Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
BOTH BROTHERS MUST
Die IN ELECTRIC CHAIR
James Canter Is Found Guilty OF As
saulting and Numbering Mrs.
Maude Wilson.
LUTHER ALREADY CONVICTED
They Will BE Brought to State Peni.
Tertiary and Put to Death on June
11-Jury Returns Verdict After
Thirty Minutes.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1

ABINGDON, VA, May SIT is the
courts decree that both Luther Canter
and his nineteen-year- brother.
James Canter. must die in the electric
chair for assault and murder in con-
wilson
! After being out only thirty minutes
| The jury that tried James Cantor re-
| turned at $3.50 o'clock this afternoon
| with verdict OF guilty Of assault and
sentenced the boy to death. liking June
] II Is the date for the execution. this
being tho same as the date for tho
execution Of Luther Canter.
| EMPHATICALLY DENIES
! IMPLICATION IN CRIME
James Canter denied emphatically
that he had anything to do with the
crime, and his parents testified that ne
was at home on the evening the crime
was committed. The jury seemed con-
Yinced. however, that James was with
Luther, and was equally guilty. APP
| parently, James Canter was unable to
| give a satisfactory account of where
he was during the twelve hours with
| In which the crime was committed. He
testified. for instance that he had not
! seen his brother, Luther, since the
latter left the community last fall to
| avoid prosecution on charge of Grim
! inai assault. 1t was, however shown
! In evidence in rebuttal to-day that
James had seen Luther in March last.
| and that on one occasion visited the
absent brother In Knoxville. Tenn.
| Weighing all the circumstances, the
! jury vas forced to the conclusion tina II
the two brothers attacked Mrs Will
con In her home on the Bristol a bling :
| don Turnpike about S o'clock on the
afternoon OF April %. and that they
| detained her there. bound and gagged,
| until o'clock the following morning.
| hnf -
the body lying on the floor just as
| 1t was found twelve hours later, both
hands bound and tied to bedpost and
her mouth bandaged. Evidences of a
long and furious struggle were plain,
confrmin g tn impr ession that Mrs VII
! son Was detained throughout the night
as the prisoner OF her assailants. then
murdered. 1t was testified by neigh
boris that gunshot was heard In
the direction of the Wilson homo at
o'clock on the morning OF April "a.
The crowd was orderly to-day, there
being no threats. Luther Canter was
not present, having been hurried from
the courthouse on Friday. after he had
related his revolving story of the crime.
ELOQUENT APPEALS
MADE FOR CONVICT on
This afternoon was devoted mainly
TO the argument. Eloquent appeals for
the conviction of James Canter were
John w. Neal. L. p. Summers and Judge
F. B. Hutton. Judge y. p. OgIesby,
OF Bristol, who became famous al coun-
sci for the Aliens In the Carroll Court
house tragedy. ably defended the youn z
prisoner in speech Of an hour and
a half.
The convicted youth was sent to the
passenger station under heavy guard
| tonight. and Sheriff Miller and depu-
ties left with him for Roanoke. where
the two brothers will be held until
| they are ordered TO Richmond for exc
cution.
The verdict to-day seemed to meet
with approval. Although It seemed
doubtful at the outset IL clear case
could be made out against James Can
ter. the chain of circumstances ap-
peared 10 be complete. and pointed to
undoubted evil designs on the part Of
the younger brother.
The impression is that no appeal will
be taken from the verdict. 1t IS ccr-
tain that no appeal Will be taken in
the case of Luther Canter. however
Judge oglfsby. counsel for the brother,
may feel with reference TO an appeal
for the younger one