Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-12
VERDICT FOR DEFENSE
MISS LUCY GROVE ACQUITTED
OF PERJURY CHARGE.
Had Been Accused Of Swearing False
~ in Previous Hearing-Trial
at Fairfax.

The town Of Fairfax. Va, was treated to
lively trial out of the regular court sea-
son yesterday afternoon, when Miss Lucy
Grove was brought before Justice Phillips
In the old courthouse on charge of testi
flying falsely under oath in a hearing be-
fore Justice Henning. August IS last. on
which occasion she VS. the prosecuting
witness against Eugene Hall on a charge
Of attempted criminal assault. Miss Grove
was arrested about two weeks ago on a
warrant sworn out by Hail. The trial re-
suited in Miss Groves acquittal.
The sensational assault with a horsewhip
upon Justice Henning by Miss Grove at
Vienna several weeks ago brought the case
into public notice and interested hundreds
of people in the outcome, especially since,
according to those familiar with the affair,
there were indications of neighborhood
feud in the proceedings.
A number Of Washingtonians, many res
idents Of Fairfax county and nearly every
man living at the county seat who could
get away from his business was present.
The trial began after o'clock and lasted
until about o'clock. Had the sheriff not
lost the key to the big paddock on the
80 pm.
Summary Of the Evidence.
By producing witnesses who testified to
July last, when the attempt at assault is
alleged by Miss Grove to have been made,
Hall tried to show that he could not have
been behind his house near Wedderburn,
Va, in a blackberry patch, the scene of
the alleged deed; that the attempt could
not have been made that day and that
therefore the girl had perjured herself at
the previous hearing. Besides Hall there
were seven witnesses for the prosecution,
including Justice Henning and Mrs. Eugene
Hall. All Of these were cross-questioned
closely by Attorneys Oliver and Thornton
of Fairfax and J; B. ., T: Thornton 3,,1to prose
for the defense.
Only two witnesses were put on the stand
by the defense one stenographer who
and the other the girl herself. who is young
and pretty and stood firm by her story of
the assault charged Attorney Carroll E.
Mattingly Of Washington and Attorney
Keith of Moore & Keith, Fairfax, for the
prosecution. sought to have her contradict
herself. but were not successful.
For the prosecution Justice Henning tes-
titled to what occurred at the hearing Au-
gust IS. when the perjury was alleged to
have been committed: r. w. Stumph pro-
duced his stenographic notes Of that hear
ing; Cromwell o. Swan. William B. Sin
clair, Kenon Sinclair. Terry Sinclair and
Mrs. Hall testified to Halls actions, so
far as they knew of them, July last.
Hall made very poor witness for the
prosecution. He referred in derisive man..
ner in his testimony to Miss Grove. who
sat opposite him, as that ANIMAL" and in
the next breath swore he had no unkind
feeling toward her, but merely wanted her
punished If she had lied about him. He
also said he had been drinking the 4th of
July. but swore he did not know how many
drinks he took during the day. He was
not certain whether he had plowed a field
or not during that morning, saying in an
swef to one question that he had and then
correcting the statement In answer to an
other question. These answers were of
course solicited at the hands of the lawyers
for the defense In the cross-examination.
For the Defense.
The stenographer who testified in behalf
Of Miss Grove was John w. Rust. His
notes were used in the cross-examination
of Hall and his wife to establish contradic-
lions.
Throughout the trial the spectators ap-
parently enjoyed themselves immensely
The affair was made interesting by lively
Tits between counsel, muttered threats by
the prosecuting witness and murmured pro-
tests by the girl.
When the shadows of approaching night
enveloped the old court room, the walls of
which were decorated with big paintings of
the two Lords Fairfax George Washing
ton and others of the olden times. the
sheriff climbed upon chair and lighted
numerous smoky lamps. In the dim and
Pickering light the lawyers made their
closing arguments and southern oratory
rolled to the high roof Of the ancient temple
The only man who said nothing was the
stoical justice. who when it was all oyer
leaned over the bench and without any
hesitation asked Mr.. Oliver, attorney for
the defense, to write out verdict Of mot
guilty."
This evoked cheers from the larger part
of the audience.
During the proceedings there were nu-
merous yelled illusions to persons who were
behind" the prosecuting witness and the
defendant and insinuations as to who was
footing the lawyers bills, but no names
were mentioned in this connection.
Justice Phillips held Hall responsible for
the costs of the trial, he having been placed
under bond.