Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-31
ROCKVILLE AND VICINITY.
John Curry Found Guilty Of Man
slaughter-General News.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROC,KNII Z Md March 20 10

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
ROCKVILLE. Md, March 80, 1903.
John Curry, a young colored man, whose
home Is near Oakdale. this county, was
found guilty of manslaughter An the cir
cult court here this afternoon, the case be-
Ing tried before Judge Henderson. He was
indicted for the murder of Robert Snowden,
also colored who resided near Olney. Sen
tence has not yet been passed.
The testimony produced showed that the
accused, Snowden and several others at
tended a dance near Norbeck the night Of
the tragedy and that while on the way
home and when near Oakdale, Snowden was
shot by Curry There were no eye-wit-
nesses to the shooting and the testimony
showed that the two men had been on
friendly terms and that there was nothing
in their manner toward each other that
night to indicate that their relations were
not as pleasant as usual. When it was
learned that Snowden had been shot, the
testimony showed that Curry expressed sor-
row and declared that 'he would not have
shot him for the world he thought too
much of him." 1t was also shown that the
day following the shooting, Curry accom-
panied Snowden to a Washington hospital,
where he died about week later.
The contention of the defense was that
while walking down the road Snowden and
Curry became involved IN friendly strug-
gle, during which the revolver. which 1t
was attempted to be shown was In Curry's
oyercoat pocket, was accidentally discharg-
ed. Curry was defended by Messrs. Edward
c. Peter and Robert B. Peter and States
Attorney H. Maurice Talbot represented
the state.
The Woman's Club of Rockville sent
committee of its members, few days ago,
to visit and inspect the public school build
ing At this place with view to starting
movement for the erection Of a new build
ting. The committee reported that the pres
ent structure Is unfit for use, being incon-
venient insanttary and unsightly. The re-
port declared that all the desks in the build
Ing are doubled and not suited to the size
Of the children, are In bad condition, many
Of them having been in use since 1915; there
Is no assembly hall; the teachers have to
pay the janitor out Of their own pockets,
and as their pay Is not large the Janttor re-
ceives small wages and consequently gives
Indifferent service; the building Is situated
on the lowest portion OF a slope and the
water from rains settles In pools near the
building; there are no cloak rooms. except
for one of the rooms, and the pupils have
to hang their wraps in the class rooms;
there is no toilet room and there is no room
in which teachers can rest or in which to
eat their lunches. The report also states
that the school hours. which are now from
8 to 4, should be made shorter.
The report was sent to the local board OF
trustees who In turn forwarded 1t to the
board of county school commissioners for
its careful and earnest consideration, with
the hope that the very bad conditions In
the largest and what should be the model
school of the county may be bettered.'