Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-24
Calender for Today.
GRAND Jury BEGINS
WORK IN PO WHATAN
Citizens Throns the Village and Feel
ina Prevails That There May
Yet Be Trouble.
(Rv Associated Press.

.
March .3.-N III" p M. vCrd!r'
was rendered by lhc grand jury lind
ing trl" bill against John Brown.
A, ia y. N. court adjourned until
> y. NJ Tn" grand jurors ar" {. l..
Moshy. J. 5. Wood. T. Il. Porter. a. }!
Atkinson. II. b. Amos. George w.
Moerl.v r. NJ Randolph, }. +. Whit
lock md T.. B. Jones.
Since carly his morning crowd
las been gathering around the village
anxously awaiting the arrival I"
Judge George j Hundlcv, who reached
here ahout li:3u O'Clock. Shortly al
ter his arrival the special grand jury
WAS charged % indict John Brown.
Judge Hundlev came here from
Farmvill.. ard was on the sam" train
with Joseph and Isham Taylor. Lewis
Jenkins and John brown.
John Brown was taken from Rich
mond 10 Farmyille last night. The.
with William BrO.!n. are the main
criminals. and there seems to b" nor
the slightest hope of their escaping
the electric chair
There are only four witnesses LOT
the defense All are children OF John
Brown. who. it is believed. will 40
everything possible 10 prov" an allhl
for their father
Immediately after the grand jury
rendered decision in this case IN"
petit Jury will H. called and the work
of sr!rttin: suitable jury out OF
a ven;re of fiftv-Six men Will begin.
1t is believed hy som" that it will
bc hard 10 find a jury in this county
10 try the FIVE criminals.
Prisoners Heavily Guarded.
4, II O'Clock crowds of men are
coming from every highway and the
village IS being rapidly filed. Around
the courthouse there are more than
two hundred men. and at present eV-
crythne is quiet and no sign OF
trouble has appeared.
/, is believed by som" that there
will be trouble. while others declare
there will not be and that fair 'riat
VIII surely he had. Nevertheless IN"
prisoners will be heavily guarded from
the train to the jail
The court convened about /"
O'Clock
William Justice and Haskins Hob
son. for the defense. expressed them
selves of the belief that William
Brown has better chance than any
OF the first four.
Joseph and Isham TayiOr Lewis
jenkins and John Brown will II" tri"'
together. Immediately after Their
trial will come William Brown.
The pyisoncrs will l." prosecuted
nv Louis O. WendrnhurS. Of Rich
n,ond: ". p. HOn.fant. Of Fowhaian.
and cx-COnSrcssman u. G. Sou'hall,
of Amelia county.
Thir,v-s.x vcnircmcn have already
been summoned for the jury.
Damaging Evidence introduced.
Evidence Of pr"mrditatCd murder
and arson was Introduced at the alter
n,r,u ."ssion at the trial ri Joe ana
Isham TayIor. Lewis Jenkins ana
john Brown. believed 10 bc the chief
conyrirafors III tho muricr 81 Mrs.
N:rv r.. Skipwith and Walter G. JOHN
son or Fci -uary L.
Six Witnesses were examined. Or.
T.. l.. Tompkins. who told Of viewing
fhc dead bodies in the ruins Of the
house: W. s. Johnson. brother Of tho
murdered man: three n"gro-s.
Stephen Johnson. Fleming Johnson
ard EoicTt Johnson. all three Of whom
arc rndcr Indictment for completely in
IN" murder. and Deputy Sheriff Tray
lor OF Hcnrico county
Details OF Tragedy.
The negro witnesses told how isham
TAYLOR deliberately sho' Walter
Johnson. sud how 10" Taylor and
Jenkins Killed Mrs. SkiPwith in her
bed
loo Tav!or 50; firc 20 tho hoUs". ac.
: cor ling to the cTidcncr. Will" John. on
Vas FtilI living begging for aid W"
vas cr"ma'cd rc.idc the body Of Mrs.
| Skipwiih
Tho murder was rrCr1cditai"t. III"
schemes Of The nogrocs iHcludiHg The
| killing of other families and the rob
| hing of their homes.
Thor" has bccn no disorder. al