Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-08
VERDICT EXPECTED
TODAY IN GRIFFIN
TRIAL FOR MURDER
Argument Will Begin This
Morning-Jury Will Get
Case About 2 P. Nj.
MEDICAL TESTIMONY
OCCUPIES THE DAY
Physicians Tell of Melan-
cholia of Prisoner Be.
fore Staying.
DIR. GAYLE. RICHMOND, WITNESS
wife and Two Bnhics Have Not
Left Husbands Side
TESTIMONY
OCCUPIES THE DAY
DIR. GAYLE. RICHMOND. WITNESS
Wife and Two Bnhics Have Not
Left Husbands Side
In Court.


argument in the case of Common
wealth VS.. Courtney Griffin will be-
gin tomorrow morning at no
o'clock. and the case will so to the
jury about 2 o'clock Thursday after
noon. All evidence was in this even
Ing about S o'clock when a tired.
hot ana faded crowd filed out of the
courthouse, In the. pouring rain, to
wait another night to hear the ver-
diot In this case. which has shaken
the whole community.
AS the court announced that the
case was ready for instruction and
the lawyers gathered about the desk
Of Judge James L. McLemore. tears
Mrs. Courtney Griffin. who, with her
two babies. has not left her hus-
bands side during the three long,
weary days that his fate has been
hanging in the balance.
Insanity Issue.
This day was consumed largely in
hearing medical evidence as TO the
possible insanity Of Courtney GrIf-
fin at the time OF the crime,
whether ne was subject to impulses
which would prompt him to do a
deed OF violence. and whether melnn-
cholia was curable. DR.. F. j. Nor
rison, who had attended Courtney
Griffin. testified that he was moody,
depressed. and from his family his
tory the physician believed that the
prisoner had inherited a taint. which
might make him predisposed to in
sanity.
DR.. c. r. Griffin. another practic-
ing physician. OF Suffolk. told Of
having seen Courtney Griffin several
times before the murder and stated
that Griffin was melancholy. While
self-defense was the point made by
the defense yesterday emotional in
sanity was hammered at all day to-
day. making it seem that a double
plea would be that of the defense.
Two Alfenists Testify.
Two apenists were introduced by
the prosecution to refute the possi-
BILE testimony Of the Suffolk doctors.
DR.. F. c. Gayle. one OF the staff at
the Tucker Sanitarium, Richmond.
Va, and an expert in mental dis
orders. told the Jury OF melanchoiia,
which he characterized as a symptom
of more serious mental trouble. He
gave a history Of melancholia and
how some time cures are obtained
and sometimes results in worse
trouble. DR.. Gayle stated that a
person with meiancholia would not
be apt to remember every detail OF
4 crime so serious as that committed
by Courtney Griffin. and be able to
relate each instance so clearly.
DR.. l.. S. Foster. former superin-
tendent of the Eastern State Asylum
at Williamsburg. Va. went on the
stand. and declared that never in
his life had he heard a person give
clearer, more vivid and more de-
tailed account OF his movements. in
manner more cool and collected
than given by Courtney Grifiin. The
alienist stated that In his opinion
Courtney Griffin could not possibly
have been suffering from any form
of insanity or melancholia at the
time of the commission Of the crime.
DR.. Foster acknowledged that in a
private conversation with friend
he had said that he believed that
Griffin would be acquitted. This con-
versation he did not know would be
repeated. The court stated that 1t
never should have been introduced.
Several. witnesses were called to
testify as to the ugly reputation
borne by the murdered man.
Mrs. Courtney Griffin told of see
Ing clots OF blood on her husbands
head and scratches on his hands
on the morning Of the 9Th OF
March, indicating that there had
been struggle. Several other wit
nesses were also called and told OF
seeing these marks OF struggle.
Rebuttal testimony took up part
of the day with little or no impor-
tant matter being brought to the
| attention OF the jury. Argument in
the case. which begins tomorrow.
Will consume around five hours.
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