The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-01
Fredericksburg I went see Mr.. G,
Mr.. Young: Hold on
STOp THERE. 5


1t bimseu.
Mr.. Doggett in Ans,rer to Questions I
knew the prisoner at school-at Judge Cole
mans school in Fredericksburg. That was
about 'Gs or '69. Mr.. Poindexter was
boarder, and day.scholar. know that I
had the very kindest feelings for him while |
we were school-boys.
The Judge: Mr.. Doggett, when on the
jury were you'in favor OF infficting greater !
or less punishment than that given ia the
verdict?
Mr.. Young objected. The Judge with
drew the question, though he thought the
whole essence Of the matter was whether
or no the prisoner had received injury by
Mr.. Doggett being on the Jury.
George +. Chancellor Sworn.
1 will say in the start that Mr.. Poindex-
ter is an entire stranger to me, and never
heard Of him until this affair. Mr.. Doggett
and / arc intimate. We are socable and
friendly in all respects. Mr.. Doggett came
to my place one night about the 18th Of
Aprll-about the time the case came up,
think. I believe broachcd the subject.
was very particular, because there were
only three men in. Fredericksburg who
were OF my opinon-that is, that spoke fa-
vorably OF the case-and it struck me very
lOfClDly lHaI Only
THREE MEN WERE OF Ny OPINION.
felt interested in getting the views OF
every man in the case. found Il general
impression against him in the community
in the hotels and cnffee-houses.
Mr.. Doggelt came in my place about the
18th OF April. Mr.. Dogsett and l com
menccd discussing the case. 4 great deal
was said by both of us which | have lost
ci, nf nd nd tor
Mr. Doggctt said that Poindexter ought TO
have run. | claimed that Puindcxter did
retreat to the wall from what saw. said:
What was Il man to do: me couldn't 60 any
further? Doggctt said run out the back
door, and made a gesture TO show what he
meant. In the mean lime Mr.. Cole came
in-iust as he was talking about rctreatlng
TO the Wall-and Mr.. Cole said suppose the
affair occurred in the street.
Witness said. in substance, that Doggctt
maintained his position, and Mr.. Cole then
became
DIsGusTED
and left, we were talking 40 loud. bolster
Gus, and eycitedly. Hc made the remark.
"You fix the case up to suit yourselves"
Mr.. Dog@ett stated there that Poin dexter
ought 10 DcSevcrelv punished, and he didn't
see how any intelligent jury could acQuit
him. He used the word PoindeXter. | re-
marked to Mr.. Dogeett that l could bring
in verdict without leavin. the courtroom.
Mr.. Dogsett just ltft-leit in the very best
OF terms. We were both ia a good humor.
When the jurors were summoned from
Fredericksburg noticed several Of my ac-
quaintances among them; never noticed
Mr.. Doggctt's name particularly. Mr.. Cole
was summoned. l called his attention to
it, and said that lie would not be a very
good Juror. ['rbe CONFERENCE.-The Attor-
ney objected TO his conversation with Mr..
Cole.]
IF HAD THOUGHT
about Mr.. Doggett being on the jury l
would not have hesitated to call his atten-
ton to it, as we had had very warm dis
cussion about the sui iect.
I met one of the men that had come
to Richmond at confectionery store that
night with several other gentlemen, and he
drew the list OF those accepted from Frcdc-
ricksburg. He read the names out. told
him there was enc Juror there Mr.. Doggettl
that was not competent, having expressed
an opinion, and didn t withhold the name.
called the name OF Mr.. Doggett, and said
that ii PoindcXter was convicted would
inform his counsel.
In AnSrer TO Questions Of Defence: Mr..
Doggctt and | discussed the lady's state
ment TO Mr.. PoindcXtcr. Yes, sir, Mr..
Doggett showed an interest in the case, and
talked about the law. Yes, the place OF
shooting and the way it was done were dis
cusSeG. asked the question, lf Curtis had
shot PoindeXter what would have been the
verdict?
ACQU1TTAL, he SAID.
We referred to the commencement OF the
difficulty, when PoindcXtcr went down af-
ter Curtis. The discussion between us must
have been going on thirty minutes. Mr.
Doggctt i'm this conversation showed faml-
iarity with the circumstances OF the whip
ping and shooting. Mr.. Doggett's opinion
was given on this particular case, not on 4
Hypothetical one. There was more excite
ment in Fredericksburg about the case than
there is here, from all | can understand.
There was no controversy in our discussion
as to what were the actual facts. [ said that
WHAT TIE LADY TOLD r
PondeNter justified him in going down
and horsewhippins Curtis. Then the case
came up that Curtis took his friend and
went to attack PuindcXter. | put in that
about retrcatng TO the wall. No, hadn't
read the evidence very closely. / looked
at the main facts. read only the town
paperS-not the Richmond papers.
The Judge: Did the town papers publish
all the evidence?
MI Chancellor: About that / AIN not pre-
pared to say.
l won't say positively whether Dogget
said the facts were insufficient to justify tue
whipping. He stated that Curtis was iusti-
fed in Gaming PoindcXter. Yes, | have
found that Mr. Doggett would argue his
point very closely. Yes. sir; Doggclt said,
with gesture towards the door, that Poin-
dexter ought to have retrcatcd to the wall
and gone out OF the back door [bcfore
tiringl. Dir. Cole asked the question if
Pondexter had been attacked in the street
ought he to have run. Doggelt said yes. l
said,
RUN TO THE COUNTRY.
From what witness said it appeared that
the back door Doggctt was alluding to was
the back door OF witness store.
10 the Commemorative attorney: Ies,
sir, + have talked with a good many people
about this affair. There were but three
men OF nv way OF thnkingin Fredcrcks-
burg that | knew OF. | am aware OF the
fact that OF the number from the town OF
Fredericksburg summoned to try the case
seven or eight were accepted, after eXaml-
nation, as competent iurymen, and that SIX
remained for the trial Of the accused. 10
those persons with whom came in contact
| frequently broached tie question, ii time
permitted. Remember that of those sum-
moned had talked with Cole and Doggett.
No, can't say that talked with very
large number OF persons. From these l
got what thought the prevailing
OPINION IN FREDERICKSBURG.