Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-20
YOUTH SHOT DOWN HIS SWEETHEART
Finding Young Woman in Company
of Rival. and His Advances Being
Repulsed. Shot Her in the Back
Gibert's Body is Turned Over to
Relatives.

Slllla : new citctflc CHAIR Cihiiii'd 49,
first white victim this morning abou.
30 o'clock, when Ben. Gilbert. me
nnctcrn-yelr-old Norfolk youth VINO
killed Miss Amanda Morse. eX"iated
his atrociouS crime.
The execution. which was super
vised by Major Evan r. Morgan. tn"
head f the priSOh, was accompanied
By no sensational or except 2nailE
narrowing incidents, AMI the cond mn
ed youth was courageOu; to the end.
Gilbert was attended by Rev. Viii
liam f. Robertson. paS,cr of Randolph
Stree; Baptist church. who had been
with him frequently aftrr IN" muir
derer reached the penltcntiary.
TIL" body was turned over to rela-
,ivcs Ct The Inflated youth shortly
after the electrocutiGn. and was ship
ped to Norfolk on the 9 o'clock train.
Because she had spurned him for
the attentions Of another young man.
Gilbert shot down pretty Amanda
ID. Morse. on Campostella Bridge in
Norfolk. Va, July 30. last. The girl
fingered fer twenty-four hours. her
death occurring at ST. Vincent's Hos
pital, to which institution she had
been removed Immediately following
the shooting, Hearing that Gilbert
had threatened to kill his daughter.
7. O. Morse. father OF the girl. went
to lcok for Gilbert and reason with
him. Going the wrong way Morse
missed Gilbert and twenty minutes
later. while still in search OF the
youth, was told that he had, shot his
daughter The father rushed to the
scene and the fact that he could find
no one to furnish him with a pistol
was all that prevented double tras-
rdy.
On the hot summer night MISS
Morse and several young friends went
10 Campostella Bridge for breath
of air from across the water They
were conversing on the bridge when
young Gilbert approached. Miss
Morse's escort, w. G. Mitchell. no
ticed Gilber, acting peculiarly. Gil,
bert asked the girl 10 see him private
ly She replied that if he had any
thing to say to ner he could say it
then and there. Gilbert. making no
reply. Miss Morse turned from him
and took the arm of Mitchell to walk
further en- the bridge. Just as she
did so Gilbert drew his pistol and fired
three times at her. Two OF the bul
lets entered the girls back. The
third graZed the coat CT Mitchell. Gil
bert would have been mobbed but for
the ariy arrival Ct the police. He
claimed to have been engaged TO the
girl and declared that their wedding
was scheduled for an early date when
she spurned him.
Gilbert's defense was general de
pravify and mental irresponsibility
it being sought at mis- trial 10 prove
hereditary insanity After the 'ria
eight members OF tine jury Deiiiionet
Governor Swanson TO commute Gil
bert's death sentence TO life iIprison
ment in the state peni!rntiary. The
jury in rendering its verdict recon-
me ndcd the prisoner TO the mere,
Ct The court Judge HenckeI sub
mitred this recommendation to the
Governor. VII. declared that " h.
sSould commute GIiocrt he could no
permit another man to be eNecutcI
for murder so long as he occupiet
the gubernatoI iaI chair The Suprem,
G ur' was then appealed to. amons
the grounAs being tina, Gilbert had
become insane since his conviction
and that tho act Cf the Legislature
changing the mode Of infiicting tn,
death penalty in Virginia from hang
ing 10 cIcciricution vas strange an
unusual" and therefore in conflict
with the cons tuition Of the state
The Supreme Court denied a writ o
error on Gilbert's appeal and Cover
nor Swanson. who had granted nc
merous respitcs t. Permi, court &C
ticn refused To interfere further.
GiIbcr-'s' parents scent their all IL
an enort 10 ave his life. even NOR,