Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-28
JUDGE kAkTS FAIR
TRAILS IN POvyHA TAN
HundIy Roasts People Who Would
Form opinion Upon Newspa-
per Articles.


The proceedings In the Skipwith-
Johnson murder eases at tnIs cour,
term are summed up as follows:
In the case Of Charles and EN-
manuel Brown the commonwealth 5
! attorney stated that he did not have
evidence sufficient To go into trial az
this term OF court and moved for a
1 continuance. This motion the coun-
Sc! for the prisoners opposed on the
ground that since February. when the
first arrests were made, the COM
monwealth had had ample time 10
gather all the evidence possible ana
that il the cases should be dismissed
now they could be reindicted If more
evidence should ever be discovered
duplicating these men.
The court stated that the consti-
tuition guaranteed to the accused a
speedy trial at the same term n
which they are indicted If practi-
cable.
Trial Awaits New Evidence.
The Judge did not think that -
ought longer TO restrain the men OF
their liberty and that they must be
tried now unless the commonwealth
attorney could convince him that he
had the prospect of discovering i'm
portant evidence TO connect these
men with the crime in the near fu-
ture
Thereupon the commemorative at
torney asked leave to enter nolic
prosequi In the case OF Charles anu
Emmanuel Brown. ollie Ross, Monte
Johnson and of Annie Taylor, which
the judge allowed.
The commemorative attorney sta
ted that he wished TO try Mamie Fay
lor, but that he and H. NJ. Smith haa
agreed to let IL go over To the next
term. but the judge said that under
all the circumstances he thought he
had better change the venue In the
latter case and in the cases OF Elem
ing. Stephney and Robert Johnson.
the boys who turned States evidence.
to Prince Edward county. where they
would all be tried June 15.-This viii
in all probability end the Skipwith
and Johnson murder cases.
Resents Interference.
The court charged the grand jury
as follows:
Gentlemen. you have been sum-
moned to take into consideration in
dictments of two men who have been
arrested since the last term of cour,
in connection with the SkIpwith anu
Johnson murder. and regret to have
to allude to an attempt of certain
people in this community to inter-
fere with the ordinary cause OF JUS
tice by publications in the newspa-
pers, the object of which was 10 ar
ray public sentiment on one side or
the other in these cases.
This is the most extraordinary
and outrageous attempt | have ever
known to try men by public opinion
instead of by the organized and duly
authorized tribunals established for
that purpose, and such conduct will
not be tolerated for a moment by
this court
Il have thought that IL might be
my duty to summon these persons to
the bar of this court to answer for
this attempt TO interfere with the
administration of justice. but ] am
willing to believe and do believe
that some who participated In thesc
publications did 1t thougntlessly ano
ty of their conduct.
Ignores Communications.
Therefore. | shall pass it by. only
imposing upon you the duty of en-
tirely ignoring this improper effort
to influence the trial of these cases.
and to do your duty If the evidence jus
titles it. or by refusing TO indict thers
If you do not think the evidence con-
meets them with this murder
The above is a correct statement OF
the charge OF the judge to the grand
jury and is ali that he said. He
showed no bitterness Whatever.
The court did not consider that the
articles were intended to cast or did
cast any reflection upon itself or any
officer or juror. and the cordial rela-
tons existing between the Judge and
the Offices and citizens have in no
wise been affected.
For Judge Hdndley, both person
ally and officially. the highest esteem
is felt by every one. and it Is no
exaggeration to say that bis course
all through these trials mas met with
warm commentator.
Woman Out on Bail.
Monte johnson. who has been IN
jail fer some time as a suspect in
the murder case. was tried before
Squire Crump on n charge OF carry
ing knocks at the time OF MS aTress.
and was fined S25 ard costs He AT
once procured sufficient sum for the
payment OF the fine and went his way
, rejoicing.
Cour; is in session today hearing
chaEcery cases.
Judge Hundiev viii leave this at
ternoon for Farmv.iie after court ad-
journs.