The daily gazette., 1879-03-06
SECOND EDITION
The RIchmond Tragedy.

| A"SScttJttGtJ GtO SAFtto too
CottreH Says Curtis Offended Her
| While trying on Some Ne,o Shoes
What Poin derter Shot Him For.
RICHMOND, Va, March 4.-The TRACE.
dy of yesterday, which resulted in the un
timely death OF Sc estimable youth az
Curtis, continues to be the subject Of the
deepest interest. 1t might even be said
that among large portion of the COM
munity the killing arouses a degree of in
dignation rarely over experienced here
before under circumstances of like ma
ture. MIR. Curtis was inse nsible from the
time of the shooting. He never rallied.
tThe circumstances were as follows:
| Poindexter went to the shoe store
where Curtis was employed, and after
charging him with insulting Miss Cottrell,
struck him repeatedly over the head and
shoulders with horse whip. The next
day Curtis with friend went to Polndex-
ters office and demanded an apology Poin
dexter said he wouldnot apologize where
upon Curtis rushed at him, W hen Poindex-
ter drew back and told Curtis not to strike
MN 40 io WdS SuTbtS
urg ed him on and when he rushed upon
Poindexter the latter drew a revolver and
shot him three times. Curtis fell and al
though he lived several hours never
spoke after helwas shot.
MISS coTTRELL BEFORE THE CORONER.
A. inquest was held evening at which,
| much to the surprise of erybody, the
young LAZY to whom the alleged insult
| was offered, was introduced as the first
| witness by the counsel for Mr.. Poindex-
ter. Her testimony was, in effect, the
same as that related to the Herald cores
pondent yesterday, except that q few
more aggravating circumstances were
drawn out, intending to show greater
provocation for the attack on Curtis.
She came before the jury accompan-
led by her brother, dressed in deep
mourning and closely veiled. She was
deeply affected, and at first her words
were almost maud BILE, her voice being
tremulous, the evident effect Of great
nervous excitement She soon became
self-possessed and answered promptly.
In reply to the question by the Coroner
she stated that her name was Isabella
Cottrell, giving her place of residence
and other unimportant particulars. In
the course of her testimony she said that
she had no acquaintance with Mr.. Cur
tbs, that she had seen him only three
times, and then at the shoe store of
Wingo. Elliott u Crump. She contin-
ued The first time i saw him think it
was six weeks ago; 1 went there to try
on some shoes; he brought the shoes to
me and insisted that l should try them
on while he held them; l begged him to
give them to me, but he persisted in
holding the shoes in his hands; at last l
succeeded in getting The shoes from HIM
and put them on myself; when he stoop-
ed to button the shoes begged he would
allow me to do ii myself:
Coroner-What next? A. He persist
ed In doing 1t several times, until at last
l allowed him to button three buttons;
he insisted in buttoning it all the way;
begged that he wouldn't do it and found
some difficulty in preventing him; his
conduct was sol exceed ngly offsnsi 1
took the shoe off; when l took up the
shoe 1 had first taken off he insisted on
lacing it fer me, and he stopped down at
my foot and remained there until 1
had to changemy position and turn my
back upon him to lace my shoe; l pur-
chased a pair of shoes and left the store.
CURTIS SECOND AND THIRD OFFENCES. |
On the second occasion Curtis insisted |
on my trying the shoes on in the store, |
but l told him l preferred taking them |
home; the third time was on last Friday; |
l took both pairs back; Mr.. Curtis open |
ed the bundle for me aud held up the |
pair had been wearing and remarked |
In rather an impertinent way, l thought, |
"Wbat a pretty little shoe; certainly |
would like to put 1t on you; l don't see
how you can walk with such feet" he |
then asked, chow do you walk ?" After |
considerable wrangling about the charge |
for pair of heel plates, witness con-
tinuing her evidence, sald:- Wishing to |
avoid any further conversation with him
/ told him to wrap the shoes up; then he |
turned to me and asked me how | wore |
my shoe heels off; he asked me to put |
nv foot out and let him see it; told him |
ed and advanced toward me, l thought
with the determination to throw my |
dress aside or to make me show him my |
foot.
Coroner-Did he actually attempt to |
do that? A No, sir; | don't know " hat |
he might have done; L turned immediat- |
ely to leave the store: was very much |
provoked with such familiarity from a |
stranger, and walked out OF the store; he |
followed me to the phaeton; he helped |
me in, and in doing so gave my arm a |
severe grip.
These are the main points of Miss |
Cottrells evidence. She was dismissed |
aud conducted by her brother from the |
room.
The investigation adjourned until to- |
morrow at eleven o'clock. The funeral |
of Mr.. Curtis will take place tomorrow |
at 2 o'clock, and it is expected that there |
will be large turnout of sympathizlng
friends.