Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-08-07

= NICau, FrcdcTlck
Hobson, Committee of St George Randolph, a person
OF unsound mind, Defendants.
Jghn .hrshaRs testiaony- Continued
Between November le3l and March 1892 witness had
probably seen Mr. Randolph take glass two of wine;
but he told witness than once that Madeira vino
ana ardent spirits were poison TO him. his liver
diseased tie frequently used bread aud cider
ea WIN sugar la letter from Mr. II. received the
ioth OF December, lac complained of Judge Leigh for
not having mentioned TO witness the subject of the 6ey
IN November he had requested judge L. TO do said
he took for gonted he had done so; and us neither
Judge l.. witness had mentioned the subject TO him.
tMr IL he iiad supposed until he received witness let
tr mat he had taken offence and said he had never felt
easy IN his presence since On one occasion when wit
ness was at MI. RS (thinks il in Deccmber) he
showed witness pllia labelled POISON it was filed
with liquid and well corked lie told witness that he
had reached out his hand being then in bed and taken
the hia intending to destroy himself but reflected that
ms thread OF life was nearly broken. and that it
necessary to cut it. He stated that he had no scruple
ON the subect-that man had 4 right pt an end to
his existence when he pleased, and requested witness
shoniu he ue suddenly to protect his negroes from
charge OF destroying hm-saying that they would
not inure him. Mr.. Randolph was when witness was
with him much more composed in the morning than i'm
me latter part OF the day. Had him get into -
known him TO order Them all of the house and close
the doors no person being left in the house but witness
and himself. He would then become COMPOSED and
converse agreeaby until he wanted the services of
want, and rs of them approached his rage
would return He spoke during the winter of the Illicit
intercourse winch he said carried between mar
RED men and their female slaves charging all the mon
OF certain section with this offence He also chargcd
clergyman of high standing with having criminal II,
tercourse with several ladies' and using vulgar
thinks this was in December. The clergyman is now
dead, and perhaps was dead at that time
Alter witness saw him at his house in APRIL did not
see MN again until he came 10 witnesses house. This
was between the both and 25ti of April He went 10
bed IN shot time after lie got there and remained in
ms bed until witness lett him, three four DAYS afler
Whic there, he sent for witness very often and when
he went into his he would frequently saw You
arc too late; it isal over He sometimes had small
IL is Inn1 tAfltic ,a
1T is all over. Sometimes he would make John rng
the bell. If witness remained with him more than
lew moments lie would use great address get him
OF te room: lie would haiterng things of witnesses
industry apologizng for taking him from his business
and say that he could not think of OBTAINING him. OF
ten in less than minutes after leaving him witness
would be sent for again. and the conduct on the
part OF Mr. X. would be repeated Sometimes he would
ask witness II lac would stand by him. seeming from his
manner to apprehend some harm, which he never
explained TO witness: One day he asked Where,
where is Juba :" Witness happened to see Jubn Al
the moment near the stable, and told Mr.. r. that he
was at the stable. He said witness mistaken
Witness repeated the declaration when MIR r. said he
had no doubt witness thought So but he was mistaken
witness lett Mr. r. at his house, when he Camp
bell Court, which commenced on the Goth April When
witness returned home MIR. II. ut MIR. Cardwclis-
visited bim there, frequently. His condition was much
tne same until the middle OF May with this difference
Gt his memory gave way almost entirely and he EN-.
ed TO labor species of torpor. Sometimes he
seemed to have repetition tears of harm. One
night he asked witness TO stay with him-alIt ssskcd.
but Mr. K soon used his address get him out of the
room desiring him amuse himself in the ADJOINING
apartment bnt stiil insisting that he should stay ali
night. Met John in the adjoining room, who ad vscd
witness TO go home, saying that his master would not
sleep IT he remained and that he would forget the pro-
mise nc had made stay. Witness went home and vi;
sicd HIM in the morning, and he took no notice of
witnesses leaving him the night before Mr. r. fire..
