The New York herald., 1879-03-26
pOINDEXTER'S MURDER TRIAL.


THE STORY OF THE SHOOTING OF CURTIS AND
THE rLooGISc THAT LED TO IT--A DIFF
cuLrY THAT CAME OF A LADY's PETTY LIT
TIE FOOT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD.l
RICHMOND. Va, March IS. 1879.
The trial of John L. Poindexter for the shooting
of c. e. Curtis resumed this morning, the court
house being dcnsely thronged. A. NJ. Lyon, being
recalled. testified that he had the seven
chamberod pistol with which the deod was
committed till shown him in court; did
not know that prisoner had been in the habit OF
carrying it; only heard four five shots fired; one
chamber loaded half hour utter the shooting.
when the pistol WAS delivered to the policeman to
whom Poindexter surrendered himself; the latter
two and onehalf inches taller than Curtis; saw
injuries Pondcyter after his being struck with
the stick and did not know which eEd OF ii
held by Curtis when uscd Poindexter was with de-
ceased when witness went after physician and was
found by him his return trying to administer
stimuants; he said II did not want to shoot the
man. Can nothing be dono for himi''
DIDN'T WANT TO KILL HIM.
JJ. Wilson. being sworn. testified Us to occurrences
happening in Lyons Office when Mcclure and Curtis
came there inquring for Poindexter; witness was
sitting ut tho window of the front office; heard
striking with stick and shooting; think
Curtis used the stick first; heard Poindc stcr say
Good God didn't want to kill the mani"
Defendant counsel presented . long exception to
allowing certain communications OF Poindcxter to
Lyon from going to tue jury 1t made the seventh
exception he'd during the progress of the case.
rHE SHOOTING ADMITTED.
PolceInan Colsin. sworn testified that he went to
Childrey q Co.'S factory. when Pondcxter acknowl-
pistol; Poindextor and Lyon both said. There was
no occasion for this had It not been for that man.
pointing to McGiuire who had accompanied Curtis
| 10 the factory and under whose advice he acted.
| THE YATAL SHOT.
| Coroner William II. Taylor. sworn. testified that
he made post mortem examination OF deceased;
found i've wounds; the only one not dangerous was
one in the elbow; tho wound through the head was
| the ono Immediately fatal.
AvENGISa INsULrEp LADY.
| v. M. Carlton sworn:-Knew Curtis intimately;
have been in the store Of wngo. Elliott Crump for
year. Curtis weighed about one hundred and
twenty pounds; witness described the visit OF Pon
dexter and his brother to the store between nine aud
after inquiring OF witness if he was Curtis. was
pointed to Curtis. whom he accosted saying he had
insultcd lady there; Curtis III reply expressed
Willingness to beg pardon il he had offended. aud
then followed the drawing Of the whip
lowed; after Curtis hal been struck eight or
| ten times he round from behind the
counter and asked that Poindcxter explain the
this will teach you lesson" Witness thinks Poin-
dexter shook his st in Curtis face; the OF the
lady claimed to be insulted was not called ut the
store; Poindexter said it was tho lady who came with
hrs. Crump; Curtis went out OF the store
sn hour SS stsyed Drsf tme and c
again. and returned no more; Curtis was
! in state of great agitation after they left and
until his Poindexters death, so far Us witness knew
Curtis did not regard anything tha happened after
he was struck with tho whip US reconciliation. so
impression that Curtis and Poindexter shook hands
before tho latter left the store; didn't think they
parted friendly; the blows given BY Poindextcr to
Defence 6iei bill of exceptions to Cartons test-
| mony.
Wilson Price. colored shoemaker at Wingo. Ellet
Crumps testified that the two poindexters entered
tire store about halfpast nine o'clock; heard Curtis
accused OF insulting lady and his denial Pondcx
ter immediately thereafter lashed Curtis very Sc
verey; the latter at the time was behind the coun
ter; lie waried OF the blows with his arm. ut the
same time moving toward the end of the counter;
Carlton interposcd and stopped the assault;
the middle Of the store; Curtis said. "what IL this
for?" and poindcxter replied. ''For insulting the
Curtis said II he had insulted lady he was willing
| TO apologize, and poindexter replied, s'rhis Will
teach yon somo msnners and how TO treat ladies'
door Curtis still asking what LAZY twas; Curtis said
he could write note or letter and would 500 him
again; Pondexter said that he could see him at any
time; he and his brother then left the store; am
certain they did shake hands, and that after the
assault Curtis asked for tho name OF the lady, but re-
"YoU SHALL NOT srEAK TO HER,"
Basil Gordon was u witness to some portion Of the
list in Curtis face using the words testified to- and
adding, in reply to something Curtis said. 'She
shall not in this store and you shall
not speak to her;" much to witness surprise
Poindexter and Curtis shook Hands when the former
left the store; words mutual explanations
between the parties took place prior to Poindexter
lesyng when they parted my impression was that
the affair over think Curtis said he could see
Pondcxter later about the matter; heard nc thing
about any note in connection with the affair; think
Curtis first extended his hand, which grasped by
Pondexter when loaving.
A BEOrHHR's TESTIMONY.
| Thomas Poindexter sworn:-Was with John L.
when nc went to the store and witnessed what
CURED there; John had asked witness to accompany
him. briefly alusling to the OF the visit say
ing that Miss Cotrel had been grossly insultci by
Curtis in comments the size OF her foot and X
pressing desire to assist III trying the
boots her, &C.; John. in relating what
Miss Cottrcl said about tine alleged insult, got
very much excited: be said he would 20 down to
the store and demand written apology and IL that
was refused would thrash Curtis; John remarked
that there other things connected with the
affair useless to relate; John simply wanted his
brother to 20 with him to prevent others from at
lacking him john when he went to SOC Curtis: i:
witness described wha. occurred at wingo. Elicit
Crump's store. and said John came suddenly to the
determination to "thrasl Curtis any how, he and
witness were passing through the Capitol square,
The testimony of Thomas Poindexter occupied the
time of the till after ten o'clock night when
an adjournment had till eleven o'clock to-
morrow. Miss Cottrel will then bo introduced and
her evidence bc followed by the arguments which
| will finish the case.