Evening journal., 1908-11-12
TRYING MAN
FOR HIS LIFE
EIwOOd Virgins, COIOred, AC-
CuSed OfFirSt Degree Murder
Of William E. Denby
SHOOTING FOLLOWED
A CRAP GAME


Indicted on a charge of first degree
murder, Islwood Virgins a middle aged
colored man. was placed on trial for his
life in oyer and Terminer Court this
morning A shooting, which resulted i'm
tie death Of William Edward DENLY.
another colorcd man; followed crap
game at Hamtown. near Middletown. on
Sunday July %. 1907 Donby died seven
days later from lockiaw which the State
contends was caused directly by the gun
shot wound. David j. Reinhardt appears
for Wiggins
The ompanclling OF a jury to try ihe
case occupied two hours OF the morning
session - court. William r. Robinson is
foreman OF the jury. Tho regular Jury
panel having been exhausted by numerous
challenges Jobez Banks John II. Norris
and George Graves were drawn from the
court room audience TO serve as jurors
In the case
Before the jury Deputy Attorney Gen
eral Hastings said the state would en-
deavor to show that previous to the
shooting Of DENLY. Virgins. at the point
of pistol. compelled Henry Anderson
and Frank woolford to return to MIN
money which he said he had lost in the
crap game Wiggins then, according 10
Mr. Hastings. made like demand upon
DENLY and when the man refused he was
shot twice by Virgins. the wounds result
ing in Denbys death Oh August l. Wig
gins fed the state but was later caught
IN Philadelphia. Mr.. Hastings concluded
by declaring that the state would prove
confession on tho part Of the prisoner.
his excuse being that DENLY had hrst
thrown a brick ~ him.
First Witness Called
Edward Ayers colored. was the
States first witness He told Of the
crap game and Of Virgins. armed with
loaded revolver demanding mons
from Anderson and WNolford. getting
s. from one man and $3.50 from an
other and then making a like demand
upon DENLY Ayers said DENLY refused
10 turn over his money to Virgins,
whereupon the prisoner. with an oath,
declared he would shoot DENLY. a
second later Virgins fired two shots
in the direction Of Denby one of which
struck the man in the left breast. Wig
I
In cross-cxamination, Ayers denied
that the men had quarreled previous to
the shooting and that DENLY had at
tackled Virgins with stones. Ayers
also denied that he was OH bad terms
with Virgins
The trial will be resumed this af-
ternoon.
The grand jury returned a bill
T.I Inc
the election laws. A bill charging W.
II. Layton with a like offense was ig-
nored.
! In court yesterday afternoon the jury
in the case of William Boyer. alias
Honey Boy" accused of the theft Of
registration book from James l.. Con-
nor. Democratic watcher in the Fourth
district Of the Second ward on October
I L. reported a disagreement after four
hours deliberation. II was said that
the body stood ten for acquittal and
two for conviction.
The case of John Goodwin. charged
with breach of the peace, an episode
growing out Of the Boyer transaction,
was not brought to the attention of the
grand jury, the case being dropped by
Attorney General Richards.
A nOlle prOsequi was entered in the
case Of Raymond Coleman. colored,
charged with the larceny Of shoes and
cigars from a freight car of the Bal
tlmore and Ohio railroad the State
being satisfied that Coleman was in
nocent of the charge.
John E. Hyatt. charged with the lar
ceny of 500 pounds Of iron from Ma
thaniel Richards, a Brandywine Hun
dred blacksmith, was acquitted by a
jury.
Solomon Churchville. colored. plead
ed guilty 10 stealing a riIs;, valued at
S55 from Daniel Bubenzer. and was
sentenced TO three months imprisou-
lment.
Guisepi Teoli. alias Joseph Teval
lcharged with the murder of Andrea
lMuligliO, at Wooddale, on September
30. was arraigned and after pleading
mot guilty TO the charge, his counsel
Leonard T.. Wales. obtained continu-
lance until the January term.