The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-09


office. where hc writhcd W agons
Il stretched out upon a sofa. Mra. Smith
tho prisoner. looking as though, tho han
nf death had almost touched l,cr Wit
'E dull u ursceinR eyes, and With misery all
dread written large upon her face an
III figure, dragged herself into tho cour
room, supported by her husband and he
gs brother. Her mother sat beside her
"a holding her hand and Whispering words o
A comfort into her unhoeding ear
AS the sergeant finished calling iii
jury, Mr.. Page entered tho court room,
I1is face was hagsard and his trembling
& legs almost refused to lend him tho sup
Il port ho asked. With wavering Hands h,
Il felt his way into his accustomed rlac,
& and fell into his chair, 1t was sceii BY
II every one TINT his condition was sucl
Y that he could not under any crcum
stances, argue the case
Case in Their Hands.
Aftcra conference between Judge Clop-
= ton and counsel, His Honor made the fol-
lowing announcement to the Jury:
sE have to tell you, gentlemen, that on
account Of the Illness OF Mr.. Page, coun.
sci for the defense have agreed to permit
s the case to so to tho Jury without argu.
rncnt. You Will, therefore, be able to fin.
z ish tonight. Instead Of next week. Please
give me your complete attention while ]
s read to you the lnstructlons."
While the instructions were being read
Mrs. Smith broke down and wept bitterly.
and Mrs. Townsend, her mother, was so
nnnervcd that her son was compelled to
lead her from the courtroom.
At the conclusion OF Tho reading OF the
thirty eight instructions. Clerk Duval read
to the jury the penalties for murder and
manslaughter. as follows:
Murder in first degree, death,
Murder In second degree, five to eighteen
years In the penitcntiary.
Voluntary manslaughter, one to five
years In the penltentiary.
involuntary manslaughter. not more
than one year In jail. or fine Of not
more than $500, or both fine and lmprs.
onment.
The jury. composed Of the following
men, retired to the Jury room at exactly
1850 o'clock:
James w. Rcams. Manchester.
John S. Avis, Manchester.
Charles sneade. Manchester.
r. o. Bailey, Manchester.
w. E. Brdger. Chesterfield county.
# J. NJ. Wilkinson, Chesterfield county.
&. j. E. Fowler, Chesterfield county.
J. w. Carroll. Chesterfield county.
J. NJ. Moore. Chesterfield county.
J. E. Bowman. Chesterfield county.
John Slaughter, Chesterfield county.
Nj. E. Rridser, Chesterfield county.
4s The prisoner retired to the serGeant's
office with her relatives and friends, and
the crowd of perhaps 800 persons waited
patiently under the shade trees Of the
+ court green. Mr.. Page retired to the
Judges Office, where he received medical
treatment.
& R,Jsh for Court Room.
4 Suddenly at 80 o'clock the crowd that,
had been watching the jury through a
slightly opened window, began to rush
wildly into the courtroom and two min
utes later. loud knock sounded on the
door OF the jury room.
Judge Clopton took his seat upon the
bench the prisoner, half fainting, was
brought into the room, Mr.. Page stumbled
hlindly into his seat, and the jury en-
tered, their faces solemn and uncom-
municative. Before the verdict was read.
Judge Clcpton said THE prisoner may
keep her seat. and then the twenty
three cold words of the verdict were said
that will take from Estelle Townsend
Smith five years of her life. Yet which
removed the brand of murder from her
and placed in its stead the one Of man
slaughter
Then ii was that both prisoners and
prosecutor broke down and wept
Historically in unison: the innocent and
the guilty crushed by the same blow;
ne because of the lightness of the verdict;
she because of its humiliating weight
Only railing separated the two. On
one side DR.. Townsend supported his
sister. on the other DR.. Sycle. former
pupil of DR.. Townsend.s. cared for Mr..
Page. 1t was sight that brought tears
OF sympathy to the eyes of all who saw
It, when DR.. Townsend leaned forward,
{ his arm still around his fainty sister. and
handed medicine to the friends OF Mr.
Page for that gentleman. who had fought
the fight that had stricken down his sis
ter and her relatives. 1t was the one
touch Of nature that makes the whole
word akin. 1t was the worthy act Of
worthy gentleman.
N After the jury had been discharged with
the thanks of the court. Mr. Wells moved
an arrest of Judgment until July 18th.
when counsel will ask that the verdict
be set aside as contrary to the law and
the evidence. Mr.. Cogbil acting for Mr..
4 Page, agreed to a continuance with the
date namaQ.r.
In MaNch~ster all the male population
seem TO think the verdict Just one.
& put the female residents are inclined to
81 the opinion that 1t Is far too light.
Story of the Crime.
The story OF the crime for which
Estelle Townsend Smith was convicted on
Yesterday Is familiar to many.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sheppard X. Smith lived
IN a small house on the outskirts of
Manchester with their two children, boys
8of five and two years of age. They
we're quiet people, who did not assoc
aclate with the neighbors. 1t was known
that they were Northern people. who
bad lived in Columbia, Va before com
4lns to Manchester. Smith worked as a
horse clipper in Richmond
On the night of Wednesday, April 18th.
tho neiEhbors heard cries at the Smith
house and We're later called by Mrs.
Smith In sni ihnt- 4,