The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-02
No Decision In Case of Alfred
Sandridge.
THE JURY is LOCKED UP
Given All Night to Agree Upon ver-
dict-The Evidence Taken Yes
terdaY, and the Speeches
Made on Either Side.

bridge. who is on trial in the Hastings
Court for the murder OF Miss Mamie
Norris, his sweetheart, on Church Hill
last winter.
The argument In the case was COM
pleted yesterday evening late, and 1t was
given to the Jury promptly, that body
having reported to the court a failure to
agree. after an hours deliberations.
The Jury was sent to the Lexington
Hotel for the night, and will report again
at 10 o'clock this morning,
The case Is one OF peculiar interest. the
killing OF Miss Morris by young San
bridge and the attempt Of the latter to
take his own life, having been widely
discussed throughout the city.
Mr.. H. NJ. Smith is conducting the case
for the accused, and the interests Of the
State are being looked after by Com
monwealths Attorney D. c. Richardson.
It has been battle royal from the
start between tho lawyers and long list
OF witnesses have been introduced on
both sides.
The defense made by Mr.. Smith for his
client is that Of temporary insanity, and
he introduced Drs. ]. Allison Hodges and
W. H. Parker as experts on this point
yesterday.
OF course, no one can conjecture the rc-
suit. though a hung jury would be no
great surprise to the public.
MR.. BRISTOW FIRST.
The first witness put upon the stand
when court opened yesterday was Mr..
B. C. Bristow. carriage manufacturer.
for whom the prisoner had worked.
The line OF his testimony, like that Of
others who appeared for the defense. was
that cambridge was OF weak mind, and
never seemed to have been wholly re-
sponsible.
DR.. W. H. Parker, who attended both
the prisoner and his victim, was then
put on. and after telling what he knew
Mr.. Smith introduced DR.. j. Allison
Hodges, who gave expert testimony at
great length on the subject OF insanity.
ARGUMENT BEGINS.
The defense here rested and the court
instructed the jury and the argument was
Immediately gone into.
Judge Richardson opened in a brief
speech for the prosecution, In which he
reviewed the case rapidly, and asked the
jury to convict the prisoner.
Mr.. Smith followed in powerful arg,l-
nnent Of nearly two hours for his client,
and when at 8 o'clock he concluded with
a pathetic appeal for mercy there was
much weeping In the courtroom. Be-
side the young prisoner sat his aged
mother and father. and they and other
relatives and friends were deeply touch
e6. Mr. Smith reviewed the case from
his STANDPOINT at some length, and then
he took up the evidence and handled 1t
with characteristic ability. He dwelt
upon the testimony Of DR.. Hodges. the
expert witness on insanity. as well as
that Of Dr.. Parker, and the long line OF
other witnesses by whom he had sought
to prove that cambridge had always been
weak minded and that he was so re-
garded by all who knew him we'll
BRILLIANT. CLOSE.
He took several whacks at Judge Rich
ardson's opening argument and then
clients freedom. In closing Mr.. Smith
said:
'1f it be true. as we are told. that de-
parted spirits are permitted to return
and visit again their earthly habitation.
we may well believe that tie angelic
spirit Of the young woman is lowering
hero this afternoon, pleading that you
mercy, and declare by your verdict. we
forgive him, for he knew not what he
did, She would, believe. entreat you
not to further crush his aged mother
and father, vino sit there weeping and
broken hearted by his side. but to re-
store him once more to their bosoms. to
comfort and bless them in their declln-
Ing years"
ANOTHER STRONG SPEECH.
Judge Richardson closed in a brilliant
effort on behalf Of the Commonwealth,
and said that IL the prisoner was to be
acquitted upon the flimsy testimony ad-
duced by the defense. the court could
not protect the community from murder
and lawlessness. and that the prisoner
could not be sent to the lunatic asylum
usder the law The Commemorative
Attorney. taking UP the evidence and dis
secting 1t In an able manner, contended
that the man had not been even tempo
rarity insane. and should be therefore
convicted OF murder In the first degree,
his crime having been most brutal ona
In the opinion of the speaker He said
that Dr. Hodges had admitted that 1t
might have been "anger" rather than lin
sanity" and the speaker contended that
II, In fit OF anger one should shoot
down another, he should not be &c.
Quilted and turned loose upon the public.
Mr.. Richardson here had some rather
sharp passages with Mr. Smith as to
what had been the testimony of DR..
Hodges, and the former proceeded with
his argument
He did not believe the defense had
shown that the prisoner was insane at
the time of the commission of the crime,
like men and, do their duty
u, too. have sympathy for the aged s,
prisoner" said the speaker, but. gem,
tlemen OF the jury. there is another side
to the picture, In this courtroom there
sits another aged father. who mourns not
the plight Of a hayward son. but who
is crushed by the murder OF an innocent
daughter. There is here heart-broken
sister. who worked day by day with hel
In a lowly occupation. and who loved
har with a devoted affection"
iThe flowers may have faded upon the
humble mound that covered the poor muir
dered sirl and by some she may have
boon forgotten. but her loved ones here
and the dignity Of the law should be vim
dictated. and in leaving the case with
40 YOUR full duty"
II was 6:35 O'clock when Judge Richard
son completed his argument, and imme-
d Ala the jury retired to their room,
The anxious, waiting spectators and
friends OF the prisoner took advantage
Of the lull to walk around in an effort to
get cool.