The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-07-30
WRIGHT ACQUITTED
OF FLOODS MURDER
Magistrate Disrsisses Charge Against
Man for shooting Man Who At
tackled His wife.

/ Salem. Va, July 29.-Clearly estab-
I fishing that he shot in defense of his
! home and to avenge an outrage at
! tempted upon his wife. Ed. Wright was
! this Afternoon acquitted before Magis-
| trate John H Camper on the charge
Of numbering Tom Flood. The shoot.
| ing occurred early on the morning OF
July rs near" the Wright home in Cove
Hollow, about seven miles north of this
place.
Summoned from Petersburg. where
he was engaged in work at Camp Lee,
by a telegram from his wife, Wright
reached his home shortly before day
light Thursday morning His wife met
him at the door in highly nervous
condition and told him that the morn
ing before Flood had been to the lit
tie home, while she and three children
were asleep. had called her to the
door and attempted TO assault her,
without waiting to hear details of the
attempted crime. Wright armed HIM
self and stepped out of doors.
Through the mist of an early MORN
ing he observed Flood in the roadway
in front Of his home. He went to meet
him. He asked Flood to explain his
conduct with his wife. What ] done
amt half what is going to do" Flood
growled at him. as he reached for a
rock, il is claimed. Wright them fred
IEECG IlfntE at tue flahs hc
shot entered Floods brain and he
crumpled up in the road. Wright then
returned TO HIS wife and summoned
neigh bors. told them what he had done
and asked them to telephone the au-
thorities to come for him.
Wright told Magistrate Camper that
when he left his home to 60 after
Flood he had no fixed determination In
his mind to kill him. 1t WAS his pur-
k1tI t.t fnr ha al
thorittes, his wife having caused a
warrant to be issued for him. Flood
was so insolent in his manner and re-
marks, however, that he was forced TO
shoot him, Wright said
In Diminishing the charge. Magistrate
Camper. stern old man well advanced
in years, said. The wonder Is that
Wright asked any questions OF Flood.
Almost any other man under similar
circumstances would have shot Flood
on sight There isn't a chance in a
thousand of southern jury oonvlcting
wright. and he is discharged, so far
as this court Ia concerned"
Mrs Wright, about thirty five years
old, and pretty. told the court that
while she and her babies were sleep
ing early on the morning of July "a
she was awakened by knock on her
door. She answered and voice said
pigs are OUT" Mrs. Wright replied
that she did not and would come down
and put them up. Fully dressing her
self she descended the stairs and open
Ell the door. AS she did Flood sprang
at her. grabbing her by the throat and
waist and throwing her TO the ground
She sprang up and ran. but fell again
Flood pursued her and threatened her
but ran off when he heard voices
Na{vhhOra than came to the woman
assistance and feeling against Flood
, ran high among the country folk OF
| Cave Hollow. A telegram was I'm
mediately dispatched to Wright.
Judge n. II. Harrison, of Roanoke
! appeared as counsel for Wright
Commonwealth Attorney Hubbard
( conducted the prosecution, Mr.. Hub
bard, while asking the court TO sent
/ the case to the grand jury. frankly
, said that he did not believe convio
! ton could be obtained against the &C
| cused.