The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-04
SPEEDY TRIAL.
Found Guilty and Sentenced in Seven
Minutes and 20 Seconds.
Especial Dispatch TO The Times.

fSpocial Dispatch TO The Tlmes-3
SUFFOLK, VA, april 3.--I1ayinss liEed
Through a ternpestuouss night, during pot-
lions of which his life seemed to hang
I,y a thread, Thomas Eariy, the assailant
of Miss Perry, sixtee nNears OLD, was
Guarded through a hurried trial and or
arred from Identon, n. C.. to a place 81
more security only to be shot oo"h oii
The train when hardly beyond range OF
line towns church steeples. Inc tiiai II
slt. according to official time, only &C.
ci,pied seven minutes and twenty sec
onds. Then Judge Jones. who lately said
.hc word which meant Jim WllcoNs
Death sentenced Early to htteen years,
The maximum penalty in North Carollaa
,5niess the object be accomplished. MISS
Perry was one OF the lNc Wiliies'es pehote
the grand jury.
RealiZing that citizens might seek Ear
Tvs death in Edenton, Judge Jones or
sicred him taken to Hertford jail. walk
ing between civil officers and in the mol
low square of military company, Earis
reached the station safe and was put IN
the forward smoker and chained TO the
seat Immediately behind him sat Deputy
Robinson. while Sheriff Baker was stand
lug in The aisle.
THREE SHOTS.
When the train had been moving a
short time, Smith, a small, middle-aEed
man, who was two seats behind the prs
a
IN quick succession at Early's head. One
ball entered between the ear and spinal
column and came out of the left temple
Smiths fusilade was cut short by Sheriff
Baker. who grabbed him from behind,
snatched the gun and hurled him to the
car floor. Sheriff, surrender, said
Smith .T'hc crowd didn't stick to me-
but l have done my duty" The conduc-
tor was ordered to stop his train and
back to Edenton, where Smith was turned
over to officers. The wounded man blcj
freely. but the blood was stayed tcnlpo-
rarily with handkerchief. Early, in
stead of being stopped at Hertford. was
falSen to Norfolk, Va, where he was put
under doctors care at the Jail. He will
recover.
Early told Sheriff Baker to collect and
keep SIG he had coming in wages Tarlg
said no word about being shot at There
was a duckins of passengers heads while
The shooting was going on. No passenger
was hurt. The shooting happened lust
before two o'clock. One of the officers
said tonight none of the passengers Of
fered TO help hold Smith while they were
seeking to stop the shooting.
When searched, it was found that Smith
had a bag of cartridges and a bottle O.
whiskcy. besides his revolver. Whatever
may be said of Smith. most people unite
in commending his nerve in trying single
handed to avenSe Miss Perry's honor Be
cause of his numerous sympathizers. it is
not believed Smith will be punished Sc
scrcly.
HAZARDOUS NIGHT
Before the train reached Norfolk the
twisted stanchion Of freight car made
much noise by raking the whole side of a
passenger train and officers thought at
first the wreckers had made an attempt.
Many people think EARLY is better OFF
I'm Norfolk wounded than in nearby
North Carolina prison. Officers say it
MAS a hazardous situation last night
save EARLY for trial and they do not
want TO have the same ordeal again.
Public sentiment favored Early's deatte
There were present ali but one member
OF the military comnany and their guns
were loaded. A double line of pickets was
packed about the building. and all ayen-
ucs of approach were ruarded. Though
some OF the soldiers We're mere bows. 1t
Was said III Edenton they would shoot
more quickly than the men. Notwita-
standing the vigilance of officers and SOL
diers. tho crowd managed to reach the
Building and had dug large hole near
the foundation before thev were driven
back, Later all the lanterns rrocurable
in town were hung about the fail.
Asked how It was managed to Keep the
crowd at boy all right one officer said
fi,iff counted for great deal. The OF
Gers and soldiers are much praised.
ffouch sore cisi-ens blame officials for
ordering out the militia
loon after the prtsoncr was brought te