The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-08
NEWSOME'S FATE
IN HANDS Of Jury
State Asks for Verdict Of Murder
in the Second
Degree.

Especial 70 The Times-D!spateh.J
Emporia, Va. February The
fourth day of tie trial of Carries New
acme charged with the killing OF Wade
Ferguson. began this morning. when
the defense placed upon the witness
stand Mrs Thomas Nawsome, the
mother Of the accused youth, and
sought TO prove that bad element
OF prenatal influence largely entered
into the general mental makeup OF
her boy thereby rendering him I'M
responsible Joseph y. Bailey. deputy
shs-in Of C;.eencsviIle County. was also
called upon the stand FOR the purpose
Of proving that the father OF ChJrhe
Newsorne mad upon various occasions
shown - decided mental irr.tabiiity.
apparently without provocatioa; that
be mad been upon three or four oc-
caslons an inmate Of liquor cure
ssnatorium. this being neiofe young
Newsome was born.
During the day a report was c.rcu-
lated to the effect that compromise
verdict would be rendered IN Tn cease.
A. the report went he defense vas
70 agree 20 accept ave years In the
reforrnatory. but the prosecution.
while not showing IT, hand, refused 10
accept such verdict.
=, 4.so O'Clock this afternoon both
sides rested their case. Judge Vests
Instructions 70 the jury were fair. I'M
partial and explicit. and left no doubt
as 10 the various degrees OF murder
o., rnsnsis lighter.
Argument VAS opened by Harry Ia
Taylor, Of counsel for the Common
wealth. VINO spoke for one hour and
thirty minutes. Mr.. Tsylor's effort
was vigorous. and made splendid
impression upon his hearers. lie re-
viewed yly.dly the evidence before the
Jury.
A p. BufoId. counsel for the de-
Tense. followed M. Taylor. He occu-
pied the attention OF the jury for
nearly two hours. Mr.. Buford's efforts
were made with feeling and eject
He pleaded for a light sentence lie
admitted the mistake Of his client but
strongly urged leniency. Mr. Butord
made il plain that while he and ms
associates had been unable TO disproVe
The evidence built up by the Common
wealth. they had done their best ana
asked the jury for mercy The speak
er spoke feelingiy in closing his ar
gumenr.
Commonwealth Attorney William
VI. Powell. following the preceding at
tor.ey. spoke Of his sad duty IN con-
uection with the case as prosecutor:
,ha. he had been a bosom friend and
neighhor of the mother and father Tor
many wears; that he had known the
accused since babyhood and that ne
deeply deplored being so placed tnat
he was forced 20 be one in prosecut-
ing the accused: but he had duty 20
perform, and despite all past personal
relations with the family. he owed the
commonwealth and the people debt
he was forced TO pay. He asked Tor a
CON Iere verdict. according TO the evi-
dence.
Nr. Sou,han. for the defense, made a
pathetic and eloquent plea for ms eli
emit Bringing up before the jury the
accused boy. Mr. SouthaH ASKED ior
pity and mercy. John " SenreD' 'fp
closed for the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth has asked Tor
second degree verdict The case went
TO the Jury at I1:45 o'clock Tonight
and at one minute 20 IL the jury came
in. when. under. the Law, the court
was adjourned. and at l2;vo recon
vened, the jury returning 10 theif 1oo..,
for further deliberation y Veroic'
may be reached tonight
The points fought over both by the
defense and prosecution were wnether
Young NewsoIne Was guilty. OF seconu
degree murder or -1ansiaughter- Upon
these grounds Judge Vest gave most
careful instruction to the jury Az
1875 O'Clock the jury reported TO the
court they could not agree upon YER
dict They were out altogether nifty
minutes. The court will hold the jury
over until Q O'Clock tomorrow. when
in all proba bility a verdict VIII ne
reached