The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-31
ELDEST ALGER BOY
CONFESSES MURDER
$50
DECLARES HE DID NOT KNOW HE
HAD KILLED OSWALD
GRAY.
INTEREST is GREA T
LURAY CASE POSSESSING ELE-
MENTs ENTERING INTO ALLEN
TRIAL BRINGS MOUNTAIN
CLANS INTO TOWN.
is GREAT

Especial to The Richmond yirginian.
LuRAY, VA. Oct. 30,--While on
the witness stand today, Thomas Alger
testifying at the trial of his. brother.
Emmanuel, confessed that he slew
young Oswald Gray. He said that he
slew him In the darkness, not knowing
the extent of the injuries he was in
ficting as he literally disembowled
young Gray.
The almost tangible darkness of the
night prevented any Of the party
knowing for a certainty who had in
fltcted the mortal wounds.
This confession today will doubtless
result In the acquittal Of Emanuel and
Leon Alger. the two younger brothers,
and will perhaps go a long way in
give the arch offender. The trial of
Emmanuel Alger is still in progress.
Thomas Comes Next.
The trial of Thomas Alger will
come up in few days Hons. Rich
ard s. Parks and NJ. l.. Walton, coun-
sci for the Alger boys have fought
the case from every angle of advan-
tage. while the prosecution has been
vigorously made by Commonwealth g
Attorney Keyser. assisted 10y Colonel
Robert f. Leedy, of the Second Vir-
EiIIIeh tEE AaSG A1dao VA NUN
| ingham county. is presiding.
In many respects possessing ele-
ments not unlike the Allen case, the
Alger murder trial Is engrossing to a
| large degree the attention of sthis
county.
This is especially true OF the Blue
Ridge element. These people have
vertically taken Luray' since the be-
ginning of this trial. They have come
in every conceivable conveyance on
horseback, in buggies. in road wagons
and afoot, men and women meeting
on common ground in their mode of
many of these people have an abiding
/ horror, believing that here is the
| fountain head of all their trouble.
Their First Trip.
They regard Luray as the meeting
place of the States law making body.
| This is the first trip of many of these
people to Luray. Those on foot have
| chosen air line routes to reach Luray.
this town nesting in the Page val
| ley, being easily seen on clear days
| from the mountain home OF these
| people far up on the Blue Ridge. In
fact. many of those Interested In the
trial of the Alger boys claim Madison
as their home. The tragedy oc-
/ Cured orly a short distance from the
/ line between Page and Madison coun-
| ties Witnesses In the case stretch
| out the distance between Luray and
| their residence to unreasonable
| lengths when they report their mile
age. Eighteen. twenty and some as
high as twenty Ave miles the clan
nish folk respond as when County
F.! Clerk Weaver demands their mile
age.
Many On Foot
| In addition to those who have come
| in private conveyances and afoot the
| trial has afforded an opportunity 10
1 many to have made their first ride on
I railroad train These have walked
! from their mountain home to Stanley.
a small station on the Norfolk ana
/ Western railroad nine miles south or
| Iuray. From this station to the coun-
| ~ seat the fare has been paid by many
| Of the men from the sale of chest
| nuts they have been gathering in the
mountains for several weeks
1t Is no uncommon sight to see the
men with a sack Of the nuts strung
around their necks. These they dis
pense at five cents a pint. In this
way a small sack OF the chestnuts
easily pay the car fare to and from
Luray, leaving balance for the tots
/ at home. These people, like all of
| those tlFlfiE III the ~oiuC ANiasC ~
| gion. have a strict sense OF honesty.
AS far as depreciation from them II
concerned the stores of this town
could with impunity remain open
day and night without their wares
being disturbed.
Clannish Feeling.
Strict adherence TO truth compeie
the statement in their defense that
| the only trouble with the element is
that 1t believe 1t has heen discrimi-
mated against in the making and en-