The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-20
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Mrs. tpilisoms, rife of f5. r..
On March Court-day, little hesors 80 maa--
Sally Porter came to her housa q, sJnloWn pal,
yard, Porter then being in yx;s,aa. ~. ofIer
-and said that Williams was tbara mouse
plantation. Witness started to 81 ~. sa.1e sie
Porter went into another room and t,aI Sat' , put
ness to stand back Porter peened iu tn-a'si, VII
the crack of the logs. Porter, in liftIa ~
went out, and the negroes came up fra,,,
ploughing, on their horses, and Porter md
the negroes started in search of Williams
with gun, rifle and pistol. She heard q gun
fire, and soon after, Williams was brought up
by Porter and the negroes, his hands tightly
tied behind him. They brought him to the
house occupied by the witness. Williams
looked well; his breath smelled as if he had
been drinking some, though he was sober
Witness speke to him and asked him how he
was; he said he was well. Witness begged
that Williams hands might be united. Porter
said that he should not be united on that plan,
tation. She gave Williams water to drink
he drank heartily, and said, kiss me, Susan
and stopped down to kiss him, but saw Por-
ter raise hoe helve, and drew back, for
knew what it meant if he (Williams) didn't t.
Williams said nothing about being shot, and
her sister Mary Mrs Porter said he was not
hurt. Williams commenced crying, and Per-
ter told him TO hush, for there was no time for
that Mrs. Porter had gotten the bed cord of
the witness, and carried it to her husband, the
prisoner, soon after the gun was fred. fRope
identified by the witness as the same with
which Williams was tied when he was first
seen by her.l He was so tied as that Porter
could take one end and the negro the other
end of therope. Porter and one of his negroes
started off with Williams towards the woods
and river. Sally Perry 1now in Jail got an
axe and followed after them, and witness
begged Porter not to let Sally hurt Williams
Porter told Sally Perry to put down the axe,
and go back. He said this to her in sharp
and angry tone. Witness followed them
short distance to branch, and Porter told
her to go back and take care of her child, for
that Williams should not be hurt. She did go
back, but was very uneasy, for Porter had
made severe threats against Williams, and she
greatly feared that Sally Perry would kill her
husband. Sally hated Williams. Sally fol
lowed ON after Williams, as the negro and
Porter were carrying him Oft. Mrs. Porter
attempted to console her by saving that Viii
liams would not be hurt In about one hour
and half Porter and Sally Perry returned.
Sally got supper, andate very heartily. Por
ter did not eat much, and seemed very much
disturbed. tried to get some information
from them as to what they had done with
Williams They would give me no satisfac
ton. could not sleep that night. said to
Sally, tell me what has been done with my
husband, and that if she would speak three
words it would relieve me; only say that
"Williams not hurt" Sally would give her
no satisfaction, but said, hush, say your
prayers and go to sleep.
Cross eramined.-Told Sally Perry she
,,I
what have you done with my husband? have
you hurt him? Sally Perry caused the sepa-
ration between herself and husband Had
not seen Williams since they parted, to speak
to him, until the day he was murdered. Tho
he had treated her very badly, yet she had
kind feelings towards him; hoped she had a
forgiying heart. 1t was on the week before
Williams was killed. that she heard Porter
threaten him, and she defended him, and Por-
ter told her she had better go to her own
house. This he said to her in the presence
of her brother John. She was anxious to go
to her husband, and would have done so long
before, if Porter would have let her. Take
Sally Perry away and she was not afraid of
her husband Sally had produced all Aae diff
ficulties there ever was between them; she
could always have lived with him peaceably
but for Sally She thanked Mr.. Porter for the
permission to 60, and said she would go, as
soon as she could fix her things, but Sally
should not go with her. She never did say to
Martha Chewing, or, any body else, that she
would get rid of Williams or have him put
out of the way no matter what it might cost
her, or anything to that effect. Never sent
word to her brother William to come and de-
fend her against Williams, now that Porter
had determined to turn her from his house !;
her brother was kind of selfish man and
never cared to help any one. Shenever de-
MED the name of Mrs. Williams, or told any
body she did not wish to be called Mrs. Will
liams. She was not the cause of unkind feel
ings between Porter and Williams but the
first thing that made Porter angry was that
Williams cursed at him as hepassed the yard,
and then Porter had heard that Williams was
carrying pistol TO shoot him. Porter had
never known Williams, so far as she knew,
until she married him. She was married
about sax months before she and Williams
separated Had lived apart two years. He
had beat her seriously, bnt it was all Sally
Perry's fault. She had raised an axe against
him, and he took it away; and when she in
terfered prevent harm he hurt her; she would
not then haveleft if Sally had not carried her
child off. She had to follow her child; and
after she got to Psrters, had no means OF
getting away. Was angry at the time because
she WAS SD lluCH luIt IhdL Slt W lo ldlu up
for several months. Did swear that Williams
had tried to kill her, and had him put in jail.
Did not say he had tried to poison her, tho
he had tried to make her drink something
Never knew until she was told in Court, since
her husbands death, that he had suit against
her for divorce on the ground of adultery.
She can't read and does not know what no
tices were served on her. Porter would not
let her see Williams or receive his commu-
nications. Never heard that her husband
charged her with criminal intercourse with
any body, white or black. After the first ex-
citement was over when she was beaten, she
had great regard and affection for him, and
was very anxious to go to live with him, but
Porter prevented her.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.
DR.. Thomas NflSoA-Uas lived adjoining
Porter for the last three years Porter has tre-
quently worked for him, as sort of carpen-
ter, and has been much at his hoase. He con-
siders him as far as he knows or has heard,
an amiable, in0tfensiye, good man; as much
so as any man he knows mild in his disposi-
tion and temper. Knows nothing OF Mrs.
Williams.
Cross S-eramined-His family and Porter's
have not visited, but Porter has frequently
eaten at witness ia BILE, and witness has been
to Porter's house as a physician. Could not
suspect him of harboring reyengefai feel
ings.
Thomas A. IIats0a-Liyes in neighbor
hood and has known prisoner several years.
He has always regarded him. and his general
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