Norfolk Landmark, April 25, 1878

Acquitted.

Moral -- Murder

Preliminary Examination of Alfred P. Thom.

The preliminary examination of Mr. Alfred P. Thom for the unfortunate killing of Mr. Major Sidney Pitts, in Eastville, Northampton county, Eastern Shore of Virginia, on the 28th ultimo, was commenced in that town, at 12 o'clock m., on Monday last, before Justices William R. Fisher, W. J. Goffigon and L. J. Goffigon, and concluding Tuesday with the acquittal of the accused, after a full and thorough investigation of all the facts and circumstances connected with the late homicide, during which some twenty witnesses for the prosecution and defence were examined. The Commonwealth was represented by E. J. Spady, Esq., Attorney for the Commonwealth, who conducted the prosecution with great fairness and ability. The accused was represented by Messrs. T. M. Scott, T. C. Walston, and G. S. Kendall, of Eastville, and Judge James E. Heath, Commonwealth's Attorney of Norfolk. These gentlemen made a very able defence. The case was submitted to the justices at 1 p.m. Tuesday, who, after about fifteen minutes' retirement, returned and stated that they had fully considered the evidence, and had determined to discharge the accused.

The object of the examination was to decide whether he should be sent on to the grand jury of the County court for indictment or not, and when the result was made known Mr. Thom was heartily congratulated by his numerous friends.

Mr. Thom arrived in our city yesterday evening in company with Judge Heath, and left for Richmond last night on the Old Dominion steamer, where he will consult an eminent physician in reference to extracting the ball, which remains imbedded in his neck. He is still quite weak from the effects of the wound, which came so near proving a fatal one.

Norfolk Landmark
Norfolk, Virginia
April 25, 1878