Richmond planet., 1920-11-06
ATTORNEY NENSOME
WINS MURDER CASE:
E,wport News Barristcr Was First
Negro Lawyer to Plead \ Murder
Case in County. Vast Crowd Spell
Bound During His Address
"a. S. Mostly

Accomac, Va, Oct 2l.--Dcar Editor:
The colorcd people OF this county were
aroused this week rs never before
IN the history OF the oldest inhabi-
lantS. The occasion was the appear
nncc of Lawyer j. Thomas Ncwsomc
in murder trial. Which, attracted to
the courthouse an immense crowd of
holA cnlorcd ard wnitc people. On
every train passing the courthouse
during the day large numbers came
to hear the trial. No colored lawyer
had ever appeared in old Accomac in
capital case. The entire Accomac
bar, including Senator Mapp WAS ont
TO hear Mr.. New3ome.
Right here we pause to say that no
lawyer of any race from any part OF
the country could have been shown
greater courtesy than was extended
to Mr.. NewSomc. This writer heard
the leading lawyer Of the Accomac
bar tell Mr.. Ncwsome that his Office
and library would be at his disposal
rs we'll as his telephone and stcnog
raphcr. At one time during II legal
wrangcl between Mr.. Ncwsomc and
the commonwealth Attorney no less
than three Of the lawyers went to
their offices to bring Mr.. Ncwsomc
the authorities cited by him. We con
f,sS it made us feel very proud.
But to the trial. Cummin Wyatt
was charged with numbering in cold
blood, during the colorcd fair, unoth
cr colorcd man named John Iioskins
One witness testified that he saw
wyatt fire the shot and heard tho
deceased cry. "Cummin Wyatt has
Shot me- An aged coi0rcd woman
testified that she arrived at tho
scene OF the shooting a few moments
after it happened, and the deceased
told her "Cummin Wyatt shot me
right here" putting his hand on his
*ldc where he was shot. Other cyi-
dence of a most damaging character
.1ck up the entire morning session.
Against this evidence tho accused
went on the stand and sworc that ho
was about five or six miles from the
scene OF the crime at the time it oc
cured. Several friends of his corrob
o!atcd his story.
Tho entire trial was enliycncd by
several legal clashes between The at
torncyS in which Mr.. Ncwsome con
master in his profession.
After the instruction had been read
to the jury, Mr.. White the Common
wcalth'S Attorney made his opening
address in which he came out boldly
IOr murder in the first degree. IIo
laid much emphasis upon the old col
cred lady'S testimony, saying that a
We man OF her age would not Ecriurc
herself and swear Il mans life away /
lie made Il convincing argument to
the jury, and things looked black in
deed for the prisoner. AS soon as he
sat down Mr.. Ncwsome arose and
calmly addressed the court. May it
lIcaSc your Honor" he began, and
i:nmcdiatcly n thrill ran through the
courtroom. Then for forty-fivc min
ntc.> Accomac was treated 10 the great
est legal argument it has heard In
a quarter of a century.
With wit, humor, and cloquoncc of
force and beauty, Mr.. New :
some tore down the last fabric OF the |
structure erected by the Common !,
wcalth"S Attorney and literally |
brought men to their feet as he warn
cd the jury Of what the consequence
would be to them in their own future
souls if they made mistake result
ing ia the death Of an innocent man.,
We would be happy if we could
convey. even family an idea OF Mr..