Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-09-20
s. M Lindsay Tried for Homicide of
Hugh Cummings

The trial Of former Policeman S.
M. Lindsay for the homicide OF
Hugh Cummings wss begun in the
Circuit Court of Rockbridge Mon
day morning, and as we 60 to press
the case is in the hands OF the jury.
The jury is composed Of d. E.
East, Thos. H. Lair, II. P. Sheltman,
w. c. Fix. G. A. Clemmer, ]. c.
Montgomery, o. G. McCorkle. A.
M. Zollman, d. f. Shaw, T.. S. Bow
yer. w. L. Bryan, c. E. Mackey.
This morning the Court gave In
structions to the jury and the argu-
ment began.
The trial has excited wide inter
est in town and county. 1t was set
for last Friday. but on account of
the Patterson trial was postponed
until Monday OF this week. All dur
ing the hearing of the case the
Courthouse was filled with specta-
tors, and the gallery was crowded
with negroes, Considerable time
was occupied at different stages OF
tue tris with controversies betwe cen
counsel for the Common wealth and
those for the defense concerning
the admission of certain lines Of evil
dence. The Common wealth was re-
presented by Commonwealth At
torney Moore and Mr.. Charles Curry
of Staunton, and Mr.. Lindsay by
Messrs. Glasgow & White.
The story OF the homicide was
told in the columns of this paper of
date August 9, 1911, the shooting
having taken place the afternoon
before on Main street, near the
steps leading into the Virginia Mil
itary Institute grounds.
The first witness called Monday
was John R. Ruley. He related the
story OF trouble at home by Hugh
Cummings abusing Ruley's wife
when he swore out warrant for his
arrest. Justice Pierson issued the
warrant and gave it to Lindsay to
serve. Chief of Police Parent ac-
companied them down to Cummings
home. On his way down Lindsay
said he was going to bring Cum
mings IL he had TO kill every one in
the house. Arrived at Cummings
Lindsay knocked at the door. Mrs.
Cummings came to the door. Lind
say told her he had a warrant for
the arrest OF Hugh Cummings. She
told him that her husband had his
suit case packed and expected to go
away the next day and she did not
want him arrested. Besides, she
had not sworn out a warrant fer him.
Hugh Cummings came to the door
and Lindsay read the warrant and
placed him under arrest. His wife
pulled him back into the house and
shut the doo:. Lindsay pulled his
gun and threatened to shoot. Dee
Cummings came out and Lindsay
struck him on the head several times
with his pistol, causing blood to
flow, Lindsay and Parent started
up street with Dee Cummings I'M
der arrest and while near tie V. NJ.
l. steps Hugh Cummings came out
and approached the officers with
part of brickbat in his right hand.
Lindsay seeing him called him to
stop, and after he had stopped
Lindsay snapped his pistol once
and the second time it went off.
Cummings did not haye his hand
raised; be could not as his arm was
paraly zed. Cummings fell dead.
BefU . shooting Parent told Lind
say several times to put up his pis-
toll and not shoot that man. Lind
say then ordered me to take hold oil
Dee Cummings. 1 did so, and 60
ing up town Lindsay met Ruley' s
sister and threatened to shoot her.
He also met ice Ruley and threaten
ed him. l helped to put Dee Cum.
mings in Jail.
Dee Cummings was the next wit.
ness and he corroborated the testi.
mony OF Ruley. One additional item
he mentioned was that when Officers
Parent and Lindsay were on the
porch previous to the arrest Dee
said to them, You had better &c