The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-11-12
|PETTUS ACQUITTED
ON INSANITY 5 \ PLEA
Sent Back to Jail to Await Trial
for Murder of Lizzie
Allen.
WILL NOT BE RELEASED YET
Jury Satisfied He Was Crazy at
Time, Crime Was
Committed.
WILL NOT BE RELEASED YET

Holding faded straw hat in hi
hand w. E. Pettus walked to the .ba
In the Hastings Court yesterday an,
\ pleaded not guilty 10 THE indictmen
4 charging him with malicious assault
J on w. H. Smith, whose head lie alnlos
/ severed with razor In Broad Stree
store on April Goth last. After TIL,
Examination of witnesses, all of whom
showed clearly that the man was {
/ lunatic in April. II he is not one now
4 he was acquitted by jury on the
| ground that he was insane when liz
| made the assault on Smith. Judge
| Witt ordered him back to jail. where
! he may remain for an indefinite period
| Unless he Is committed to an asylum
he Will be tried later for the murdc,
Of Lizzie Allen, colored domestic.
Pettus was thin and emaclated. He
does not remember the assault on
Smith. Indeed, he remember nothing.
witnesses familiar with Ills CORY
record testified that after lie had cut
the Allen wonan's throat he deliber-
ately wiped the blood from his razor
and slipped 1t into his pocket. Then he
went after Smith using the same
weapon in slashng his throat.
Was Cured, Said Asylum.
In many respects the case is remark
able. Some months ago Pettus was re-
leased from the asylum as cured. lie
returned to Richmond the police IL
the meantime being notified, and they
quickly nabbed him. The verdict OF
the jury yesterday indicates that he
cannot be tried for the Allen murder
lie cannot remain in Jail all the time
and according to the asylum experts
ha is no longer crazy. AT the same
time, however. the authorities are
afraid to give him his liberty, as they
feel that he might secure another
razor and find another victim.
Alderman Robert Whittet, Jr.. fore
man of the jury. kept an eye on the
prisoner throughout the proceedings.
Pettus sat quietly by Mr. Hiram NJ.
Smith, his counsel. while Mr.. Harry NJ
Smith. senior counsel sat on the other
side of his son. The spectators watched
intently, the statement in the CORR.
doris of the City Hall that crazy man
was on trial drawing a curious crowd.
The court attendants might have had
to deal with some excitement had
Pettus made any break. His whole
manner was that OF dangerous luna
tic, but one who was temporarily quiet.
Judge Won't Release Him.
When Pettus was returned to jail
Judge Witt announced that he would
not permit him to be released. "The
people OF Richmond need not be
he remarked afterward, "for
Pettus must stay in Jail" Somehow
the report got out that Pettus was
free. which was the occasion or much
apprehension. There was no founda-
tion for 1t, however.
The Commonwealth decided to take
up the malicious wounding case first.
The result would unauestionably have
been the same had Pettus been tried
for the murder of Lizzie Allen. He
will be held on that charge to await
future developments. whatever they
might be. The Allen woman worked
in the house where he boarded With
out provocation OF any Kind he cut her
throat from ear to ear, and it was by
mere chance that Smith escaped q;
similar fate q few hours later. Pet
tus has maintained all along that he
does not remember any of tie honl-
cidal circumstances.