Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-01-23
JOHN LIKE NOT GUILTY
Jury Returned With Verdict Late
tuesday Afternoon.
JUDGMENT is A POPULAR ONE
Large Crowd Awaited Return Of the Iury,
and Decision Was Rad Amid 4
Profound Silence.
Profound Silence.

Profound Silence.
John w Locke, ir., the boy who for
the past three months has bean held q
prisoner IN the jail here on charge
of causing tho death Of his brrthar.
Clarenco Locke, Tuesday faced i
| jury OF twelve men iii the Circuit
court. aud az the shades OF night fell
walked out OF the court room freq
lad. with the stigma Of guilt removed
from HIM after one OF the most re-
markabie and dramatic trials In the
historv of Berkeley county.
The case was a most remarkable ona
in many respects II attracted wide
spread interest, and an audience
which occupied every available seat
in the room was present; the jury
was selected. the testimony submitted
the arguments made bv opposing
counsel, instructions delivered by
Judge Faulkner and the verdict ro-
turned in trifleless than eight hours
it was noteworthy also from the fact
that there was not a single Eve witt
ness to the tragedy, the prosecution
being based entirely upon the state-e
ments of Young Locke himself, made
! immediately after the death OF hiH
| brother under stress of the nest In
tense emotion. and which che boy YES
terdav utterly failed TO remember.
The opposing counsel concluded
their arguments shortly after 4o'clouk
and at A. &c the twelve men in wliose
hands lay the fate of the Youthful
prisoner slowly filed ont Of the room
to deliberate unon the case and mako
up their verdict Only q few or the
many who crowded the court room
/ left. so great was the interest. and a.
minute after minute was tucked oil on
the big clock on Che wall feeling Of
anxiety for the fate OF the lad mani
Tested itself ON many CONTINGENCIES.
Speculation was rife, and many whose
conviction that no other verdict than
acquittal could he returned began to
feel uneasy bv the continued absence
Of the inrv. That the jury should
not speedily return was accepted by
many to mean that all we're not con-
WINGED Of the bows innocence. aud
that at least his liberty was not An
assured thing.
Young Locke sat beside his stalwart
father, and was naturally nervous un-
der the strain OF suspense. He WAS
very quiet, however, as no has been
throughout the whole Of the ordeal.
and paid little heed 10 what was Dass-
iDg around him. keeping his eyes for
the greater portion Of the time on the
door through which he expected mt
any moment to see return the men vino
we're celebrating upon hia fate.
Finally at 5 80. wren pnxietv and
concern were written plainly upon
manyIfaces word came tia' tlia jaryhnd
determined nDon ifs rdict. Instantly
there was suppressed inurmur OF re-
lelf, which almost instantly gave
place TO II stiffness ~ voice ana limb
as the members OF tile jury SLOWLY en-
tered tile room and took their seats.
Every eye in the great throng WAS
fastened upon the faces or the faen,
ss if 70 read there in advance their
judgement The usual question and
answer passed between the clerk aid
the jury, aud then. in silence which
was almost painful in its tense ankle
tv the words of the verdict we're slow
ly read
eve the jury find the defendant,
John Locke. not guilty OF the charge
contained in the indictment.
For an instnt the profound silence
was maintained by the crowd. and
then, as the meaning of the verdict
swept over the room. there was q
movement OF approval which only the
respect for the court kent from burst
ling into an open demonstration.
The verdict was popular one, and
not the slightest criticism OF the jude
ment and purpose Of the members OF
the jury was heard The lad who
! sat beside his father during the dra-
matte scene, hfsed his mead with =
look Of relief, and after few moments
left the house with his father amid
the congratulations OF many.