Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-04
GRANDF ATHER GOES.
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
Hill People Crowd Luray
: Court House for Cubbage
Murder Hearing.
By star Correspondent of The Star.

BY STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
LURAY, Va, August 4.-Uncle Jake
Cubbage went On trial today at Page
County Court House, stolidly turning
his old face to the jury which is to
say If the law will claim his remaining
years as penalty for the murder on
June of his grandson, Fred Cubbage.
The shot from Uncle Jakes old buck
eye shotgun stirred wrathful echoes in
the mountains where Uncle Jake has
raised his family.
Self Defense Is Plea.
Defense Counsel Robert Keyser told
the Jury in his opening statement that
Uncle Jake's case would be based on
plea of self-defense. He said that the
murdered grandson made threats on the
old mans life and backed him into
rye patch before Uncle Jake raised his
gun and fired the fatal shot,
The Page County Commemorative
attorney, S. L. Walton, insisted, on the
other hand, that the Staying was almost
unprovoked and that 19-year-old Fred
Cubbage merely visited his grand
fathers house to obtain a fruit jar.
There was a large outpouring of the
SuIl-StdAlIc0 pcOplc VI bIlc Hills, I1dLly
Of whom were Uncle Jake's sons,
daughters, nieces, nephews and cousins.
An hour before court convened at 10
o'clock this morning the chambers
were thronged with men, women and
children. Some carried babies in arms
and others were so feeble with age that
they had to be assisted to seats.
Spectators Fan Themselves.
l.
hot, and as the spectators leaned for
ward to get look at Uncle Jake, where
he sat hunched in straight-back chair
before Judge H. w. Bertram OF the
Page and Rockingham Counties Circuit,
they tanned themselves with their hats.
Uncle Jake himself, a small, bearded
man. whose dark hair belied his 80
years, sat with one hand kept behind
his ear, so as not to miss any words OF
the proceedings which may cost him his
life
The old man was wearing calico
shirt and a new plaid tie. His trousers
were rolled well up above old shoes,
which he has worn on many previous
walking jaunts to Luray from Cub
bage Hollow, lying about 10 miles to
the south.
The first witness was DR.. Virgil
Hammer, Page County coroner. He
expressed the opinion that young Fred
Cubbage had bled to death. The charge
of birdshot from Uncle Jake's long
barrel rifle entered slightly above Fred
Cubbage's left knee, the coroner told
the Jury, and took downward course.
After the shooting, which occurred
about the middle of a Sunday after
noon, the injured youth was carried
inside Uncle Jake's cabin, and lay
there bleeding, while some one crossed
into the next hollow and obtained an
automobile which was driven back over
the tortuous road to his home.
Failed to Survive Road.
Fred Cubbage did not survive the
long rough ride over the mountain
roads to the nearest settlement, Stan
ley, where a doctors assistance given
him was too late. AS related to the
court by the commemorative attor-
ney, the shooting followed family
quarrel in which Uncle Jake took part.
Early on the Sabbath afternoon a
group Of mountain folks gathered at
the cabin of Albert Cubbage, about 100
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81