qnently afterwards made witness promise to stay with
MN, and he would go home before being in
formed that he slept only when alone. He never
seemed to recollect the promise About the middle
OF May, after being reduced almost TO n skeleton
ms mind began to clear away, his memory returned and
his feelings more calm and kind 10 all of whom
witness heard him speak. la short time lie seemed to
be perfectly himself. The first time witness noticed
change IN his mind, he in the with linn alone
Mr. H. burst into tears, and said, "Bear with me- nv
friend; this is unseemly, but am hard pressed" He
seemed IN great bodily pain and said, at is impossible
u speak II not irreyerenuy) that the Almighty him
sell, consistent with his holy counsel, can with
hold tins bitter cup 1t necessary that | should
be afflicted, to subduc my stubborn will" He then
prayed n few words audiby, then shut his eyes and
seemed to pray IN whisper. Further conversation
took place at the llme-witness did not then think his
mind altogether restored, bat clearly better For
month or more after the middle of May although
much reduced, his spirits good and his tenn
per cheerful. lie conversed handsomely, and spoke
OF political friends and enemies with good humour-
AS his appetite returned, and he began to gain flesh
lie became more and more easily excited While
at CardweIs Mr.. Randolph than once spoke of
the state OF ms mind, while at Roanoke the prcce dn0
winter Tic spoke of it the time when he was s'mad
at Roanoke, words 10 that effect. He never dis
gulScd Tie state IN which he had been that period
On his first apprehension of IFS return he wrote TO wit
ness, saying that all his former symptoms had returned
land all The horrors that had ODDLY and mental the
last the worst Of all) before left Roanoke" This let
ter was dated june 26, 1872 From that time To his
death MI X was oen in toriably good cosdition of
mind frcm The time witness visited him in a pril to
ms coming Ia Cardwclis did hear him speak ON The
subject OF politics. but at all other times his mind sec
cd to concentrate that subject and 10 be siragt
illness here gave the details i relation letter from
Mr. IL. dated july Z, in which Inc inclosed 20 witness
$3.50 for the llry witness sent il back Ly Mr. Card
well, but Dir. II. would n0l receive IT,
Quesiioned by MIR. Robertson as 10 Mr.. RS advcr-
hseent OF his orscs shortly after his from Rus
ncnt as to tine ages Of two colts and the pedigree ofo
Ntcss explained the errors. MIR X was generally re.
markaic ior his care and accuracy on such subjects
ny Mr. 1ayloT-1hc servants who had been in the
hapit Of waiting on Mr. Randolph were absent some
uWts curing TIE winter wien witness visited him.
here wss fellow Of The name Of Moses or Aaron wait
ing ON Mr. r. The removal OF the house servants and
where they weFe wilncss only knows by hcarsay. This
Moses or Aaron hF X SAID, fellow Of the best in
tcnpns, but hc went roOtinH about like hO0--John
absent part Of the time IIis Servants we're excel
lent lie went home from The Court House about the
first carly part Of July Believes hc did not dine by
candc.lighi after that time.
Questioned by the Conrt.-Supposcs the scraps Of
wills written hy Mr.. ia a pril. we're laid aside Be-
ieves lc told John 90 take thcm away Two Of them
found in trunk at CafdwPifs among the bsrpsge
ths. came from, Philadelphia Witness thinks there was
third paPef Does not know whether they finished
or unfinished papers.
Qncs'oned 10 Mr. RS treatment oF his slaves be-
fore ls@l, BY Alf Taylm- Heooi!ec;s that Mr. H. had
years before. ovcrser, named CumbO or Cum.
by Ia whom hc said be gave sna crops to prevent his
having an excuse for driving the negroes One very ho;
day, witness and MIR r. fdinU and met Ctinibo
when Rlr H. directed bin 10 allow ,he negroes 10 rest
during the heat Of iic day. Cannot say that Mr. Y
ever expressed IN any private conversation TO witness