The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1921-10-13
JurySays hat
He Killed Officer
Edwards. is Guilty of
Murder in the Second
Degree Says Jury

Fears verdict Oa1mly--s4Oung VIZ
uinian Leaves Courtroom for Cell
With a Smile on His Face-Jury
PYays and Votes. -
4 verdict of second degree murder
was returned Sunday afternoon at
5.25 'clock against Lewis Edwards,
:.1-year-old Danville, va, youth, for
the killing of w. Thomas McCuiston,
member Of the Greensboro police force
at Greensboro May a, 1921.
After the verdict was made known
counsel for the deendant said that an
appeal will probably be filed. just
What points the appeal will be based
upon were not made public. Pending
tie final wind-up of the case, Edwards
necessarily be a pretty heavy one.
There we're not over *25 persons in
the courtroom when the verdict was
announced. Edwards, a robust young
ster. a fine physical speciment, was
directed by Solicitor Bower to stand
and hoped to his1feet and stood rig
;dlv at attention without one iota Of
nervousness. He heard the verdict
without even batting an eye; no
camer man has appeared in Guilford
criminal court. ~,l ~
Col. G. Sam Bradshaw chief coun-
sci for the defense, after J.. l. Charles,
acting as spokesman for the jury, had
announced the decision, rose and asked
that the jury be polled. The names
cf the 12 men were called and each
answered to his name, adding "guilty
of second degree murder" Judge
Webb then discharged the IL men who
had been sitting together since IL
o'clock Thursday morning.
Leaves for Cell Smiling
Jaior Mike Caffey then took Ed
wards to his ceA on the top floor of
the courthouse. Edwards left the spa
cious courtroom with a smile on his
face When the big cell door was
closed behind him his only remarks
were: $50 get second degree and
will be sentenced tomorrow morning"
It is understood that the jury's first
ballot stood five for acquttal and sew
en- for murder in the second degree.
First degree was mildly discussed but
il was never seriously considered.s Bal,
lot after ballot failed TO change the
score of five to seven
At ~ noon Sunday the deadlock con-
t:nued. Without asking for dinner,
Mr.. Charles asked or Judge Webb.
De3uty Sheriff Lane quickly summon
ed the Judge, who was attending ser
vices at one of the churches. The
Spokesman asked that the entire bit
Of evidence be read to the jury. From
1890 D. m. until 4:30 p. m. the jurors
sat patiently listening to every sylla-
BILE of the volurninous report. This
was the first time since getting the
case at 1920 a. m. Saturday that the.
jury asked for the judge.
With their minds refreshed, the
Jurors returned to their room and at
$40 .. NJ a rap on the door brought
the deputy to the room. 1t was an
nornced that thev had agreed on
verdict. Judge Webb was telephoned
or. The word spread quickly that the
jury was about to return verdict;
about 25 people hastentd to the court
house. =
A Serious Mission
With Judge Webb in his chair, the
jurors, with their faces showing that
they were on very serious MISSION
filed into the courtroom and took their
seats in the jury box.
Gentlemen, have you agreed on
verdict?" asked the deputy clerk OF
the court.
w Z nave, IGDIlSu NA1. OAAC"AA~01
with a culver in his voice.
what say you?"
'Guilty of murder in the second de-
gree"
Coonel Bradshaw then asked that
the jury be polled. Each man, stand
ing, answered to his name, adding,
Murder in the second degree"
After being discharged the jurors
left the courtroom, but they were far
from being in CHEEKY frame of mind.
Their acts clearly showed that the or
deal of passing upon the fate of
young boy is very grim mission.
One juror stated that none OF the
jurors slept very much Saturday
night, and that their deliberatlon was
punctuated with prayers.
Il do not" said one juror. wish
to har many human being, but IN
agreeing to the verdict I thought. and
still believe, that l did my duty"
The following men composed the
Jury: ]. E. Hayworth, High Point
townhip; J. J. .Busick of Bessemer
section; J. II. Everhardt, of High
Point; C. L. Warrington, Washington;
=. W. Holt, Jefferson; B. D. Gillian,
Washington; Alexander PhilipRi. Rock
GTeek; Will Gorrell, Jefferson; Walter
nWhltesell, Washington; Louis Smith,
Deep River: J. M. Michael, Washing
ton and J. L. Charles. Deep River. :,
,u, The trial Of Edwards, which started
Thursday morning, has attracted ek-
tfaordinary attention in Guilford coun-
"; it was hard fought by both the
state and defense. Colonel Bradshaw
ana his law partner. H. L. Koontz' OF
greensboro, and H. r, Custer. OF Dan
VIE, Va, represented young Edwards
Whlie Solicitor Bower was assisted IN
prosecuting the case by O.. C. Cox, 10
cal attorney.
1T will be recalled that Policemen
McCuiston and Oakes on May, 4, 1871,