The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-09

i Objected to by counsel, and objection
sustained by the court.
To Judge Crump: Nothing in the con-
duct of the accused towards me, no rela-
tions between us, and no personal interest,
J induced me to write to Miss Pitts.
Ques.-By Colonel Young Had the con-
! duct of the accused toward you previous
to the receipt of the letter been that of q
single man AnS.-I have known him
about eight years, and he has always
treated me as brother, and l regarded
him almost as such. The relations between
our families were very intimate. He was
never more than good friend of mine.
TESTIMONY OF DETECTIVE KNOX.
William F. Knox was next sworn, and
testified Constable Cole and myself ar
rested the prisoner. We found him. in one
of Mr.. Turner's fields. I got out of the
buggy, and told him l arrested him. He
answered, "For what I" | told him for
the murder of his wife. He answered,
"My wife; have no wife," I asked him
if he didn't ever have one. He said "No."
Cole then came up, and asked me if that
was the man, and then read the warrant.
The accused exclaimed, !" You astonish
me-" said, "I'll be id if you don't
wish you had wife before you get
through" Cole asked him if he didn't
marry Miss-somebody-I don't re member
who. He said "No." We then went to the
house, and entered his room. Searching
the trunk, I took out head dress, and one
Of US asked the accused how he accounted
for that. He made no answer.
l mad previously assisted in exhuming
the body Of the murdered woman, and
took the clothes off.
To Judge Crump: | went with Consta-
BILE Cole by request Of Justice Wade. We
stopped atMr. G. D. Pleasants's, on the way
down. When l first saw the accused he
was on the road. We passed by him, and
Cole said he believed that was him now.
l did not know him, and went to get Mr..
Pleasants because we wanted to get some
one who did know him. Mr.. P. told us
that Phillips had just left there, and we
asked him to go with us. He did so.
When We next saw the accused he was
walking across the field. l called to him,
and he stopped. He made no effort to
escape, but walked peaceably with us to
the house.
To Colonel Johnson did not go to see
Mr.. Peasants for any other purpose than
to be sure of the identity Of the accused.
Do not recollect that there was any con-
versation about other. matters. Do not
know who pointed the trunk out. l acted
as detective. Received no reward for
what have done except forty-seven dol
lars from the Governor.
Colonel Johnson: Do you think it pro-
per, Mr. Knox, to interrogate a prisoner
in your custody?.
Ans.-I think it proper to get all the
evidence can against him.
To Judge Crump: have arrested no
one else for this murder. loaned Cole
$40 to go to Norfolk to do something in
the way Of finding out the perpetrator.
To Colonel Young did not say when
/ made the arrest "This is the man who
murdered his wife," Cole proposed that
l should say something of the kind, but l
did not agree to it. The accused dis
tinctly told me that he had never had
wife. The Governor said he had paid
1852, including expenses. 1 only received
ST of it. 1t was paid to Cole.
W. C. MoNCURE's TESTIMONY.
William C. Moncure was next called,
and testified: | saw the dead body in
Drinkers woods before it had been moved.
Assisted in summoning the coroncr's jury.
Witness then described in detail the po
stion and appearance of the body. DR..
Farrar was sitting by it, looking at a
wound on the temple. At his request
assisted him in making the post mortem ex-
animation. Noticed that one Of the arms
was loose, as if dislocated, and the nose
appeared broken. Witness was particu-
larly struck with the ceanness of the un-
der garments worn by the deceased. Took
thimble, row Of pins, and a bag Of CO.
lored starch from the pocket of the dress.
The pins were stuck in ordinary red pa
per. The paper Of pins found in the trunk
with one row torn of was here exhibited.
Mr.. Moncure thought they were of the
same size and in the same kind Of paper
as those he had found. Of course he
couldn't say with certainty that they were
the same pins. l went with the cart that
conveyed the body TO Mr.. Turner's, but
did not see the accused there.
Witness was then examined as to the
weather during the week the body was
found. On Wednesday it was warm
enough to render an overcoat uncomforta-
BILE. On Thursday there was misty rain,
which was very disagreeable. None of
the under garments on the corpse were
wet; even the mud on one of the stockings
was perfectly dry. Witness thought the
body had been dead for several days.
Question by Colonel Houng.-Did the
murdered womanresemble any living per-
son whom you know!
Objected to by counsel. The objection
was overruled by the court; and bill of
exceptions was filed.
Witness answered that he thought she
resembled very much Miss Roxaua Pitts
particularly about the eyes and chin.
Judge Crump then asked the court to
rule both the question and the answer
Just heard. This the court refused to do {;
whereupon another bill Of exceptions was
filed by the prisoners counsel.
examination Of Mr.. Noncure.-The
only thing that led me to suppose that the
body had been there long was the appear
ance of the hand which had been gnawcd.
The leaves or pine-tags were grasped IN
the right hand.
At 6 o'clock the Judge adjourned the
court to meet again at 10 this morning.
SHOT BIZ SOME One USKSowN.-On
Wednesday night last at about 10 o'clock,
| a, W Mortirar r Carr q GENT pman from