Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-08-15
YEARS. BOY DIES IN FRANCE Will UNFURL FLAG
GIVEN SEVEN YEARS

James Davis Found Guilty of Murde
In Second Degree For Staying Pro
hibition Inspector Shelhorse. Yer
dict Reached After II O'clock Las
Night.
After celebrating nearly five hour:
a jury in the Corporation Court al
1l:10 o'clock last night brought in 9
verdict of guilty Of murder in the
second degree and fixed the punish.
ment at seven years in the peniten-
tlary in the case of James Davis, col
ored, indicted for shooting and killing
}. G. Shelhorse, state prohibition
inspector, which occurred aboard a
southbound Southern Railway train
just before it reached Alexandria the
night of June 25.
Immediately after the verdict was
announced Attorney Robinson Mon
cure made the customary motion that
the verdict be set aside as contrary
to the law and evidence in the case.
Judge Barley promptly overruled this
motion and afterward sentenced the
prisoner in accordance with the ver-
dict given. Davis appeared pleased
at the verdict and promptly stood up
for sentence.
A crowd of about fifty persons
were in the courtroom when the ver-
dict was given. Practically all were
white men.
The closing arguments were COM
pleted at 6:15 o'clock yesterday af-
ternoon and the case at once submit
ted to the jury.
At 8 o'clock no verdict having been
reached the jury was taken out to
supper at the Southland cafe and
resumed its deliberations at 9 o'clock.
The opinion prevailed among men
that the jury would be unable to
reach an agreement.
At 1920 o'clock i rap was heard
on the door and tho iurY iilel in AMI
everyone looked forvar1 to verdict.
In this, however, they were d!sap-
pointed for the forman OF the jury,
William E .Hinkcn, announced to the
court that it looked as if they were
unable to agree on a verdict.
Judge BARLEY told the irry that he
would be only too glad to render any
assistance he could to reach verdict
and asked the jury to call for further
Instructions if they needed help along
such lines. Several of the jurors con-
vered among themselves before re-
turning to the jury room and in less
.han an hour afterward they arrived
1t a verdict.
Final arguments i the case were:
begun at 3:45 o'clock yesterday af-
,ennoon, The opening argument for
he prosecution being made by As
4istant Attorney General J. d. Hank,
Jr., of, Richmond, who spoke thirty
FIVE minutes.
He was followed by Attorney Rob-
;nson Moncure, for the accused man;
who in his argument went into the
case in all its details speaking nearly
two hours. The final argumnt for
the prosecution was made by Com
Attorney Samuel G. Brent
who spoke about half an hour. Davis
throughout the closing arguments
was keen listener and as the attor-
ney for the accused man spoke he
seemed to drink in every word.
Throughout the trial Rev. }. Sidney
Peters. state prohibition commits
sicner, was an interested spectator.
He remained in court until the verdict
was given after which he went to
Washington for the night.
Readers of the Gazette are familiar
with the history of the case.
In bries Shelhorse tackled Davis
after two other inspectors had at
tempted to arrest him on suspicion
of "bootlegging." The negro shot
shelhorse and the latter died several
hours afterward at the Alexandria
Hospital. Davis plea was self de-
Tense.
Judge Barley thanked the jury for
It's patience with the case.