Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-08-12
PROBE DAVIS SANITY

! Commission Will Report This After
noon If James Davis, Col0red.
Slayer o + Prohibition Inspector
Shelhorse is Sane. If Sane Will Go
to Trial at Once
A commission of alienists today IS
engaged examining into the sanity OF
James Davis, colored, charged with
shooting and killing State Prohibi-
tion Inspector J. c. Shelhorse, which
occurred the evening of June 25 on a
southbound train just as the train
was entering this city.
On this question will depend
whether or not Davis will face a jury
in the Corporation Court for the
murder of Shelhorse. In the event the
commission reports him insane it will
stop all Of the proceedings and Davis
will soon thereafter be conveyed tc
the asylum for the criminal insane
at Marion, Va.
If on the other hand the accused
is found to be sane a jury is on
hand ready to begin hearing the tes-
timony in the case.
When court conveyed this morning
Judge Louis c. Barley announced
that he had appointed a lunacy COM
mission to examine into the sanity Of
the prisoner. This commission is
composed of Dr.. J. S.. De Jarnette,
superintendent of the Westeren State
Hospital, Staunton, Va, and DR..
Walter A. Warfield, the latter of this
city, who also is physician to prison
ers at the city jail, and who has had
ample opportunity to observe Davis
since his incarceration.
The first witness heard was DR..
John E. Lind, from st. Elizabeth's
Asylum, Washington. He was one
of the physicians who looked after
Davis when the latter was patient
in that institution several years ago.
Davis next went before the COM
mission. He was closely questioned
and shortly after / o'clock this af-
ternoon the commission adjourned for
lunch and resumed its probe into Da-
Wis sanity at o'clock. The commits
sion hardly will complete its labors.
before 4 o'clock this afternoon.
The jury which may sit in the case
of Davis in the event he is declared
sane was adjourned over by Judge
Barley Until $3.50 o'clock this after
noon.
The state prohibition officials aro
deeply interested in this case. This
was, evidenced by the fact that Rev.
J. Sidney Peters, state prohibition
commissioner, is here and j. D.
Hank, Jr., assistant attorney general
of the state, Richmond also is here.
The latter came here at the suggcs-
tion of Commemorative attorney
Samuel G. Brent and will assist N
.hc prosecution of the case in the
event it comes to trial.
Attorney Robinson represents the
prisoner.
The following sixteen compose
the venire summoned for the purpose
of securing jury of twelve to sit in
the case: Silas Devers, Joseph II.
West, William Campbell, Walter NJ.
Beach, Samuel NJ. Pullman, James
smythe, Smith Williams, John ID.
Normovle, Charles 7. Blunt, Ar
thur, Herbert, Jr., William E. Hin
ken, Virgil T. Balm, Elmer I. Alexan-
der. Alexander X. Stratton, Charles
F. Dare and John D. Brown.
About fifteen witnesses have been
summoned in the case among whom
are two prohibition inspectors who
were with Shelhorse on the train at
the time. 1t is expected that the
case, if it comes to trial, will occupy
at least two days.
Self defense is to be the plea Of
the accused in the event he is tried
it is stated.
Shelhorse endeavored to assist in
the arrest of Davis the night Of June
25 while the latter was On south
bound train.
The two other inspectors already
had grappled with the accused man
he being suspected of having more
,,.b;sl.v toan tEc Jaw allow: f. be