken till )
] o'clock to allow the attorneys to draw up
! instructions. The case was. concluded
| this afternoon. Mr.. McKenry opened
| for the Commonwealth, and Mr.. Mann
| closed. The prosecution had an hour
! and a half. and the defense an hour and
| a quarter for argument.