Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-29
GAMBLE CONVICTED
Found Guilty of Murder of Jitney
Driver by Jury in Alexandria
County-Jury Out More Than Two
J, HGurs-Newman Trial in October.

/ County-Jury Out More Than Two
J. Hours-Newman Trial in October.
In the Circuit Court for Alexandria
at noon today Judge Goolrick sem
fenced Gamble to die in the electric
| chair at Richmond October Is.
The trial of Mrs. Burgess was fixed
for August - and Newman will be
tried early il October.
Earl S. Gamble must die for the
murder Of John P. Werres, the Wash.
ington jitney driver and government
printing office worker, who was killed
the evening Of May 10 on the Falls
Church-Ballston road.
The jury in the case, which was
tried at Alexandria county courthouse,
after two hours and ten minutes de-
liberation Saturday Afternoon re-
turned verdict Of guilty of murder in
the first degree and fixed the penalty
as death.
Deserter From the Army.
Gamble, who was a soldier in the
engineers branch of the Army and de-
serted to run away with Mrs. Kathleen
Burgess, who is also being held on
the charge of murder, will be electro
cuted
On the pronouncement of the verdict
by Judge John T. Goolrick, Attorney
Amos C. CrouDse, who, with Attorney
II. R. Thomas, was counsel for Gam
BILE, moved that the verdict be set
aside and that new trial be held, on
the ground that the verdict was con-
trary to the law and the evidence, be-
cause of alleged error of the court in
granting instructions offered by tie
commonwealth and in refusing in
structions offered by the prisoners,
and in admitting evidence offered by
the commonwealth and refusing evil
dence rendered by the prisoners.
Judge Goolrick overruled the mo-
ton made by Attorney Crounse, and
the latter will file with the court
bill of exceptions on which it is hoped
to obtain another hearing.
Khaki Clad Men in Court.
The courtroom was crowded all day
and there was noticeable large unm-
her of men in khaki. Interest center
sd in Gamble and many remained i'll
the Courthouse at Fort Myer Heights
of about the building for the return.
of the jury. to learn its verdict and to
watch its effect on Gamble. :,
The jury went out at 1857 o'clock,
Saturday afternoon and returned att
GOT o'clock. In the meantime Gamble:
remained in the courtroom. r At times.
he. chatted with Sheriff Howard B.
Fields, who sat by his: side, and for
more than an half :hour passed the
time by reading newspaper, paying
particular attention to the account OF
his trial.
When the knock. onsthe door of the
Jury room, which adjoined the court
room was given from within as
signal that the jury was ready to, re-
port the crowd became silent. Gamble
turned his eys to the iurymen as they
marched in and for few seconds his
face was seen to twitch. However, ne
Immediately composed himself and
again assumed the different attitude
which characterized his actions dur
ing the trial.
Gamble will be held at the Alexand-
dria county Jail until early nexe week,
when it is expected ne will be removed
to Richmond.
Newman Trial in October.
The trial of Robert Newman, who IS
also held for the same crime, and VINO,
Gamble alleges, struck the blows thaC
titled Werres, will not be held until
October, according to Commonwealtns
Attorney Frank L. Ball.
Because of the physical condition OF
Mrs. Kathleen Burgess, the woman IN
the case it is planned to try her as
soon as possible, and Attorney Ban
indicated yesterday that Judge Cool
rick will decide next week. Attorney
Ball said he thought Mrs. Burgess
would be tried in August.
Mrs. Werres, widow of the murdered
RAN was at the courthouse all day
and remained to hear the verdict OF
Tho iurv. When she learned thar
Gamble had been found guilty and IS
70 die she sent through a woman
friend her congratulations to Attor"
ney Ball for :'!e manner in which no
handled the case.