The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1860-03-30


| Witness-I now say that | believe | did
receive that letter with the torn letter and
nave told you my reason why ! did not read
it before.
Q.-By Counsel for the defence-did you
In December 1859, propose by letter to your
sister Amy, plan by which to:wipe out the
stain alluded to in the letter last read.
Al remember little or nothing about
those letters-i wish you would show them
and ask me no more questions about them.
Inc question was Experimentation.
Al have answered the question; / re-
member but little about it say now that
| may have done it.
u What was your plan
Any plan was for her to state the truth
Of the whole affair, and l intended to use it
after the trial, but,you sir, (pointing to Gov
ernor Wise) have driven me in Court
Q.-ls that all of the plan 2
A.-That is all to my knowledge.
Q.-Did you not urge upon her that her
character would be blasted by the first con-
tessi0n
Al may have done it ; think it proba-
bic.
Did you not urge upon her that it
would be best for her eternal salvation?
Al recollect nothiag of the sort.
Q.-Dld you not urge upon her that she
would be cut of from all support if she did
hot IeIrdcG. ner nrst CONCESSION.
Al know nothing of it at present.
Q.-Did you not write to her, urging her
to make statement in full very soon, and
that you would keep it secret until the trial
of her husband was over
Al recollect something of that sort, land
never would have betrayed her under differ.
ent circumstances. My reasen fer her to
make statement soon was, that it might
have more weight with the public mind. My
motive then, as now, was the salvation of
her character. If 1 am damned now in the
estimation of all mankind, Estate the truths
SO help me God state the truth in the
whole affair.
Q.-Did you not wish her to retract or
suppress another statement which you heard
she had made?
Al may have done it,
Q.-how did you expect to protect her
character by getting another and contra
dictory statement from her
O. think if you will ask my sister, she
will tell you that after the trial is over. II
her husband was condemned or acquitted,
intended to have it published OF read by some
influential men in the county, to show that
she was not vicious woman 1t was not to
De read IN evidence on the trial of her hus-
band, to contradict her testimony or other
statement, and have told the reason why
betrayed the trust reposed in me.
Q.-Did you or not hold the retraction
over her to prevent her first statement of
the same purport as her testimony in Court?
Al did not. did not hold it to intro
duce it in Court.
Ibid you not introduce it in Court to
talsify her statement in Court.
Al introduced it in Court believing it
true statement. introduced it by the ad-
vice OF friends. intended that it should
make her character as pure as know it to
be, through faith in her.
Q.-Did you think her character would
De pure ii you made her out periured wo-
man?
Al do not; still, of the two, prefer
the lesser evil. L thought she would stick
to her husband and do anything for him.
Q'-fou got the retr &C ton, preferriag
that she should not be attained as a bad
woman.
A.-No sir, you do not understand me,
Q.-Did you not mean that she was con-
Tossing herself the black cloud hanging over
you.
Al may have done it, don't know.
Q.-Did you not promise her expressly
that it should not have aHy effect on her
trial.
Al may have done it and have told you
the reason.
Q.-Did you not urge upon her your own
stake and interest.
Al may have done it, but don't reco.
lect anything about it.
Q.-Did you not tell her that her retrac.
ton could not effect him on his trial.
Al may have done it; don't recollect;
did not believe at the time it would effect
the case.
Q.-Did you not suggest that it was best
for you not to call on her at Mr.. Smiths
Al believe did.
Q.-Why?
A.-Because thought might arouse Mr.
Smiths suspicion and cause the public to
suppose that was trying to influence my
sister.
Q.-Were you not trying to influence your
sister.
A.-Of course wanted true statement
OF the affair, and did not intend to use it up
to last Friday.
Q.-Were you not trying to influence your
sister.
Al wanted to influence her to give me
q true statement. She asked my advice and
wanted her to give me true statement.
o.-Did you not want her and try infu-
ence her to make statement different
from what you were told she had made be-
fore?
Al believed that statement to be I'M
true, and wanted her to make one which |
believed would be true if she made it to
me.
Q.-Did you fear MIR Smith would suspect
you OF some hidden motive in getting from
your sister retraction?
Al did.
Q.-Did you assign the reason why you
had not visited her before2
Al may have done it.
Q.-What else did you urge on her in that
letter?
Al don't recolect-I hav'nt thought of
it.
Q.-Did you ask your sister to burn your
letters.
Al did after she had made the COMES
sion-l don't think did before. My reasons
were that though ner husband was ac-
2ls'ed Ky might reach his ears, or he
VI or ses some OF them and treat her un-
kindly, not that cared for myself.
O-no WIN recnllect of writing another