Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-04-10
THE CUMMING TRAGEDY AS IL
WAS RELATED TO THE JURY.

Woman Acquitted OF Murder of Hor
Husband Is Acquitted in Hampton.
Hampton, Va, April 7.--Mrs. S
Gordon Cumming, charged with the
murder Of her husband, a promncn,
lawyer Of Hampton, this evening was
four mot. guilty by Il jury Of tho
elizabeth City County Circuit Cour;
Tonight she is free woman, free
fol the first timo since she met Cor
don Cumming twelve years ago.
1t, took the jury less than four mi
utest to reach the verdict.
Hampton, Va, april ,6.--Entering
4 pleu {. not guilty" and declaring
she remembers little Of what happen
cd at the Tine of the shooting, Mrs.
S. Gordon Cumming charged with the
murder OF her husband, took the STAND
Lite this afternoon and barred the SAD
aud sordid story of her relations with
I 2 man who betrayed , beat her and
cast her and their chilli into the
world
The trial was started about noon,
Judge II. Carter Scott, Of Richmond
being delayed III his arrival. lie pre-
sided hi place of Judge G. w. Robin
Dn Of the Elizabeth City County Cir
:uit Court, Governor Davis having
designated him for the duty.
The jury Of twelve men, most of
he!A elderly, was drawn from a
v@niro of twcnty-nine Suffolk citizens.
Richard Evelyn Byrd conducted the
defense and acting commemorative
Attorney Roland ID, Cooke prosecu
ton. The courtroom was packed dur
Ing the day. Sympathy ran high for
MIS-. Cumming and Judge, Scott rapp.
eti. for order several times when the
crowd Uttered as Mr.. Byrd shot qucs
tons ut witnesses for the Common
wealth, Mrs. Cumming said she met
Gordon Cumming ut Buckroc Beach.
No WAS wealthy and had social posi-
ton. Il was poor and wcducatcd.
had been warned against him, hut he
told me Il sort time ate" meeting
10 that he could not live without me.
Your beautiful brown eyes are life to
me, he said to me-" Mrs. Cumming
declared.
ole druggcd and betrayed me. lie
cast me into the world with our
child. He beat me. He mistrcated mo
He had me thrown into jail. He stole
my son after the court had given him
to me with five dollars Il week ali.
monv to care for the two OF us.
"But still I love him. loved him
too much to kill him. People who tes>
t:fled that threatened to do so are mis-
taken.
During January and the early
part OF February, Kennilh and I near
ly froze to death. We had little to
oat, nothing at times. and could
not get work. Yes, l think no one
would give me work because Of Mr..
Cummings influence.
SENT TO JAIL FOR FOUR DAYS
Mrs. Cumming maintained a quiet
calm until she mentioned the time
Mayer Sclatcr her put In Jail four
days on complaint made by Mr.. Cum
ming at which time Cumming took
The child and sent it away. Here she
broke down and sobbcd
Later she somewhat recovered her
omposurc. But at every mention Of
tho child, tears we'll up fresh and
her whole body was racked with
sllfled sobs. Coming to the day OF
the shooting she said that she had
been Ill for several days. She could
not sleep and could not remember
things. She and the child had BEEN
i'll nourished and she was worried.
sac had only four cents and could
get no work.
II saw Mr.. Cumming in st. Johns
Churchyard I had Kenneth with me.
MIR. Cumming saw us and turned on
his heel. This cut me terribly. ! left
cid went home. Kenneth Went off with
fliend. I was so worried l did not
; notice it. When I got home l opened
drawer and picked up revolver,
old not know l was doing it..
AGAIN THREATENED HER.
II saw Mr.. Cumming on the street
Letter and asked him for money. He
aa refused and threatend to have, me
locked up. I don't remember any
thing else until I saw him lying on
the pavement. staggered 10 4 door
way, and was carried to JAIL Two days
later they told me all about ii. He
E2d told me he controlled the courts
apd that he was going to take the
boy"
George B. Cumming first cousin OF
the dead man, was among the last
Witnesses called by the Common
wealth. He said he was one OF the
first to reach Cumming after he was
Rhot.
r. T.. Snow. Phoebus merchant, told
Of lending Mrs. Cumming revolver
She told him she was moving to. &,
lonely part Of the city and wanted 1t