Hide Article Text (OCR)
1rI■Years In PenTlt;thouwasfss; I! l| f 1Curtis Ray Weeks took the stand yesterday to testify in his own behalf.Weeks told the jury of drinking with Edgar Willis Smith, shooting a pistol with him. and finally, wrestling in the snow with the now dead man.In no way did he express anyfeelings of guilt for the -act that caused event which has resulted m this day trial for his life,Weeks' testimony culminated the two day trial in which the commonwealth charged the Pulaski County man with administering knife wounds and deserting his companion in the sub-freezing weather near Snowville to die.$pon. instructions from CircuitCourt Judge Jack M. Matthews the jury, was given five options in finding a verdict.*Jury Out 10 Minutes,It took the panel 10 minutes to render that verdict and their recommendations. The jury returned a conviction of voluntary manslaughter and at the same time suggested a five year .sentence, minimum connection-.'‘-with the crime.wasthetheAciteTollexplt;earlTcoverh e!,1aet.gGeneral HolidayTo Be Observedn!yeitncyn.The Thursday edition of the News Journal will be published as usual Thanksgiving Day.Radford stores, however, will be closed for the entire day as citizens of Radford make theirobservances for this traditional American holiday.Banks will not be opened for the holiday. Post Offices will also be closed except for the lobbies.Radford schools will take a two day break in their schedule as the children will be out both Thursday and Friday returning to school on Monday.All City Offices will be closed for the day. •The case for the prosecution had been completed at the close of the first day of trial. Weeks’ took the stand yesterday to give his version of the scuffle stating that he and Smith rolled arourid in the snow and that both returned to the car to sleep after the tussle.He went on to say that he awoke later and “was about to freeze to death. He told of his unsuccessful efforts to rouse Smith and it was then that he made his way to the nearby farmhouse of J. R. Trail.The members of the Trail family were recalled to the stand after their earlier testimony the previous day. The information was elicited from them that Weeks had told of leaving Smith, in the car and that he had tried to wake the supposedly sleeping man.The cause of the death was put at over exposure with the knife wounds as a ‘'contributing factor.'1The trial climaxed the incident of almost nine months a\‘o. March ?, 1960 was the elate of the incidents related to the court Monday and Tuesday, which again brought to life t^e bloody account of the death of Edgar- Willis Smith of Snowville.mm-Toll.putNlt;spotbudshotbull.heaistopternInstatof a A! moi WinWself i mg: at 1wa bo bis turr two low IW had half get mat : W the CouU]rrt
Newspaper Details
Radford News Journal
Radford, Virginia, US
Wed, Nov 23, 1960
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Amanda D.
NA, 05 Dec 2019
Other Publications Near Radford, Virginia
Radford Times Journal
Radford Journal Weekly
Radford News Journal
