The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-18
JURY DECLARES !
SMITH INNOCENT
CHEsTERrrELD MAN Is TRIED AND
RELEASED ON CHARGE OF
KILLING WALKER.
NO EYE WITH f S s r S
DEFENDANT ON STAND ron HIM
SELF DECLARES HE nm NOT
FIRE UNTIL SHOT IN
THE SIDE

tertlay afternoon only five minutes to
decide that Clement r. Smith vas justi-
liable In killing Joseph Walker at his
hon.e on the night of April nth,
Following the hearing OF the eva
dence the jury was taken to the scene
% the shooting which is eight miles
from the Chesterfield courthouse. Ee-
turning ar argument of one hour by
Sanuel w. thinner. representing the
accused ard Commemorative Attorney
HaslIins Hohson was heard. md by q
o'clGea the Jury was given the case.
Smith Tetls Of Shooting.
Smith was the first witness to take
he stand in his defense. He said that
on the day OF the shooting he and his
wifs went. to Petersburg 10 attend to
SOM, business. and as had always been
their custom they carried Il revolver
with them in q small handbag. He
said that while on his way back home
tho handle to the handbag broke. and
ne put the gun In his pocket
when I arrived home" he testified,
my little son told me that Mr.. Smith
had been to nay house and left word
for me to come over to his house and
get calf that he had taken up that
belonged 10 me.
Walker Shot First.
when | arrived at Walkers house
Il rae ABOUT Pr 70 -a'cloch.4 and. he had
gone 10 bed. Knocked ar the door.
and hss told ME to wait until he could
dress When he opened the door
told him that 7 had come after my
calf, To which he replied that could
not get 1t: that he had caught 1t tres
IA ssing on his PROMISES. and by law
Is belonged IN him.
''tn answer TO this told him that l
would no 10 n justice ~ the peace and
..xs y I'm, hc Ia a.
suered: IN he d. II you will settle il
IN that With those words he reach :
ed into his DOORWAY and g0t his Rnn.
When ! saw what he had in his hand
turned and fed. | had only gotten
about fifteen feet away when he fred
on me. large portion of tho load
lodging in my left size and hand. while
a lantern tina, was holding in my
hand was shattered.
Relieving my life was endangered
drew my revolver and fired at hiy1
twice. and then another time from over
my shoulder after l had ran a few
steps further"
Smith said he spent the night In his
own home and early the next morn
ing went to Petersburg to have the
wounds drSssed.
: In the meantime. not knowing that
Walker had fallen victim to any OF
Lue oulictS urea Dy uST HUSBAND,
Smiths wife swefe out warrant for
the arrest of Walker, charging hin,
with wounding her husband.
Shot in Hand.
While on the stand Smith showed
the jury his left side. In which five OF
the No. shots had entered. Several
of the shots entered his arm, but the
larger portion penetrated the left
hand.
a biood-staind vest and coat, the
ones worn by Smith on the night OF
the shooting, with a large number OF
holds made by the shot were dis
played.
Earl Clement Smi.:i. son OF the ac-
cused, was put on the stand and cor
roborated his fathers testimony about
the message being left for him by
Walker to come over and get the calf
There were no eye-witneases.
J. III. Gill and Luther jackson, who
have been residents OF Chesterfield for
a number OF years. testified that Wal.
ker had the reputation Of being Of q
qusrreisome nature and had PARTED.
patAd in several quarrels with hit
neighbors. They said he was coh~
sadcred dangerous man and wal
fesyed by the entire cctnmunity.