The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-10

Notwithstanding the tedious and unin
teresting nature of Mondays proceedings
at the County Court, the usual large
crowd Of spectators thronged the court
house yesterday, and patiently stood during
the entire session Of five hours listening
with apparent interest to evidence which
has already been published, or to legal and
medical tecbnicalities. Not few ladies
were observed in the crowd beside those
who sat within the bar.
John w. Cole, constable Of Henrice
county, was first recalled, and his eXaml
nation continued in regard to his visit with
Mr.. and Miss Pitts to the cell Of the pri
soner, and the interview which then took
place.
Mr.. G. W. Thomas, in behalf Of the pri
| soner, objected to the relation by thi!
| witness of the conversation that passed
between the prisoner and the witnesses fol
Commonwealth, when the persons who
took part in the conversation were present
and ready to testify themselves. In push
ing his point with considerable earnest
ness the counsel referred to the bia!
against the accused which existed in the
mind of the witness, and contended thati
was the duty of the court to throw every
legal barrier around his unfortunate client
who is the victim of so much undue pre-
iudice. He spoke in glowing terms OF
the good character Of the accused, of his
honorable family, of his well-known
courage and gallantry evinced time and
again during the late war, and insisted
| that such a man neUer could have COM
81 In, which
stands charged. The county of Henrico
has given to Virginia hundreds OF her
brave sons to battle for the South. to
bleed and die III the cause OF truth; but
never yet has she had the modification to
sec one of those sons ascend the scafold
or swinging ignominiously upon the gal
lows. He was confident that when this
accused is brought before a jury of bis
countrymen, a triumphant acquittal must
be the result. He begged that the court
would throw the shield Of law around the
prisoner, and if this interview is to be dis
closed, let it come out in a proper man
ner-in that case no objection would be
made.
Mr.. Young thought the point made by
Mr.. Thomas hardly worth an opposing ar.
]
this matter is so clear. The position Is
wholly untenable. Mr.. Cole heard the
whole conversation, and was certainly per.
fectly competent to testify concerning IT
and even more likely to remember 1t:
substance than those who participated II
| it.
A protracted discussion, enlivened by
frequent sallies ofrepartee, ensued betWeer
Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Young. The Court
at length ruled that the conversation be-
tween the prisoner and any party coule
be given by any one who heard it.
The witness thenproceeded to give an ac
count of the interview, of which detallet
statement was published in the DiSpatcI
two weeks ago. -,
To Mr.. Young: When examined th'
prisoners trunk I asked him what ne wa
doing with lady's clothing if he was un
married. He replied that he would an
swer that before the proper authorities.
then asked him to tell where his wife was
and said that / would bring her II she coul!
be found, and help him out OF the din
Guilty. ,, ,,.-
dy, of the Dispatch, that did not recoliec
the particulars Of the conversation, as ha'
not paid much attention to it, but II i tol(
him SO it was only because, as an ot1cer,
didn't want to give him the information.
think / introduced him to Miss Pitts, Wh(
told him about it..
The witness was then subjected to mos
searching cross examination III regard to the
manner in which the reporters OF the DtS
patch and Enquirer had obtained their IN
formation the object of the defence being
70 nroye improper conduct on the part o
the county officers. No new facts were
elected.
Betsy peasants (colored), being sworn
testified that Phillips brought his trunk 10
her house during this year, but didn't kno"
in what month; it was brought one night
and witness was requested to take care o.
#. She did not know how it was brought
hut black man named Robert Bigger car
ried it away.
Cross examined: / have always been IL
the habit of taking care of trunks LOT Tue
Phiilipses and some other families. nave
known the accused two or three years nc
always treated me well, and thought MIN
a wei. behaved young gentleman. Robert
Bigger carried the trunk away ID a o"s
horse mule cart. There were TWO Darrek
ofhour in the cart. cit was or 9 o'c!ocs
when the trunk was brought, and dats no"
come didn't know what time 1t was"
Betsy's old man, named Stephen, was
also sworn, and seemed to remember very
well carrying the trunk up stairs one dars
night. "It's been so long ago dlsre-
member most ali about it, as I paid 80 lit.
tie 'tention to it. tuck 80 little notice o
il that I disremember who give il to me
but I tuck it up stars and sol it down by
the winder. Then l went TO bed. Fact is,
/ paid so little retention to it that well
I paid no retention to 1t at all. D4ts all
knows 'bout it. Yes, Sir, dat's all
knows"
William Hicks, colored, an employe at
Turner's brick-yard, remembered the cir
cumstauce detailed BY other witnesses