Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-11-18
VERDICT RECEIVED WITH RE
JoICING BY THE FAMILY AND
FRIENDS OF GREGORY. AND
SILENCE BY OTHERS.

At 4:2O yesterday afternoon The
arguments in the Gregory case
were concluded. They had con-
sumed twelve hours in the delivery
and were the most brilliant and ex-
haustive EFFORTS for just CO ever
made in tbs city.
At 1925 the case was given into
the hands of the jury and they re-
tired into the circuit court room.
During Their absence the anxiety OF
the accused ana his fam ly was ex-
pressed upon their faces.
At 5:25, after an absence OF an
hour. the jury returned, and amidst
an Intense silence, a verdict OF not
guilty was read and the prisoner
stood acquitted.
The expressions OF Joy and rel OF
in the fam ly group gathered around
the dentist were great, while the
throng OF spectators received the
verdict in silence. There was no
demonstration. but when they had
dispersed to the streets strong dis
approval was expressed.
The most of the morn ng session
was taken up by the br lliant at
torney from Berryville. Mr.. Marshal
Mccormick of the defense. He
treated Miss Irvine with all due re-
spect and gentleman y courtesy, but
pronounced her an unfortunately
deluded woman, a subject for COM
mis- ration. He called The case one
OF persecution, not prosecution.
Mr.. Mccormick was followed by
| Mr.. Everett Perkins commonwealth
attorney, who closed for the prose
\ cution. IL argument was a master
piece, and never before had the able
attorney acquitted himself so bril-
| iantly. He made an exhaustive
analysis OF all the evidence pro and
con. He made out a clear case for
the commonwealth, and while de-
pioriig that he must ARA gn the
husband OF love woman whom
he had long known and respected
and honored, the prosecutor argued
most feryently for the conviction of
Gregory, to whom he said the hand
OF guilt clearly pointed.
| Mr.. Perkins spoke at length upon
| the menace to the commonwealth,
that turks in a lenien, trial. He
asserted that when a jury acquits
and the evidence points beyond a
reasonable doubt to the guilt of the
accused, the acquittal weakens the
power OF the law and emboldens
others in the commiss on of the
same crime
Mr.. Perkins closed at APO His
speech covered the case thoroughly
and his argument was master
piece. He had consumed altogether
three hours and forty minutes.
THE JURY RETIRES.
Upon the conclus on OF Mr.. Per
kins speech The jury retired with
Judge Woods into the circuit court
room. He del vered them the in
structions in the case and charged
them with the responsible ty that
faced them.
An hour had passed before any
thing was heard from those IN
whose hands rested the future Of
the prisoner. That hour was one
Of intense suspense 20 the accused
ana the family circle gathered close
y about him
Or m anxiety worked upon the
prisoner at the bar and me lovely
b tile woman, his wife. II showed
its cravings in a thousand ways
tense, drawn features. tight lips,
nervous hands and fingers, and pale
cast of complexion. IT also worked
upon the youthful brows Of promis-
ing sons. It had It's mark ngs upon
the furrowed features OF the father
and grandfather The whole family
group, tense and stlled By the awe
OF the moment, appeared as though
IL m ght have been the creation Of
some sculptor, standing out against
a background OF shifting humanity.
All. for them the moment was n
deed overwhelming in It's terrible
| posslb lities
Around this group shifted a
throng OF lawyers, clerks and eager,
impatient spectators. who discussed
among themselves the probabls YER
d e.. AS the time increased and no
news came from the jury, all be
gan TO be impatient, fearing he dc.
lay meant tied jury. But finally
news came and there was a stiffness
as Of death I'm that court room
The silence was tense and power
ful in its expression. The very cir
was charged with physrc forces and
the exc tement OF the people was
keyed high.