Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-08

| If Mr. Tyler wished To do So
Mr. DicKERsoN made motion to go into Com.
mittee of the Whole because then the Speaker would
preside. r,..,,... u,;-..,...
Mr.. GRATTAN-This will only cause the House to
| wander further from the subject than ever.
! Mr. BAYLoR-The Committee of the Whole will
not determine anything, because whatever result
they reach will have to be submitted to the House.
The motion was lost
The SPEAKER asked were the parties ready for
trial.
Mr. Tyler said he was ready and elected to be
tried separate.
Mr.. LEE-Are they entitled to COUNSEL
Mr.. Tyler took seat in front of the Speaker, and
said he did not want counsel.
On motion of MIR. KILBr, the Sergeant at Arms
was directed to summons such witnesses as Mr. Tyler
wanted.
Thereupon numerous witnesses were brought to the
stand.
Mr.. WORp a member OF the House, being sworn,
said-Dav before yesterday | heard on the streets
that Mr.. Pollard Oh the streets looking for Mr..
Tyler, who he contemplated Gaming on sight. es,
heard that Pollard was in the rotunda waiting for
Tyler whom | saw sitting in Mr. Garnett's seat
! Mr. Coleman came into the House and went up to
Tyler / went to Judge Joynes and remarked that
| would 60 out and witness the alteration. After
Tyler had left the Hall, started but before getting
out one shot was fired learned afterward, by Pol
lard. On going out saw Pollard on the East side,
with Mr.. Marshall in front of him, saying Don't
shoot Mr.. Tyler Mr. Tyler was on the West side,
| and Coleman IN his rear. IOllatu was moving
backward and forward had great respect for Mr..
Coleman, and told him to come away.
Questioned by Mr.. Tyler-What else did you say
to Coleman?
Witness told him to come away and have moth
ing more to do with that coward, (meaning Tylerl
NJ. Tyler-Did you not say damned cOwardly
| ScOundre'
Witness-No, never swear
Mr.. GRArrAN-T object to this mode of investi-
CATION.
Mr.. Tyler-I believe that Mr.. Word is at the bot
| tom of the whole matter.
A number of members here arose simultaneously,
and objected to the question.
Mr. JoYNEs-Mr Tyler has perfect right TO elicit
the fsct of Mr. Words hostility to him, but cannot
] go farther.
Mr.. WORD wanted to make an explanation.
Mr.. GRATTAN-lf Mr.. Tyler has not the right, ne-
| ther has the witness; the gentleman can make his
statement afterwards.
The SPEAKER after rapping in order to allay the
confusion which existed, said, Mr. Tyler has stated
that the witness at the bottom OF the difficulty,
aud he is therefore entitled to make statement on
that point.
Mr. MORD-IIe stated in his paper that had post
poned the action of the House the question OF the
public printing, when had nothing whatever to do
with it,
Cross.eyamined-H was under the impression that
Coleman spoke to Tyler as lie was going out. Did
not know who fired first Had no knowledge OF
| P0llards purpose of making the attack before
clerk told him.
r.. ~ N.
testified that, hearing that Mr.. Pollard was in the
rotunda for the purpose Of making I'm atteck upon
Mr. Tyler who was in the House ut the time asked
if he was aware of the fact, and he replied that lie
did not suppose he would do so in this House. |
told him had seen Pollard with large stick in the
rotunda and asked him if he was prepared. lie said
yes and if Pollard made tho attack, he would shoot
! him. | am his friend aud connection, and made
him pledge me not to leave the House without my
| knowledge. ] again told him what members had
| me
made told Col. Slaughter of the affair, and of my
purpose TO accompany him. with Il view OF getting
| between Pollard and Tyler, and OF throwing my
shawl over the stick to avert the assault. knew
| TYLER was cool, and would not, in the meantime
shoot Between one and two, Tyler stated that
he was about to 90 home. WhereupOn myself and
! Col. Slaughter lett with him. took position on
/ the lett OF TYLER on going out the door, = TO
throw myself between him and Pollard. On our
| reaching the rotunda, Pollard moved hastily along
| the IRON railing surrounding the Washington
statue, and commenced using all sorts of imprcca-
tions against Tyler at the same time raising his
cane in his left hand. kept in front OF him, and
| on Selling it, he released it to me. lie then drew
hs pistol and still covered him. He fired, but it
seemed an accident, rs the shot went up towards
| the dome of the rOtunda. lie fired Sc
! cond time, TO my surprise, in the direction at
the west door. lie then fired third time, when
heard the report of pistol from the same direction,
! and thought Tyler had shot and was no longer in
front of him. | subsequently ascertained that NJ.
