Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-01-21
Sen fenced for Life.

The trial of Herbert Thomas, colored
for the murder of his wife, Olio E. Thomns
colored, near Sandy Spring, this county
on the 3rd of May 1909, began in the
circuit court here on Wednesday, day set
specially at the last November term for it
to be taken up. The case was submitted
to the Court, Judge Henderson sitting alone
in the trial. Forty-six witnesses were
called. large majority of whom answered.
They were about evenly divided numerically
between the prosecution and the defense
The circumstances of the killing as dis
closed by the States witnesses are that
Thomas with a shot gun in his hands
assaulted his wife on her return from
church Sunday night previous to the muir
der, drove her into the house, followed her
in and locked the door Matte Thomas,
sister of Olio Thomas, and a negro man
of the name of Hill accompanied Clio
Thomas, wife of Herbert Thomas, from
church to her home, where they were shot
at standing in the public highway, by Her
bert Thomas from an upstairs window.
Neither of whom received any injury. John
Matthews. the father-in-law of Herbert
Thomas, who resided about 200 yards
distant, heard the shot and was attracted
to the home of Herbert Thomas. Mat
thews asked for his daughter to be re-
leased and was refused He stated that
he would 60 for an officer. Thomas re-
piled that if any officer broke into his
house that night that he would shoot him
down. At this point everything Quoted
down for the night.
Monday morning Clio Thomas stated
to her husband that she wanted to 90 over
to her fathers. Her husband went with
her. After the lapse of about half hour,
the husband invited the wife to return to
their home with him. She refused to do
so, at the same time alleging she was
afraid of him and she was going for an
officer to have him arrested Thomas
returned home alone His wife and her
sister started from their father house over
a path through the woods leading to Sandy
Spring, which was about IA miles away
to secure the services of an officer for the
arrest of Thomas. When within 200 yards
of Sandy Spring they were faced by
Herbert Thomas. He, in a very excited
manner, said to his wife, You called me
a murderer" She denied making the charge
He then discharged in the air one of the
barrels of the shot gun he had in his hand
His wife started to run. He pursued her,
and when within two feet of her with the
muzzle of the gun fired the contents of the
other barrel into her back. She died a few
seconds after the shot was fired. He re-
marked that he was going to give himself
up to an officer
The attorney for the defense questioned
Matte Matthews on cross examination
with stress as to the loose manner of her
sisters living and the encouragement given
her numerous lovers attention.
The States Attorney objected to the adj
mission of such evidence.
The Court decided that it was proper tes-
timony, as going to show the condition of
the prisoners mind at the time of his deed
The taking of the testimony and the ar
gument in the case were concluded Thurs
day at noon.
Judge Henderson decided that Herbert
Thomas was guilty of murder and SEN
fenced him to the penitentiary for life