Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-04-13
INCENDIARIES
FOUND GUILTY
Ending Of Case That Has Held
Snow Hill in Suspense An
Able Defense Fair Trial


ton vickers. charged with attempting
to burn Mason's Opera House. Snow
Hill. on the night of the 2lst of Febru-
airy. came to close last Saturday night,
and after consulting for twenty-fiv
minutes the jury brought in a verdict of
guilty.
The members of the jury were: Alex
ander II. Stevens. Edward w. Davis, X.
Harlem Robertson. Charles S. Dale,
Levin j. Bunting. r. Scott Richie, John
]. Collins, julius p. Jones, Daniel C.
Holloway, Hiram d. Littleton, Frank
P. Bailey. and Captain George w. Truitt.
Tho Court House was filled to over
flowing. as the people of Snow Hill were
much interested in the case. For weeks
it had been the one subject of CONVERSE
tion and during the trial business in the
town was almost suspended so great
was the excitement and interest mani
tested by old and young.
Vickers and Lewis were given a fair
trial, and their guilt had been established
to the satisfaction of the public. Their
lawyers. as was their duty, fought over
every inch of ground in their defense
and when the verdict was rendered by
the jury, made motion for new trial.
Judge Jones said he would hear argu-
ment on Monday morning.
When Court was called at nine clock
Monday morning the Court room was
well filed. Messrs. Upshur and Handy
made their arguments and sat down.
Without hearing the States Attorney
Judge Jones denied the motion. and af
ter consultation with counsel for the
prisoners and the States Attorney, or
dered the Sheriff to bring Vickers and
Lewis into Court. When they arrived
they apparently knew their fate and the
only hope left them was the considera-
tion of merciful Judge. Judge Jones
ordered the prisoners to stand up and in
sentencing them TO seven years each in
the penitentiary he said that certain
representations had just been made to
him which came too late. YOU" he
said, "have been convicted of most
serious crime. for which you must pay
the penalty. and the Court must now
pass sentence upon you.
1t is understood that the reference
made by Judge Jones to representations
lust made to him. was the confession of
Oscar Lewis that it was he and not
Vickers who set fire to the Opera House,
although there is no denial that Vickers
was with him.
States Attorney Johnson had woven
a net of evidence around the prisoners
from which they could not escape and
he presented the case in masterful
manner that carried conviction to the
jury.
Fire was discovered in Mason's Opera
House on the night of February 2lst,
between twelve and one O'Clock. The
wind was blowing gale and il the fire
had not been discovered promptly there
is no doubt that the entire business Sec
ton of Snow Hill would have been de-
stroyed.
When the trial of Lewis and Vickers
was commenced on Thursday OF last
week the first witness placed on the
stand by States Attorney johnson was
MIR. Stephen G. Mason. the owner Of
the Opera House. He stated that Lewis
had been in arrears with his rent. and
he had made demands on him for pay
ment: that Lewis apparently became
angry because Mr.. Mason had called on
Lewis father in regard to the matter.
Mr.. Lewis. Sr., being on the rental con-
tract: that the witness was told by Le-
land Richardson, clerk in the employ
Of Oscar G. Lewis, that lewis was an
CRY and that he had better look out for
trouble; that, therefore, he asked Will
liam Stevens, night telephone operator,
whose office is in an adjoining building,
to keep an eye on Mason's building that
tllkult dboub AA.oo ". uis Ntotthet eotAh-
son came to his house and told him that
he thought there was something wrong
going on: that about l3O in the morn
ing the witness sister came to his room
ana said that somebody had called from
outside that he was wanted at once; that
he Immediately dressed and went down
to the street, but finding that the cleo
trio lights were not burning and fearing
trouble, not knowing who had called
him. he went back home and die not go
down town: that he learned of the fire
from the. telephone operator the next
morning.
Richardson. the clerk Of Lewis. testi-
fled To the same effect, and further that
Lewis business was in bad condition;
that his stock had run down and his
credit was bad; that he saw Lewis day
or two before the fire take some papers
...s .f he g.. &h.t alton 4 annie -, A