The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-14
ATTEMPT TO PROVE AN ALIBI.
Rigid Cross-EXamination

The court was opened yesterday NJ the usual
time delay OF nearly two hours was occ'-
stoned by the tardineSs of one OF the Witnesses
for the Common wealth, whose absence on
Tuesday night neces$itate an early adlourn-
mcut.
l3v way OF eN planalion, the Commonwealth
Attorney Stated 10 the court tnat the "ltltcsS
whom he proposed next To introduce was Mr'
Joseph Urmker. the first witness sworn 1of
the Commonwealth. 1t was important 10 90
tain his testimony on particular point Nnlcn
had not been touched upon during Inc FORMER
examination in chief. He did not Know llit'
he would call any other witnesses 10 the
stand.
Colonel Johnson remarked 10 the court that
were Mr. Drinker III attendance the nrlsonci
counsel -Tould feel themselves bound 10 cI9cct
to his REORGANIZATION. The witness alltlueu
To had been twice before examined, ana the
Commonwealth 5 Attorney was as lthiillaI m
with the substance OF his testimony as he was
with his a. phabet. Why, then, had not these
questions been asked before? W hat was me
necessity tUr this frequent rScallihS OF VIII,
nesses Fl begged the court 10 throw around
the prisoner every shield TO which he was en-
titled. and 10 protect him from lEls threat
ened in Justice.
Colonel Young arose TO answer Colohel
Johnson, bat WAS interrupted by tlle Judge,
who remarked that the arguments OF counSei
were premature. The proper course wo"la
he to wal until the witness made ms appear :
ance then let the prosecuting ATTORNEY Pto
pound his question, and the coupSel OF lhe NC.
opportunty for arguing the point would then
be afforded.
IosEPu pRISKER RECALLED
ntohout quarter to II o'clock, Mr.. Drinker
arrived, and made excuse TO the court for tar
dirCss. .,.,o
Judge Crump objected to the introduction
of The witness, but reserved The point
Nr Drnker testified: l met the accused
twice after the finding OF the body on my
farm: once on the Goth of March, and again,
! think, on the 25th of the month On the
laiIrr occasion l was returning from klch-
moud having been summoned Us 4 witness TO
This court The accused was at work III the
field when spoke 10 him. lie appeared 10 De
very much excited, talked rapidly, and hardy
took time 10 catch his breath. AS we only
t"Ilred nbont farming matters l could not
understand his demeanor, ana thought lhueh
about il on my way nome.
Colonel Young Did You take any action III
consequence of what you observed
Objected to, and objection sustained by the
court. .,,. Gov
about fifteen minutes. IT was NOT tne s"n,
ipcts spoken of, but the manner OF tue aceuseu
That attracted my attention
Cross.eyamiued by Judge Crump: When l
saw him the first time he was very composed
and talked about fox hunting. Oh the second
occasion he was laying out corn rows. Doh
remember his compiaihlns oi tne @ n',Sia 81
but he talked good deal about the trouble OF
rettiup the land in order. He spoke also OF
! The amount of work which he had 10 perform
in the absence of Mr.. Turner.
Colonel Johnson Can you remember VIII !
Won said on that occasion.
Witness No; l can't tell you anything IN
par ticular How, ;s = tb,+ Won can
remember what he said and what his oe
ma,nor was. and not Il word you said !
witness: Well can't give you any eXpla-
nation. except that ! said nothing OF any I'M
portance. l repeat, it was his manner anu
not his words that attracted my allehtion.
To Colonel Young The CONVERSIONS ui'
not call for any excitement. D,o
altar the examination OF MT Drlhhel
,,,,s concluded, Colonel Young announces
,hot he was through with the witnesses III
chief for the prosecution.
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
Tho witnesses for the defence were theh
"a lied. and those present sworn
| Iohn n Balternian, clerk in the post-oiiiGe -
80 Il rsr examined. He testified: 81" lhe
aronsed mt about o'clock on the afternoon
nf the 18th of February at Mrs. Minlree =
IN Mayo street. am pretty sure ol '.ie ~; lioa
80, iha fact that leave the post t-oliice ~
ahnut 0h and ! found him there "hen
.rr;ysd The accused WAS at the mouse "Arn ,
7 rot there, and remained nltli the pooph
,rcra coming down Broad street lIoii entL'u el H.
Mrs Crawford was ,s also At uH ,iie me prisoner.
ton with myself ;lu tne P4rit,
~ n.,s probably AZ or o CLOCK "lieI NO iea =.
- r., Mr. Guison l have known the accuslu
since the summer of 1866, ana an, ntsp ha 5
sin,u n ,c6 with his family. His character nas
quaii.eh hem excellent, SO far as know. Anou'
fsesn after the accused M;s lsi rT
Wafrees walked home win hot m'ss sunse and
~so,nrned 10 my boarding. house, on Eisntn
street. by dusk Did not 60 in at Mrs Mrs. to sSe
merely saw ths Ss Xoans norch a Or
gate. some me, ladies ,hsrs, were on Inc p''
~ego @ BY Colonel el4soa xoans do %s
quite lntini@a @ ,af, town in 1866. Until sa"
know when iTth ry Of February had not see seen
him 81 = i se nss 5s ias ii ssy
Of February ny wv, tno First Baptist church,
muniioh 'hi"R 1Iso 1he prisoner LEFT Mrs WinfFees al
about half-past o Gioch, Won saw at YOUR pre-.
yo"ns Didn't shn, yH1 hs isS isit at
slors sTa%asa.iph %as"i th!"E not IN the
oc.oSen cGoSonsl Young You. are so repor'Sa ~ ''''
papers. Did you not sns,S say ~
Witness: Not posltiVeiy,,, po ,, M, ,ook oyer tht