The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-18

THIS vICINAGE ORDERED, AND MADE
RETuRSABLE ON THURSDAY MORNING
AT II OCLoCK--THE INDICTMENT DE-
MURRED TO AND CASE CONTINUED UNTIL
THURSDAY.
Eleven O'Clock yesterday morning was the
| hour fixed for the beginning OF the trial OF
John +. PoindeXter, who stands charged
with shooting and killing Charles &. Curtis
| on the Sd OF March. Deputy-Sergeant Ty-
Ter brought Mr.. PoindeXter up from Jail
| about l0t o'clock. He was looking fresh
ana cheeriul-much better than when he
was before the Police Court, when there
were marks Of deep anxiety and distress on
his face. -
A great crowd Of people blocked up the
Capitol-street entrance to the City Halt wait
ing for the courtroom doors TO open.
W hen at IL O'Clock the doors were opened
! there was u rush which shook the building
| like storm.
There was fierce struggle for places and
| some sharp cries, which the Sergeant
promptly suppressed, and then the impa-
/ tieut multitude. having filed every inch Of
| available space, settled itself, and there was
quiet. -
An the privieged-seats between the rail-
! ing and the bar were tilled~wtth lawyers,
law-students OF Richmond College, vcnire-
men. and others.
| Mr.. Poiudcxter was surrounded by his
brothers aud friends. His counSel-Mr.
John B. Young and Judge +. Z. Minor
were near by. Soon after The court opened
Mr.. Young announced that MI. Joun :.
Wise was associated with them; and Mr.
Wise came ia and took his seat by the ac-
cuSed.
THE WITNESSES.
Alter the record Of the last days business
had been read and approved, and some TIL
fling business disposed Of, Judge Christian
asked Commouwealth'S Attorney Wise il
he was ready TO 90 on With the case against
John Z. poindeNter?
The Commonwealtb'S Attorney requested
the Sergeant to call the list OF witnesses.
The Sergeant called John j. Wilson, Allen
NJ. Lyon, ". NJ. Colgin, +. II. MCGUIRE,
V. S. Carlton, John Nsgle, Wilson Price
(colorcd), and DR.. W. II. Taylor.
All OF these answered ut once OF soon
after appeared in court.
Mr.. Young was understood to say that the
witnesses for tie defence were within call.
MR.. YoUNG's FIN.
Dir. Young, addressing the Court, said
that it was at nll times unpleasant for him 10
assign any engagement OF his rs reason
for not going OF with case; but he felt ii
4 duty to all concerned to show how lie was
situated here.
Mr.. Young explained that when the Court
fixed 4 day for the trial Of this case 1t Gid 50
with the view of allowing him to attend TO
pressing business before the Supreme Court
OF Appeals. His most urgent case wonld be
taken up Tuesda to-day, and some counsel
engaged in it had come'froul distance. This
l,o .,,1c ttiop af S100 00
by the county OF Henry to tile Danville and
New River Railroad Company. He bad
been retained and paid iii this matter before
he was employed in the case at the bar. He
could not go on with both. 1t seemed alb
solutely indispensable for him to appear in
the one before the Supreme Court, and yet
it would be exceedingly inconvcnicnt to de-
priye the prisoner OF his services here; cspe-
cially when the important and delicate mat
ter OF selecting jury WAS under conSldera-
ton.
What Mr.. Young asked was that the case
be adjourned until Thursday. He promised
certainly to be back by that time.
THE NATTER ADJUSTED.
The commemorative Attorney said that
he wanted to obiige Mr.. Young.
He did not think it probable that they
would be able to get jury on their first
effort. and it would be necessary for the
I Judge to have time to prepare list ol
other persons to he summoned. What ht
suggested was that the present panel be cX'
hauSted, and then the case could be al.
, iourncd over until Thursday.
+ Mr.. Young's request being Il reasonable
+ one, and The Commonwealth Attorneys sue.
gcStiou being assented to by defence, the
| Court agreed. after eXhausting the panel
, | to DoSt none the case as asked.
THE PANEL.
The panel as originally formed by the
Judge consisted of the following: JOSEPH
t W. Argyle, George A. Barksdalc, Greer II
Bauehman. Manfred Call, PeYton Il. Car
rinston, \. p. Fox, j. Ii. Claiborne, F. II
: Deanc, +. NJ. Boykin, Gilbert j. Hunt
, Jarscs Il. Gray. {. w. Antrim, George y
= Hancs. II. F. Minor. George G. Jefferson
= Norvel Rvland, Oscar +. Wcisigcr, W. NJ
Lewis, W. c. Seddon, Z. B. HutchlnS
2 Thomas Potts, T. b. Addison, o. NJ. Mar
shall, and Polk Miller.
The three last named were out Of the city
: and were therefore not found.
. Without objection from defence, th
5 Judge excused Greer Fl. Baughman on
= certificate from physician that his conol
5 ton is not such as to allow him 10 slt Us
: Juror Mr.. Barksdale was excused bccaus
lie IS actin5 us CONSUL loI " ioAeioh wv
/, ernment.
DEMURRER TO THE INDICTMENT.
, To the indictment Mr.. Young, followin!
. . his course Of practice in this class OF cases
entered general demurrer. lie statet
that lie had not read the indictment eNcep
,, in the newspapers.
Judge Christian asked Mr.. Young ii h'
,, had any special objection to advance. Mr.
Young thereupon took the Indictment ant
read il. He did not wish to 20 upon recort
as being unwilling to specify er 'orS. Ii ht
saw them he would candidly call attention
to them. He observed that the indictment
charged four shots without stating that they
were all given at one time. he gave that as
an objection.
The Judge oyerrulcd the demurrer.
"NoT GUILTY."
The Clerk (Mr. Jiukins) now told accused
to stand up. He promptly arose, ana, rest,
ing his left hand lightly on the bar, looked
steadily at Dir. Jnkins as the latter read tlie
| indictment charging him. in all the multi
piled technology Of the law, with Killing
| Charles G.. Curtis.
The Clerk asked: "What say you, John
f. rcindexter, are you guilty OF the MUIR
der whereof you stand indicted, or not
guilty?"
.Not guilty." he responded, in a rather
u