The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-04-09

Lon&-BaiI May be Given Snipcs
and Case Comes up Again i'll July.
After having had the case in their
hands for nearly twcnty-seven hours,
the jury in the Snipes case, shortly
after 10 o'clock last night came into
court II announced that they were
hopelessly divided and there was no
chance of reaching a verdict. Judge
Long withdrew Juror Merritt from
the panel and ordered a mistrial.
Thus ends a case which has attract
ed public attention and interest in The
city for the past several days and the
outcome. as stated in yesterdays
paper, is the one that most people
thought would result.
The trial of Lonnie Snipes for the
killing of w. l.. Williams, began on
"Wednesday, the jury having been OBJ
tanned early in the afternoon Of that
day and the first witness examined.
On Thursday and Friday the time OF
the court was taken up in the intro
duction Of witnesses and the hearing
OF evidence. The OunSel i'll the
case began their argument shortly
before the dinner hour Friday and
concluded at Z o'clock that night.
Judge Long then delivered his charge
and the case went to the jury at 7:40
O'Clock Friday night.
Various reports were in circulation
as to the attitude Of the different
Jurors in the case, these varying in
almost every possible degree.
Throughout yesterday, however, there
was a we'll defined rumor that the
jury stood eleven to one for acGuittal
and this opinion seems to have had
some basis, for that it was later adj
mitted was the attitude, as shown by
the final poll.
Yesterday morning, about 10 o'clock
the jurors filed into the court room
and they reported then that they
could not agree. Judge Long in re-
ply said hat the members OF the jury
were an intelligent and thoughtful
boiv Of men, both the state and de-
Tense having expressed satisfaction
with them, and he wanted them to
consider the case again. The jury
then retired and again took the case
under Amusement.
Shortly after 6 o'clock last night the
Judge and counsel were summoned
and the impression was that a verdict
would be returned and a gOou sized
crowd had assembled in the court
room, but the foreman OF the jury,
MI. d. L. Gore, announced that it was
Aopeiessly divided on the question OF
fact and not Of law. Judge Long Of
fered to read his transcript OF the
evidence in the case Dr. TO give any
instructions concerning the law in
yolved if it was desired, but it was
shown that neither course was Wha'
the Jury wanted. The judge ther
stated that he desired that the cas-
be again considered and that n
would be at the court house at II
O'Clock to see what progress had bee.
made.
At 10 O'Clock Judge Long, the coun
sci in the case and a few intereste'
spectators were in the court room
The jury soon filed in and thrOug
its foreman then announced that a
agreement was impossible. The JudS
Withdrew the juror as stated aboV
and ordered a mistrial.
Judge Long addressed a few cOmpli
mentary remarks to the men who ha
considered h case. He took the OF
casiOn also to criticize the red ligf
district of the city and to advise thu
it be stamped out to prevent a recu1
rence of such crimes. He expresse
- >gret hat no verdict could be a
ad at. but said he admired q ma
~ acting as conscience dictates ar
tbA,s was no criticism to make. T
had sv,. npathy for both the strickt
n.1otivas If the dead man and for Il
aofo,dan+ hut he would not intima
or suggest wat his opinion concer
;,e the case was. The jury was tht
DISCHARGED. and the members, glad
no free from their confinement. ha
ing been held together SINCE ear
"wednesday afternoon fastened
their homes.
IT was learned last night from
thoroughly creditable source that IL
i.rv stood eleven to n for acou1tt
ube first poll, taken shortly after I'll
ca~e was given them. showed ten Il
acduittal and two for conviction II
two being Messrs. ). G. Barrenti'
,.n T.. Gore. Mr. Rarrentine 1T WI
.sfated within a few minutes chang