The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-14
Involuntary Applause and Many
Hand.Shakings.
AcQUITTAL AND VINDICATIoN
John L. Lees Address Marvel of Power
and Eloquence, and Hill carter's Speech
Remarkable Tribute TO the Dead,
sDd Justification SO Far as ii
Was Poss.bl: TO Make il.
Mn.terfuI De.enss.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.)

4NI-hI SIhl .NI|s <h"- - Sp.
t:4s o'clock this afternoon c, Aylett
lashpy was prisoner at the bar of the
Corporation Court of this city, charged
with the murder OF City Engineer Ed
ward A. AIarye. awaiting the verdict of
The jury. A minute later he was a free
man, receiving the congratulations Of the
hundreds ot his friends who crowded each
other to get to him.
il took the jury but eight minutes to
reach the verdict-just long enough for
them to get from the oourt-Ioom TO the
iurv-room. poll the jury and get back
into their seats.
Before the verdict was announced, Judge
Barham warned the spectators that no
demonstration of any kind would be toll
Grated. The verdict was expected long
before tho case went to the jury. and
when it was announced that they We're
ready to report, expectation was changed
10 absolute certainty.
NEVER A DOUBT.
There had never been a doubt in the
minds of those who followed the progress
of the trial rs TO the outcome. except
that there were some who thought il
probable the jury might not agree. When
the jury tiled into the box the defense
waived the calling of the jury, ana the
verdict was read, In spite of the Judges
warning, there was an involuntary an-
illause, which was quickly sueaued
Mr.. AshbE's lips twitched, and it was
evident that he restrained his emotion
with difficulty. Mrs. Garnett could not
control her feelings.
AS the verdict was announced she
bowed her head a. moment in silent pray
cr, then threw her arms around Ashby's
neck and with her head upon his shoulder
wept softly. The other members of the
family were affected. Colonel j. W.
Friend was standing with his hand upon
his shoulder and was the first to congrat-
ulate him. Then there was a pause for
a moment and the immense crowd pressed
forward, impelied by single impulse.
II was half an hour before the acquitted
man could leave the house.
MORE THAN .ACQUITTAI.
The acquittsl of Mr. Ashby was more
than a mere acquittal. The verdict so
swiftly rendered was a vindication. 1t
would probably have been ron ed il
amy event, hut if there had been any dam
ger Of another verdict, or of a mistria, it
WAS removed lry the mastery arguments
made by counsel for the prisoner, by Tar
The ablest ever heard in this city
John J.. Lees address to the jury was a
marvel of power and eloquence, as ire
sistihle as the avalanche he SO graphi-
cally described in his argument He
reached q climax when he said that if he
should receive information. as Ashby had
done, that q man was assaultinS his Wife
and child, In less than half a minute he
would be q raving lunatic, and II h
should meet that man he woulc throttle
him even though he stool at the foot
of the great white throne. The effect
was electrical. and Mr.. Lee was moved
even more by his feeling than his audi
tors
Saying that it made no difference TO a
man whether danger threatened from a
crazy man or a sane man, Mr. Lee de-
clared that in getting the revolver before
going home. Ashby acted strictly within
Ills legal rights. He challenged contra
liction of this statement, but there was
none. Continuing, Mr. Lee said that if
Mr.. Ashby's mental condition when he
met Marye was the condition of minds
II those IA the courthouse at the time he
was sJ1ealSing, he granted that he should
1pot haNershot MaTye; but Ashey's men
tal condition then was FAR different lie
quoted the instruction TO the effect that
the jury must acquit Ashby II they be
iieved he received information about his
wife or family of such nature as 10 rem
der him temporarily insane
ROCK OF SALVATION.
This instruction is the rock OF oui
xaly yation,-' said the speaker. There art
gcme cases that rise above human trih'
unais, he continued. citing Charlotte
tsorday a law that is not approved nv
Virginia manhood, he said, is a dead let
Ter. AS for the instruction referred 10
l,e assorted thu jury cor1,d no. disregard i,
without disregarding their oaths
The speaker devoted some time TO de.
1nonstrating how the integrity of tht
state depends upon the integrity Of tht
home.
Touchine upon the Commonweatth's de-
mend for a verdict of mans'ausA'ter Mr
Lee begged the jury TO remember that
sI,ch a verdict would coniine the taccusai
,n the pcnitentiary for at least yea.
II Ashby erred. he said II was through
love. He asked the jury what Yer 4ic'
they supposed the Saviour would render II
y. case like this, where what was cotl'
was through love. 1t would be, he SAID
much hast thou loved; mucff is LOT
given"
The speaker closed with an eloau nj en-,
treaty TO the jury to remember that
,hcy punished Ashby. they would punist
Asht,ys wife and Children. his old para
iyzed father. and bis old mother weep
ing her soul away at home
MAsTERFUL SPEECHES.
Tho arguments of Hon. Daniel Trise
and Nh r. NJ. Lett. for the defense. were
,,.esterful and eloquent TO a degree hardls
exceeded by the striking and remarkable
.r,eech OF Air Lee, Hon. Hill Garter 5
address cannot be characterized MS an
argument. IT was a beautiful and pa.
sAssIA ..4a.4,fA l.. ,anar. dead ned 1arye