Friday, April 7, 2023

Jury Still Considering Manslaughter Charges Against Grice and Carswell, April 7, 1923

Jury to Sleep on Grice Case. . . State Seeks Second Degree Murder Verdict By the Associated Press

Gastonia, N.C., April 6—The jury trying Robert Grice and John Carswell, charged with the killing of John Ford here two years ago, deliberated for almost two hours tonight and on announcing it had come to no agreement was ordered to bed with instructions to take up the case again tomorrow morning. The state is seeking for a verdict of second degree murder or manslaughter instead of first degree murder, Solicitor Carpenter explained today because of the charges made regarding the relations between Ford and the daughter of Grice.

The killing took place when Grice and Carswell came upon Ford and Miss Grice and another couple on a lonely road near here at night, and there were claims of other criminal nature made during the trial against Grice and Carswell. Some witnesses also clung to the story told at the inquest to the effect that two negroes committed the crime.

The greater part of today was taken up in argument.

From page 2 of the Durham Morning Herald, Saturday, April 7, 1923

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