Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-08-06
WOODY is ACQUITTED
ON CHARGE OF MURDER
Second Trial for Murder Of Mrs.
Mary f. Nanney Results
in His Release.
MERE SUSPICION NOT PROOF
Had Escorted Her Home From Thea
ter on Night Of Shooting-She told
Doctor, "William Woody Shot Nc"
DIR. May TcstificS.


William T. Woody. charged with
murder in the first degree OF Mrs Mary
Il. Nanney, Of 1872 West Clay Street. on
the night OF March Is, was acquitted
II his second trial in the Hastings
Court yesterday afternoon after tho
jury had delibcratcd thirty-six min
u,es
George r. Wise, commemorative At
torncy. asked the jury 10 give Woody
the extreme penalty for the murder OF
Mrs Nanney. Because of being ic-
tanned for the trial OF the Woody case
in the Hastings Court all day ycstcr-
day Mir. Wise was unable to be present
in the Mayors court to assist in the
prosecution of Major c. a. Sherry.
Benjamin Lovenstcin. counsel for
the defense. asked tho jury to acqu,
Woody on the ground that mere suspic-
ion not sufficient evidence TO con
vict the defendant and that the Com.
monwealth has failed to prove that
Moody had murdered Mrs. Nancy He
further argued that the defense was
not prepared TO follow the theorizinG
of the Commonwealth that Mrs Nanncy
did not come to her death by her owp
hands and for that reason Woody
should be convicted and sent TO the
electric chair for her murder.
MURDER NOW BECOMES
An UNSOLVED MYSTERY
For the first time since last March
rs, when he was arrested by Policemen
S. P. Flournoy and J. w. Cole, charged
with the murder of Mrs Nanrcv
Woody was able TO secure his freedom.
He was arrested the night OF the
shooting and was held in Jail without
bai pending the results of the wound
inflicted upon Mrs. Nancy. which now
remains an unsolvcd mystery. added 20
the list OF Unsolvcd mysteries of the
police record After the death of Mis-.
Nancy in a few days as a result OF the
bullet wound in her left breast Wool.
was held III jail without b: H. Follow
ing the hung jury as result Of the
FIRST trial on June Is he was offered his
freedom for $4,000 but was unable to
furnish this amount
The most damaging evid, nee offered
hy the commonwealth against Woody
was the dying declaration made by
Mrs Nancy to the effect that Will
liam Woody shot me" 1t was proved
that she made this statement to Or
May. druggist at the corner Of Brook
Avenue and Clay Streets. The evil
dencc OF Dr.. May was that Mrs. Nanney
ian into mis- drug store few minutes
after the shooting and cried out: vii.
ham Woody shot nc. Cali for priest
because | don't want to die and go 10
nell DR.. iinchman. chief inferno OF
Inc Virginia Hospital. testified that
me last declaration OF Mrs Nanney
was that Woody had shot her.
WOODY HAD BROUGHT HER
HOME FROM THEATEH
cthcr than this evidence the sole
evidence OF the Commonwealth was
: mat on Monday night. March 25, Woody
!eft the house about GAS o'clock and
that Mrs. Nanncy followed hin, ,hra,,,
'he nail 10 the door presumably for ,
personal conversation with Woody In
apout ten minutes a shot was hoard
ana she ran back to the back room, and
tried out TO the party there that Wood,
h..u shot hcr. Previous to the shooting
zoo! mao come from the Lyric with
Mrs Nanney and n party of her friends
Inc theory or the Commonwealth was
mat Mrs Nanney had told Woody ma,
'ncir relations must cease, and in = q,
OF anger Woody shot her FolIowinr
= d HSt or the witnesses for the Com
Mohwealth: Miss Fredcr!k. Mrs r
"ooiridse Mrs f r. Woolridge. = ma,
mathea McE!u'nb, Mrs. Peaslcy who
was formerly Miss NlcCur,ha- ~
Hinehman. Coroner whj,acid po,ta.
men , J. Flournoy and J. ". colo an.
~. May Al! except The las, ava
witnesses WE'RE; u s.r,y. :, ,bo 49,,
o. Mrs WoS1riage a, ie2 We, 60.
street where Mrs Nanaey was s,avi,',,
On me night OF the shooting.
ATTACHED REPUTATION or
'oHMoN"EALTH WITNESSES
N cross examination The defense az.
'ac"ed II" reputation and cr.dih,ij,,
tHe witnesses for the Cornon.
ea!'h' who were in the company ~,
49, OF the night of the shoot,
ing William Woody was Tho az.
Ea