! Coleman fired the shot in question. Mr.. Pollard
finding himself in front of two adverSaiieS, now got
behind the iron railing. | approached Pollard, and
! mplOred him TO dcsst. | think four shots We're
| fired, although some think there were more. An
officer of the House came up and urged him to de-
| sisL rs he was cndangering the lives OF members
and others he did so. heard MIR. Word say that two
had set upon Mr.. Pollard. told him, IN quiet but
| firm Tone that it was not so.
| Mr.. MARSHALL was cross-eXamined by Mr. Tyler,
Mr. Pollards first shot went up in the air. and his
/ aud trus
| the west door, about ten feet above the floor.
Mr. Pollard wanted to ask some questions Of the
witness.
The SrEAKER-Though irregular, the Chair will per-
NIT it, if no one objects.
Mr.. GRATTAN objected.
The CHAIR thcrenp0n said that Mr.. Pollard could
! get any member to ask any question he wanted To
! PROFOUND to the witness.
! By MR.. HERNDON--I did not see Tyler draw
pistol as he went out of the door, as was looking
ahead. | did not see his pistol during the whole
! time.
| Mr. Pollard was in the rotunda, prepared to attack
| Mr. TYLER, he went to the latter and mplOred him
not to leave the House. He smiled and said. That
is all right" did not see him leave. Heard tn
firing and went to the door and saw Pollard retreat
! ing behind the statue. did not know Pollard and
only knew Tyler very slightly, but deemed it my
duty to apprse him of his danger
Colonel SLAUGHTER testified that the same circum-
stances occurred up to the commencement of the az
fair as were related by Mr.. Marshall. He heard the
| first shot but did not know who fired it, lie then
told Tyler to draw and defend himself. lie thought,
at first, that Coleman fired before Pollard fired his
| second shot but. on seeing Coleman subsequently
lire, and finding that he had only sngle-baneled
! pistol he knew he mistaken.
The testimony of Mr.. Strothcr not material,
and we omit it.
Mr. Nowan did not reach the rotunda until the
! firing had ceased. He saw several gentleman
around Pollard and went up to Tyler, who was
alone and said TO him, :" Let us go out; this is all
wrong" He replied: only intended to defend
myself" About fifteen minutes afterwards, exam
ned Tylers two pistols and found all of their bar
| res loaded and no cap snapped. lie was not out OF
my sight long enough during the time to have load
| ed a barrel. He had heard OF the contemplated at
tack before it occurred.
| Mr.. NEwBERRY had heard from Senator that
Pollard was in the rotunda, for the purpose of at
lacking Tyler and waited hour to see it. He saw
Tyler leave the House. and followed; but shot be-
ing fired, the crowd rushed to the door, so he dldnt
| see il.
Mr.. Ross was in the library, and on hearing the
firing came out in the gallery and looked down, but
could not tell who fired first lie saw Mr. Pollard
trying to shoot round the iron railing OF the statue
and heard Mr. Marshall say don't shoot.
Other witnesses were examined, but no additional
| fac Is material TO the Were elected.
The SPEAKER asked if the case was closed, and no
other witnesses being called Mr.. Garnett of Essex
offered the following resolution, which was unani-
mOusly adopted:
ReSoired, That Mr. Tyler is not guilty of any III
dignity to this House of any breach of its priv
leges, and that he therefore be discharged.
Mr.. Coleman's case being called, lie agreed TO be
! tried upon the evidence adduced in Mr.. ryer's case
if the privilege of questioning one or two OF the
witnesses upon points Necessary to his defence. He
also wished Senator Keen, Of Ptsylvana, to be sum-
mOncd. This being asSented to by the House he oc-
cuped the seat vacated by Mr.. Tyler.
Mr.. KEEN being sworn, said had just returned
| to the city when | met Mr.. Coleman on Capitol
Square yesterday morning just before breakfast. lie
| is my personal friend. He said Mr.. Pollard, lie
learned was in the Senate Chamber the day before
looking for the Editors of the Enquirer 1because OF
an article which appeared in its columns, which he
had not SEEN Mr. Coleman moreover stated that he
promenadcd in the lobby that Mr. Pollard mgh re-
cognze him. asked him if he armed. He said no.
never carry weapons. then said You are fool
not to do so when you are expecting an attach. lie
said no gentleman would attack me in the capitol.
and if MI Pollard is aggreved suppose he will
sort 10 the mode of redress usual among gentlemen.
offered him a small Derrnger which always car
~ in nv pocket, ana which was loaded las. fall.
This he declined taking at the time He afterwards,
however, came TO me and said that Mr. Pollard was
again in the rotunda waiting to make attack up-
on the editors of the Richmond Enquirer, and re-
que-ted me to loan him the pistol, which did.
The trial here closed.
Mr. HERNDoN moved that w. d. Coleman, having
ln1n entity IF n nlirnitV 10 the House. be bTOu uit