The Washington bee., 1908-03-07
ATTORNEY GREEN'S GREAT
LEAGUE VICTORY.
,m the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Overwhelmed when a jury, after ri
hours delberation, found Wade Leigh,
on trial for first degree murder, guilty
cf assault and battery, Judge Phillips
yesterday scored the jurymen unspar-
ingly. 1t was thought at $50 yesterday
afternoon that the jurors would not be
able to agree, having been ont since 3
Thursday, and Leigh was on the point
of pleading guilty TO manslaughter, pun
ishabIe with twenty years, when the
gong rang, announcing that the jurors
had reached verdict.
Slowly the twelve filed into the box.
Criminal Court Clerk Flick called the
roll, then read their verdict, guilty Of
assault and battery" While the pris-
oner, happy sprang to shake each juror
by the hand his attorney John ?. Green
made speech of thanks Prosecutor
Lieghley followed with his gratitude, but
irony was apparent in his words. Judge
Phillips sat flushed and motionless on
the bench until these ceremonies ended,
then he launched forth
"This verdict IS a miscarriage Of
Justice" he said 1T is preposterOus.
II such were the rule, We might as
we'll have no more law, shut up our
court houses" AS the prisoner walked
trembling to his desk, the judge said
that from the facts the accused him
self conceded to be true, he wa$ lOgi-
cally guilty of murder in the first de-
gree Instead of death i'll the electric
chair, Leigh escaped with work house
sentence of SIX months and a fine of
$500 and costs.
Wade Leigh, Negro about twenty
five, was put on trial ten days ago for
the shooting OF Vernon Love, another
Negro, in a saloon on East Ninth street
1t nine in the evening of December II.
Leigh's witnesses testified in the course
of the trial that Love, who had a bad
man" reputation, after g quarrel, way
laid Leigh outside a saloon at 7.3o that
night and hurled two bottles at him,
grazing his head. Two hours after
Leigh found himself in another saloon
forther down the street; Love follow
ed. Leigh says Love flashed a knife
Leigh fired; his opponent fell dead
At three o'clock Thursday Judge
Phillips was overcome by the verdict.
Then he told Leigh to rise, and began;
This verdict is preposterous l can
not account for it; that a jury of II
intelligent men should hold you guilty
Of so light a charge after they heard
the evidence in this case is to me un-
accountable.
From the facts you yourself admit
and from your explanation of your
movements that night, the only logical,
rational conclsuion is that you are gull
ty of murder in the first degree. Such
a verdict may well inspire our citizens
with a feeling of insecurity and encour-
age the commission of high crime. IT.
is a miscarriage OF justice"
The jurymen, silent filed out Of the
room The work house sentence, 5000,
costs and SIX months will keep the pris-
oner many years in the institution, If
worked out; the length of time depends
upon the total costs in the case.
WILL THE BEE STOP AND READ? |
From the Cadiz Informer.
Editor Chase is a splendid writer,
but when he gets on the preachers for
getting on the right side of moral ques-
lions we cite him to read the follow
ing Scriptures: Jeremiah, xxxv. where |