Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-06-20
CRIMINAL TRIAL.
TRIAL OF r. p. ROBINSON-Co nciadcd
Monday Morning, June o.

FIRST district. Was on duty ON the night of the muir
der. Was on his post between Franklin and Chap
ell streets, when the alarm was given. Wont 10
the house IN Thomas street. Was the fifth man
that arrived Stayed til, after day break. Saw
Rosina Townsend. Asked her if she knew the
person who was in the room with Helen Jcwett.
She said she did--his name was Frank Rivers,
Witness asked il that WINS his real name, she said
she did not know. Witness asked if she would
know him il she should see him. She said, not by
daylight That he had not visited the house more
than three or four times, and when he came he had
his cloak round his lace. 81 That she had never
seen his face, and would not know him il she met
him in the street. THIS was SAID in the presence
OF the girls living III the honse-Somc six seven
She said he went up stairs into Helen Jcwetl's
foom-a bottle oil champagne was called tor
and she carried il up. That she did not see Inn
when she went up, 10, Helen camc To the door and
look the vine, and SIR MIR. Townscnd) came i'm
medmlcly down, without heing able to see him
Witness tLcn put the question generally to the girls
whether any OF them knew linn. All said they did
not except on.
troSS-ctamned.-ruo men were in the room
during wncs>'s conversation with Mrs. Townsend
Mi Sccor and MIR. Lane. Mrs. Townsend dad
not say she ST." any person IN Helen Jcwcn's
room.-\ All the persons IN the room might have
heard the conversations Mrs Townsend said when
he came in he had his cloak round his face, thai
she could not see linn, and that the way lac al
WAYS wor, it when he came. She said she did not
see his face, and could not swear that il was Flanl
Rivers, Witness made his inquiries for the pur-
pose OF detecting the murderer Witness asked
her where Frank Rivers lived She sait she did
not know. One OF the girls present, Miss Stevens,
said She knew that he attended, dry good store
in Pearl street. near Chatham, and that on a week
day she could lind him IN few moments. Ne-
thcr Miss Stevens nor any other person pretended
10 know HIM by any other name than Frank Ri
vcrS. Witness then went with Mr. Lane in search
OF Mr.. Brink. They went 10 his house, reused him
up, told him where 10 20, and then wen, back To
Mr.. ToNnscnd's.
Witness heard her say nothing nbou, the lamp
III til" "ntrv being LIGHTED. II she had said any
tllng on the subject, thinks hc must have heard it.
is positive she did not say she Frank Ri
scrs idcc.--Shc did mol that when she hand
Cd the champagne 10 Helen, the door swung open,
nor any thing about the position of the licI in the
room. Heard her say that ahou, :, in the morning
she found Il light in the entry. Is positive as 10
this fact.
Diract rcMmed.--lIas lived in New York twelve
years--has been Waterman since October; has
not con,crScd with Mr.. lloxic or any friend OF the
prisoner the subject al his testimony has no IN
shall be a>ccrtaincd. Mr.. Townsend told him
that Miss Stevens room adloins Helen Jcwcns
room. The rooms divided by hath and plas-
tered partition. Helen Jencu's bed was near tins
partition.
MIR. Maxwell here asked the district attorney if
hn could produce Mis-, Stevens. The district at
lorney answered that she was dcad-thal She rup
turcd blood vessel on the day after the murder,
which caused her death about week ago. The
witness reiterated his statement that She, Miss Ste
vens, SAID she knew the real name ol Frank Rivers,
that he attended in dry GOOD store in Pearl street,
aud She would find him IN few moments, il it were
a week dav.
AIRS 7omnscnd reraHed by Hr. NolmcH-
Asked iishc knew Sarah Dmnscombc, the colored
gnL Inns. Yes. Heard her say, a few days since,
after she had been examined III court, that Frank
Rivers (Robinson) was at The house on Thursday
evening She, Mrs. Townsend knows that he
was there ON Thursday or Wednesday evening
cannot say which. Her opinion AS TO the day, is
NOT effected by the declaration OF the coorcd gnl,
that il was Thursday. She cannot say Whether II
was "Wednesday OF Thursday. Is positive that
she did not on the former examination, state Thurs
day positively the day. Mr.. Maxwell here read
from minute of her former examinations, posi-
tive statement that il was Thursday. Other nj
nutcs however, including That of the court, stated
thai She mentioned both rdnrsday and Thursday,
and conld not be positive which Maria Ste
vens died about ten DAYS aye. Died at Mrs. Gal
laehcr,. She occupied the room ad dining Helen
Jewct'S.
Does not know that suicide has been commit
ted, since the murder of Helen Jcwctt, by any
person who IN her house ON the night of the
murder. Asked if she had heard of any such thing.
Question objected To. Objection ovcrrulcd -
" illness SAYS she has not heard OF any person who
was in her house that night having committed SUI
eide
BY Nj Phrniy.--llad mentioned the fact of
prisoners having bald place on his head to him
{ Mr.. PhmniN) and Mr.. Morrcll before she saw it
stated in one oi the papers. TWAS at Mr.. Phn-
INKS office, Mr. Morres. A watch, CHAIN
IA nd ruby ring were found in Helen Jcwct's room
after her death. Also clo,lling and books and
box of paper. Had seen the box few DAYS be
fore in Iiclcns room One of the Watchmen
brought the watch chain and ring to her she kept
them about one hour, and then gave them To one
of the officers in aitcndancc-sle thinks the coro-
ncr Did not tell any Waterman, or any other
person on the morning after the murder, that she
had not seen Frank Rivers face when she LEI
him n.-Does not know Mr.. Colyc "A Waterman
Did not make any statement to any Waterman rel
alive to her seeing Rivers face different from What
she stated on her direct examination.
R0dmon Il. Mouiton.-Lived at ~ Dey street.
when the murder committed, in the same
house with the prison,r. Went home on the
Thursday preceding the murder between q and Z
O'Clock, and saw the prisoner about o'clock, and
in company with him until he went to bed,
between II and | O'Clock. This was the 9TH of
April The play that night at the theatre was