Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-17
vANOYKE SENTENCED
TO EIGHTEEN YEARS
CONTINUED from First Page.)

10 the law and the evidence; on &c
count cl the misconduct OF the com
monwealth's attorney; the misruling'
of the court, etc. | would also ash
your honor TO name day when ! cal
be heard on this notion
MIR. Collier" said Judge Robinson
Il have carefully watched this cast
and | cannot see anything in the yer
diet that would justify the court in
changing IL. SO therefore | am goins
to override the motion and you can
note am appeal TO the Supreme
Court"
Would your honor suspend sen
tence for sixty days was the reply
from Mr.. Collier, so uhat | may pre-,
sent the case TO the higher court and
ask for a writ of error
Sentence Suspended.
Il am going to sentence the pris-
oner right now" said Judge Robinson.
but | will allow you thirty days In
which to carry the case up. | am de-
termined that there shan be no delay
in preparing this record and | think
thirty days sufficient
Again Clerk Holt ordered Earl
A. Vandyke stand up. Is there any
reason why the court should not pro-
coed TO pronounce sentence upon
you in accordance with the verdict
'of the jury?"
mot Guilty" Says Prisoner.
II am not guilty" was the feeble
reply from the prisoner.
Mr.. Vandyke," were the solemn
words that now fell from the lips Of
the court, you have been found
guilty OF a most serious crime by a
jury of your peers, after fair and
impartial trial. This court is not
prepared to say that the jurys find
ing is incorrect, as nothing has &C.
CURED to prejudice your case and
you have had fair and impartial
trial by a most excellent jury, so
therefore 1t is the duty of the court
to sentence you to spend eighteen
years in the jail house or penitentiary
of Virginia"
The verdict was received in silence.
Most OF the spectators breathed a
sigh OF relief when the prisoner was
taken from the courtroom back TO the
county Jail.
The immense crowd in the court
room dispersed quietly and at 1920
O'Clock the notable trial had ended
insofar as the Circuit Court is con-
cerned.
No Time Lost.
The fact that Vandyke was in
Gicted, tried ana convicted in two
weeks after the commission of his al
legged crime shows that the court Of
ficials lost no time in bringing the
man 10 trial. There has been a
great deal of favorable comment
upon Judge Robinson's prompt and
Efficient atcion in this case.
Among most of those who heard the
case the decision of the jury meets
doubts raised as to whether Vandyke
really accomplished his crime or only
attempted it and the jury gave him
the benefit of that doubt. Eighteen
years in the penitentiary is the maxi
mum prison sentence in Virginia
1t is said that when the first bal
lot was taken two members OF the
jury voted for the death penalty,
while the ten others wanted a peni-
Tertiary verdict ranging from two to
eighteen years. Eighteen years was
agreed upon as a compromise.
Mr.. Collier Not Satisfied.
Mr.. Fay S. Collier, Vandyke's coun-
sci. is not satisfied with the verdict.
Hr. Collier says he is confident OF
the innocence of the prisoner, and de-
clares that he is going to fight the
case through the Supreme Court and
has every confidence of having the
verdict reversed. He said the jury
was "cowardly" for not making the
punishment death if they believed the
man guilty.
Judge Edgar Z. Montague, the com
monweaith's attorney, had no com
ment to make, further than TO say
that the jurors were the sole judges
of the guilt or innocence of Vardyke
IL was evident that he was salts
fed that a conviction was secured
Mr.. y. A. Lewis, who assisted Judge
Montague in the prosecution, said he
was satisfied with the jury's decision
Girls Mother Satisfied.
Katie Chandler. the mother of the
dead girl, also said she is satisfied
with the jury's verdict, but shs
firmly believes the man guilty of hel
stauvhfar-c daofh