The 1909 Buckingham Murders: Part VIII
A Fair Trial
Unsurprisingly, Dallas Wright’s attorneys questioned whether or not an unbiased jury could be found in Buckingham County and approached presiding Judge Gordon for a change of venue which would allow Wright to be tried in another county. If Judge Gordon refused, The Times-Dispatch reported that counsel for the defense would likely request a continuance, delaying Wright’s trial.
Commonwealth’s Attorney Edmund W. Hubard, who was in charge of the prosecution of the case, boldly told The Times-Dispatch that he anticipated “no difficulty in securing a competent jury in Buckingham” despite the fact that so much had been published concerning the murders. Earlier in August, the newspaper reported that “citizens hoot at the idea [of a change of venue] and assert that there is no feeling other than a desire to see anyone who may be found guilty of this atrocious crime punished.”
While Dallas Wright awaited trial, the case developed a new wrinkle. Deputy Sheriff J. E. Carter, who had gathered the initial evidence against the accused men and “caused” their arrest, met with an accidental death following Edward Jones’ trial. Attorney Hubard insisted this was not material to Dallas Wright’s upcoming trial.
Was Deputy Sheriff Carter’s death really an accident? According to the August 14, 1909 edition of The Times-Dispatch: “some people are slow to believe that no violence was done to Mr. Carter . . . but Mr. Carter assured those who went to see him when he had regained consciousness that his injuries were caused by an accident, and that he fell from his buggy when within calling distance of his home.”
Surely some citizens in Buckingham County continued to wonder. . . .
Coming Next: The Plot Thickens
Need to catch up on The 1909 Buckingham Murders? Part I: June 1, 2015
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Today’s twist is pretty exciting. Isn’t it?
keep those stories coming!