The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1915-02-06
DEFENDANT JUBILANT
WHEN VERDICT IS READ
Accompanied by His Relatives
He Left Courtroom a Free
Man and Shook Hands With
Jurors.
Jurors.

Virgil Fl. Davis, who has been con-
fined In the Glynn county Jail for
Is months charged with the murder of
his wife. and who has three times
been tried on that charge, last night
walked out of the superior courtroom
free man, and the scene which fol-
lowed in the corridor of the courthouse
was indeed very interesting one.
Davis. as well as all others connect
ed with the case, had about given up
hope of the jury arriving at yer-
dict, and 1t was generally expected
that Judge Highsmith would keep the
jury out until this afternoon and then
declare a mistrial This would have
meant another long confinement for
the man. probably another trial. in
another county. and probably in an.
other judicial circuit.
Jury Agrees.
When Judge Highsmith convened
the court at 1880 o'clock last night
for night session, the sheriff notified
him that the jury had arrived at a ver-
dict and was ready to report. Attor
neys for Davis. as well as the solicitor
and others were In the courtroom.
Davis and his aged father and uncle
and other relatives had been sum-
moned, and they all occupied seats In
the room. AS the jury filed into the
courtroom there was quiet. The drop
ping of pin could have been heard
all over the building, as the verdict
was handed to the clerk.
Judge Highsmith told the large audi
ence that there must be no demOnstra-
tion of any kind In the courtroom, no
matter what the verdict was.
Verdict Read.
Clerk du Bignon unfolded the yer.
dict and clowly read:
I'VE, the jury. find the defendant
not guilty"
wave OF joy flushed over Davis
face; his aged father Strengthened in
his seat, looked at his son and smiled.
Other relatives. In various ways, ex-
pressed their great JOY over the YER
dict The IL men who composed the
jury quickly left the room, but as soon
as Davis was discharged by the court
he followed them to the corridor and
individually thanked every member of
the jury. He and his relatives also
rushed to Judge ID. w. Krauss and
Judge A. d. Gale. Davis attorneys, and
thanked them for the fight they had
made for his life.
After spending several minutes in
the corridor, Dayis, accompanied by
all OF his relatives. left the courthouse.
"i knew world re free In the end"
said Davis. 81 am, as ! have always
stated, innocent OF the murder Of my
wife, and just knew that an innocent
man would not be convicted"
A Long Case.
The verdict last night brings to
ar end one of the most interesting
cases In the history of Glynn county
and one which has three times been
tried the two previous ones resulting
In mistrials.
The wife of Virgil Davis was found
dead at Blount, on the A., B. & A.
railroad in October, 1913. A day or
two later Davis was arrested charged
with the murder. His brother. Albert
Davis. was also charged with the muir
der, but he made his escape. After
Virgil Davis had once been tried his
brother, dying in hosuital In New
Orleans, confessed to the murder, say
ing that he committed the murder
single-handed. This confession, how
ever, had no effocet on the second
trial, which also resulted in mis-
trial.
The case was taken up again Mon
day morning and went to the jury
at 1890 o'clock Wednesday night 1t
was the general consensus Of opinion
that another mistrial would be the
result, but after deiiberating over the
case for 45 hours the jury. to the sur
prise of many, brought in verdict
making Davis a free man.