Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-07
Fairfax Magistrate Gives Liberty
10 Woman Charged with
Killing Her Husband.
KEY WILL have 10 60 TO JAIL
He Put Up Strong Case Of Self De.
Tense. Blu, is Held to Await the
Action OF the Grand Jury-Mrs. Nc
cucn May Possibly be Rcarrestcd
Later On.

FAIRFAX COURTHOUSE, VA,
August c. Mrs. Jack McCuen walked
from the Fairfax jail free woman. ex-
oncratcd Of the charge of being an nc.
cessory to the murder of her husband
Jack McCucn. who was shot and killed
by Harvey Kcys In this vicinity Sat
urdny night. July 27th
Mrs. McCucn was released at the
conclusion of the preliminary hearing
before Magistrate Il. r. Farr ycstcr
day afternoon. when Commemorative
Attorney G.. Vernon Ford, in open
court. made statement that he had
failed In tho course of his invcstlga.
ton to discover sufficient evidence
sustaining the chargcs placed aganst
tho accused woman. II was his de-
sire to withdraw the charge. and upon
his recommendation Magistrate Farr
, signed an order releasing her from
custody.
Harvey Keys. through his counsel.
Thomas II. Keith, of the law firm of
Moore. Barbcr & Keith. waived com
mitmcnt t.Sal ana he was rcn,andod
cd To Jail t0SSswalt the action of the
grand jury. The preliminary hearing
was frausht with little Incident, and
disappointment settled over the crowd
OF spectators. who flockcd from the
ncighhorboods surrounding the village
attracted by desire TO wtncssp some
thing dramatic. The hearing Itself
was bricf and about half an hour was
| required 10 dispose of tho case
Many Testify for Keys.
! After tho hearing Commemorative
Attorney Ford said he had met with
1 In Al f,,t,
To contrOvcrt Keys plea of self.do-
Tense. Those ut the scene of the
tragedy have MI corrol,orntcd Keys
statement To the attorney that he
shot his friend, Jack McCucn, In self
defense and Mr.. Ford has not yet
found witness whose testimony
would be strong enough to make the
prosecution satisfied OF getting a con.
victon.
The grand jury VIII not consider
the case until the beginning OF the
fall term of court next month. Mean.
while, the county authorities will
make efforts to accumulate additional
evidence. MIR. Ford liz confident that
he can summon scertain witnesses
who will deny Keys selfdefense plea.
Several friends of Harvey Keys de.
clarcd last night that an effort would
he made To secure his release on bail
MIR. Ford. however, Is opposed to his
release and will fight any effort In
that direction.
Ono of the interesting features
which may be developed by the Com
monwcalth Attorneys further search
for evidence relating to tho tragedy
which he admits Is yet somewhat veil.
ed In mystery, Is the possible re-
| Of lar 4,
mcnt by the grand jury While tho
evidence now in hand Is not suffi.
client To hold the woman. Mr.. Ford
! last night declared that the conflict.
: ing stories advanced by Mrs. McCuen
and the relatives of Keys. before they
; united upon tho self-defense theory,
will be probcd 10 the bottom In the
effort to secure proof hat conspir-
acy existed TO get Jack McCuen ont
OF the way.
There is no doubt that public senti-
mont here is in favor of Keys The
case has attracted wide interest in
this and adjacent counties because of
, the prominence of both families Tito
; release of Mrs. McCucn s generally
[ approved. the residents of the commu.
, nifty adhcrng to the belief that she
was an innocent factor In the fatal
ARRAY.
When lack McCuen and his wife
, came to Fairfax July 9th to visit
with the Keys, the fricndllest feeling
existed between the two families On
the night OF the killing. Harvey Keys.
= Mrs. McCuen and an aunt of the Keys
were left together at home. while
, Fred Keys and Jack McCuen went
, for some beer, Some of them. it is
said. had been drinking during the
!. evening. Jack McCuen and Eppie
Keys returned later. A few minutes
lflcr entering the home. McCuen and
Harvey Keys engaged in bitter quar-
rel They went into the yard and
\ there had desperate. fight Soon a
pistol shot was heard and McCuen
! was found dead, with bullet wound
u through his breast.
;, The members of the family deny
I that difficulty grew out of jealousy.
!. They say that McCuen was intoxicat-
@ ed and drew the revolver on Keys and
Q that the weapon was discharged when
a Keys tried to wrench 1t away from
his adyersary's grasp.