Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-09-28
SENSATION CREATED II HAMPTON
Jurors In PavIinic Case Talk of Quit
ting Attendance Upon Court On
Account of Judge RIackstone's Con,
duct. But Sheriff Curtis Jail Arsu-
ment is EHective-Todays Devel.
opments Awaited With Interest.
From Stan Correspondence

HAMPTON. VA. Sept. 27.-Because
Judge !. w. G. blackstone persisted
in going sound asleep on his bench,
the commonwealth attorney, coun-
sci for the defense, clerk of courts and
sheriff, this afternoon decided that II
would be advisable TO have tie Cir
cult Court. in which the trial of
Julian Pavlinic for his life is in prog
rcss, adjourned until tomorrow. The
attorneys and officers acted upon this
agreement; awakening the judge ana
inducing him 10 adjourn court on
the ground that it was necessary to
have other witnesses before the trial
could proceed.
This remarkable incident occurred
when the court room was filed with
spectators, gathered for what was ey-
pected to he the closing day of the
third trial of the Austrian, who killeu
his wife at their home in Merrimac
two years ago. The occurrence ere
ated n sensation which is the talk OF
the town here tonight.
Jurors Up In Arms.
Members of the jury were very
much worked up over the matter, and
some of them openly declared their
intention OF quitting attendance upon
the court This talk Went on until
the jurymen were made TO understand
that Sheriff Curtis was responsible for
their conduct and would if necessary,
put thenS all i'll jail in order to keep
them together and have them on hand
when court convenes tomorrow.
Judge H. Il. Montague and Mr. f.
S. Collier, the attorneys for the de-
Tense, discussed the situation att
length tonight, but neither would have
LII e.. III
Sheriff Curtis, Clerk Holt and Com
monwealth's Attorney Lewis were
equally reticent.
Talk of the Town.
People OF the streets were not so
court room was the subject for gossip
on every street corner and in all pub
lie places.
Tomorrow's developments are await.
ed with the greatest interest. 1t is
said that some of the members of the
jury are going to say things when
court convenes tomorrow.
What Happened.
About o'clock. an hour after court
convened for the afternoon session,
Mr.. Collier was reading from the
record OF the court III an effort to
show that Pavlinic had been acquitted
of murder in the first degree in n
former trial and could be tried this
time for no greater olfense than muir
der in the second degree. I'm the
course of his reading the attorney
glanced up and saw that the Judge
was peacefully sleeping, oblvious to
everything that was going on around
him.
Mr.. Collier requested Clerk Holt to
IL.
the Judges shoulder gently and sue
ceedcd in arousing him without great
difficulty. The attorney then comm
ucd with his reading, but in few
moments the court was III the depths
of slumber again. once more the
clerk was called upon.
MIR. Lewis Objects.
Soon after Mr. Collier started his
reading again, commemorative attor-
ney rose and objected to the introduce
ton of the record. An argument was
about TO ensue, but the attorneys at
this point became aware of the fact
that the court was hearing neither the
record nor the objection.
The lawyers and officials hastily
conferred and all agreed that only
one thing was to be done They de-
cidcd to awaken the judge and make
an excuse for having an adjournment
for the day.
When the clerk had awakened the
judge n fourth time, Mr.. Collier for
maly moved that court adjourn unit.
tomorrow. saying that it was neces-
sary to have City Sergeant Il. w. Mil
stead. of Newport News. and another
man. as witnesses, before the trial
could proceed.
Judge Adjourns Court
After some discussion. the judge
consented 40 this arrangement, and
the sheriff declared court adjourned.
Then came the trouble with the
jurors. which was disposed of in com
paratively short order. The jurors