Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-03-02
SlShe MfnnSeatur%
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH {. 1877.
Local.
THE ~BLAOKMAILlNG CASE.


THE BLAOKMAIL1NG CASE.
ACQUITTAL OF w. Fl. WOoDDELL ON THE
CHARGE OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
COUSINS IN COURT-PECULIAR AMI
PAINFUL SITUATIONS OF THE WIT
NESSES,
&C., &C., sc.
The court house was densely crowded On
Tuesday with eager spectators to Wit
ness a novel and rather curious trial. The
prisoner, w. II. Wooddell, a man about
iorty-hve OF fifty Years Of age, was the
first cousin OF The accuser, Benz. l. Karl
cofe, and his dear nelgnbor, and the faml-
had been intimate for a generation.
Both have grown children, two of whom
are daughters and were witnesses. The
charge against Wooddell was extorting at
the mouth OF the pistol, on the CT, large that
he ad seduced Mrs. Wooddell, i've pro-
miasoly notes for 800 each from Kallcofe,
and Tue assignment by Klracofe Of his i'll
Lerest i'll a contract With his father worth,
probably, $500. The extortion took place
at and heal the village OF Mt. Solon Oh the
l4th OF August The jury empanelled
COZ sisted OF MeSsrs- Geo. Rosen, Samuel
f. Prison, w. T. Rush. Timoleon e. Trice,
James q. Cochran, SEQ. W. Collins, "A. Nj.
Taylor, j. Dorsey Hanger, Sam'l L. Cooke,
Jno. \. Slower, EnoS OFT and Tobias Wei
ler. The trial commenced about nOon, his
honor Judge Jno. N. AeuGren On the
bench; Capt. James Bumgardner, the Pro-
scouting Attorney, appeared for the State,
aud Messrs. Geo. M. Cochran, Jr. and
Meade +. White for the prisoner.
THE FIRST WITNESS
was BENZ. I. Kiracote, a tall, ine-looking
Ia about fifty years OF age, with Whiskers
slightly hinged with gray. He Was naar
sighted, and mad TO u Sc glasses i'll Identify
ing the bonds and ayr eemenLs he had given,
one Of which was attested by "W. IL.
Wooddell, n. P" His testimony, which
we give in Connected form for the better
understanding OF it, was that he Was i'll
his Owl field on the morning Of the l4Ch of
August last when Wooduell appeared on
horseback in the road, about forty yards
off, having one revolver belLed around
his waist and aIlother in his pocket.
Wooddell sald. Come down here, you-."
Witness replied, I tax 70 you from
here,'' when W. said, YOU, uon'tyou
run. lean reach you from here.' Witness
went up to him and was asked, "Have you
any money!" aud replied, Il have not y
got-a deed from your father and youll
have to come wit me and assign that"
Witness said, You have me in your
power now 1 have no arms" Witness con-
tinued, "Woodde.l then went with me to
my house, I going in and he remaining on
his horse outside. | examined my gun, but
1t was empty and there was no ammuni-
ton there. If there had been, | wouldn't
have gone with him. My wife and daughter
we're i'll the house. [ went out and got my
horse and went with Wooddell to Mt.
Scion, about tWo miles off. Near the vii
lage he asked me, "What more [ was go
ing to do?" l said [ Was in his power and
could do nothing, but [ Was willing tt
select two men II leave it to tnem to de
eide what WAS rlgnt for NE to do. He SAID
no, we would settle it ourselves. He hal
his pistol, a Colts six SCOOTER, pointed al
my head. He said vGat besides The assign
ment l should give him bonds for 500, anc
give them sepai ately for 500 each, SO ht
could shave item in the n~eighporhood
We fist Nent to DR.. Ciark's, but he, being
from lone, we went TO Squire Van Lear.
Wooddell gave Mr.. Van Lear directions
how to draw up Che bonds aud the assign
ment- [ don't remember giving any direc.
lions about it, OF making any Statement
OF why they We're given. While going home
after it, Waddell asked if | Was going &c
tell about it. [ said l. didn't care who knew
When we got to the roAd where We separ
ated, he asked me when j was going t.
Highland, and L said in Two or three days
He said, ''you had better leave this even.
ing, for if 1 get some whiskey III come
over and kill you Tonight" [ left that
evening after telling my wife and mother.
[ was not indebted to Wooddell in any way
and had made no promise to pay anything
| executed the assignment and bonds solely
to Sage my life. l believed he would kill
me if | did not.
H HIDDEN CAUSE Of THE TROUBLE.
Cross-Exanined.-I am the first cousin
OF the prisoner The pretext that he made
for his demand was, that [ had been in
innate with his wife. l never have been
Intimate with her.
by Mr.. Cocnran.-Didn't you tell Capt.
Rumgardner that you had been intimate
with Mrs. Wouddell :?
Capt. Bumfsardner-Don't answer that
question!
Mr.. Cochran-I insist that he shall an
swer it.
Capt. BAT the time of the alleged de-
claration by tue witness, he cam to me as
his counsel in this matter.
The Court-If it was made as d commu-
nication to counsel, it cam be demanded.
Capt. Bumgardner-The witness who
was Ignorant of law matters, came to me
as counsel and got such advice as led to this
prosecution. Counsel may have q right to
cross>examine the witness as to his CONVEX
with ne as prosecuting attorney,
bull they cannot compel him to criminate
in admitting by his answers.
Mr.. Cochrar-It is our right to show
that this mar has confessed toCapt. Bum
gardner ard other witnesses that he had
the prisoners wife over and
again, and had promised to pay him
in the way of d remedy for that great
The witness has told a falsehoo1,
and we will impeach his credibility by the
evidence of it. [ give notice that l will