The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-10-01

The above briefly records the end
of the case which has been more or
less in the public eye for more than
a year passed. The details of the
killing Of Mr.. Williams, which oc-
Cured during the night of Septem-
Der 18th, 1906; the subsequent ar
rest OF Snipes charged with the crime
the first hearing of his case at the
the April term of court, which re-
suited in a mistrial, and the story
of the present trial are all we'll known
and will not be repeated here.
The last trial of the young de-
PENDANT was hard fought from first
to last by counsel for both sides.
1t began on Wednesday morning
with the selection of the jury, the
remainder of that day and nearly
all day Thursday being devoted to
the Introduction of witnesses and the
hearing of evidence. Late Thursday
afternoon the first argument in the
case was made, this being a speech
by F. W. Bonitz, Esq, who assisted
the solicitor in the prosecution. All
+ Friday was devoted to the argu-
ments, the attorneys for the defense,
W. P. Gafford, Esq, Herbert Nc
Clammy, Esq, and Marsden Bellamy,
Esq, consuming the morning session
and the argumet of Solicitor Duffy
and the charge of Judge Biggs TAX
ing up the afternoon session, the
case having been turned over to the
jury at 6:15 o'clock Friday.
The solicitor did not ask for a
Of murder in the first de-
gree, but he contended for a verdict
of murder in the second degree or
manslaughter. The defense ar
gued that Snipes was not guilty of
firing the fatal shot, but if he did
fire that shot he did it in self-de-
tense
Judge Biggs charged the jury as
to the difference between second de-
murder and manslaughter and
instructed them to bring in a YER
1ict of guilty of one of these crimes
Or not guilty.
The verdict was returned nearly
hours after the jury had taken
case, when it was being gener-
lily regarded that no agreement
would be reached.
Following the argument of Solicit
or Duffy on Friday afternoon and
he general conception of the case
out by the state. the impress
ion had been formed that either a
econd mistrial would result or that
compromise verdict. of manslaugh-
er would be reached. The return
f not guilty. caused as much sur
rise as would have a verdict of Sec
nd degree murder. Whatever the
ubl1c's opinion of the result may
2, there is however general salts
action that the case has been end
The first word from the jury after
a been locked up on Friday +
M a yesterday afternoon when
ooltlonal Instructions were asked
The jury fled into court at {
go O'Clock and Judge Biggs was
equested to give additional in~struc- J
ons as to the difference between /
urder in the second degree and
anslaughter. When he had done ]
his he was asked elsoo as to the :,
Gaming of self-defense and it's bear !.
g on h result of a decision. Fol-
wing the instructions which were
ven the jury again retired.
This incident served to increase 7
e impression that some punishment
ould be meted out to the defendant
ID it vas believed that if a verdict
reached it would be manslaught- e
At. $40 D. m. when the court "
ON was about deserted, Deputy c.
X was summoned and informed by t:
e jurors that they had reached a
rd1ct. Officers were at once des- B
tched for the Judge, solicitor and "
counsel, and they were
t long in gathering, the defend a,
t also being brought over from the n
L. In the meantime the report
d become current that a result Vi
d been reached and quite a crowd p,
thered to hear the verdict. al
At 5:4S the jury filed in and in
'ponse to the query as to whether r.
" had reached a verdict, the fore F.
n. Mr.. Foard, replied I'VE have" V,
what say you, gentlemen, is the h,
soner at the bar guilty or not So
lty. asked the clerk. dc
Not guilty of murder in the sec al