Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-31
DATE OF EXECUTION FIXED
Colored Man Convicted Of Killing
Charles T. Smith.
CITIZEN OF ALEXANDRIA, VA.
Condemned Man Makes a Brief Ad-
dress-Declares His Innocence
Judge Barley's Comment.


ALEXANDRIA, Va. March 30. 1907.
After celebrating an hour and twenty min
utes, jury in the corporation court this
afternoon returned a verdict of guilty of
murder In the first degree, indicted. in
the case of George Midgets. alias William
johnson. colored, charged with the murder
of Charles T. Smith. The convicted man
was sentenced to be hanged May "a. 1907
The case was submitted at 3:45 O'Clock
and at 900 o'clock the jury filed into the
court room. Clerk n. s. Greenaway asked
II the jurors had agreed upon a verdict
and Mr.. August j. Pohl foreman, replied
that they had, and handed the clerk the
verdict, which was read. Intense silence
prevailed throughout these proceedings
There were but few in the court room al
the times. as Judge Barley had requa sted the
military to keep the crowd out.
Immediately after the verdict had been
read Judge Barley said to the prisoner:
George Midgcts stand up. Have You
anything to say why sentence should not
be pronounced?'
Inc prisoner at once arose and in a clear
and distinct voice said: There is a great
mystery 'bout this case Any Jury could
not help finding such a verdict The black
coat was taken from my room, and / am
satisfied that my lawyers had hopeless
case. leeI that | am going to die, and
there Is only one thing that hurts me and
the policeman with a brick | think more
OF her than l do of my life"
Sentence Pronounced.
At the conclusion of Mdgets statement
Judge Barley told him that he had had a
fair and impartial trial, and that 1t re-
NAMED for him to pass sentence upon him
Ihereupon the judge sentenced him to be
reconveyed to Fredericksburg and kept
there until May .. upon which day he is
to be brought back to this city and con-
veyed to the city Jail and executed the
twenty-fourth day of May between the
hours of o'clock and noon
Midgets appeared to be Unaffected when
the death sentence was pronounced. He ad-
mitted to a Star reporter that the trial had
been fair and impartial, but again said his
lawyers had hopeless case. When Dues
toned before the verdict had been brought
In Midgets said he expected a verdict OF
guilty. When asked why he expected such
a verdict he replied that he always looked
on the dark side of everything. The pris-
oner also stated that he felt one of the
jurymen had decided upon a verdict before
he left the jury box.
When the jury returned with their verdict
Judge Barley took occasion to compliment
the members for having faithfully dis
charged their duty.
Motion for New Trial
AS soon as the verdict had been announced
Howard W. Smith, one of the attorneys for
the defense, moved for a new trial on the
ground that the verdict was contrary to the
law and evidence in the case, and also
moved to arrest judgment on the verdict
Both motions were overruled by the court.
When seen tonight Attorney Smith
stated that he had not had time to confer
with his colleague, Attorney Brumback, but
he thought they would probably take the
case to the court of appeals.
Attorneys for the defense will IL is UNDER
stood, have the bullet removed from Midg-
cts leg with view of showing that 1t is
not of 30 caliber. Both Policeman Garyey
and Arthur Meeks claim that the night of
the murder they firing 80 cartridges
In the event the bullet Is removed and it Is
not of that size Ii will be cited as proof
that neither Carney Meeks fired the
shot This. 1t is conceded will be a telling
point in favor of the appeal.
Sarah Midgets, wife of the prisoner, who
is serving a Jail sentence for assault on
Policeman Nicholson the night of the muir
der, was in court when her husband was
sentenced. She wept aloud, and few min
utes afterward Midgets was allowed to en-
ter anteroom under guard, where he
held a Short conversation with his wife.
The scene a very affecting one, 1t Is
stated and as the prisoner turned to leave
the room he kissed his wife, the guards
looking on.
Returned to Fredericksburg.
Midgets was afterward conveyed, un Ter
adjoins the court room and was kept there
until 7:15 o'clock, when ne was taken back
to Fredericksburg. A large crowd assem-
bled about the court house, and many
waited to see the prisoner depart.
Mayor Pdn and Chief Goods held a con-
with the condemned man before
he carried away. The prisoner prac-
tieally reiterated his story concerning tue
and denied that he is the guilty
man. When seen this afternoon Mayor
PaT stated that when Mdgets is brought
back to Alexandria to be executed he viii
not be under military guard
The verdict of the jury was received
throughout the city tonight with satisfac-
ton. The trial commenced Wednesday
last. and has been closely watched by
nearly every one in the city, all manifest
ing more or less interest in the outcome.
Before Midgets was conveyed to Fred
ericksburg this afternoon he asked Mayor
Paff II he could see Lieut.. Smith, father OF
veyed by the mayor to Lieut.. Smith, but
he said he did not care to see the prisoner.
Just what Midgets desired to tell the
lieutenant is not known.
Story of the Crime.
The murder of Smith occurred the night
of October 20, 1906, about $40 o'clock. on
the south side of King street between
West and Peyton streets. opposite the old
fair grounds Smith was assisting Police
man Frederick Garvey In arresting Midgets.
who was suspected of being implicated In
an assault on Policeman A. j. Nicholson.
which occurred about an hour previous to
the murder According to the testimony
adduced at the hearing. Smith grabbed
the prisoner from behind. and sooner
mad he done this than Midgets whipped
1ut revolver and fired. killing him in
SANITY. Midgets then decamped.
A vigorous search was made for the MUIR
lerer without result. A reward of 500 was
'ffered by the city and s100 by the state
This, however. for the time being proved in
ffectual. and the police had about given up
III hope of capturing Midgets. March 9,
however a letter bearing photographs OF
dAssts was received from the authorities