The daily gazette., 1882-05-24
aAAAnoN
REppEN.s rR1AL REeuN.
Opened in the Court OF Oyer and TerinIner
TO-day--A ColOred Man on the jury
Mr.. COOper's Opening. tE-sItH

To-day--A COlOred Man on the Jury
Mr.. COOper's Opening. H-ttH
At the opening of court at $50 this morn
ing, the roll Of jurors was called TO obtain
their mileage. Upon Mr.. Sharpley announc-
ing his readiness TO proceed with the Reddin
case all civil suits were postponed until 1t
was disposed Of. The witnesses were called,
all answering to their names with one excep-
ton. The prisoner was directed to be placed
In the dock, and at 10. 10 he was brought in
by the tipstaves. The work of obtaining "a
juror was then commenced, and resulted in
the empaneling Of the following jurors :
Manlove Mcfarland, Edward Woodward,
Alexander NJ. Sparks, Thomas Lindell,
Mason Rumsey, John v. Christy, ]. Paul
Brown, Eli Davis, s. v. b. Carty, eolored,
William Black, Atwood Wilson, John Allen.
The defense made Is challenges and con-
siderable time was spent in getting the jury
James A. Anderson (colored) had conscien-
tious scruples against hanging man, and
was challenged by the State.
The indictment was then read, charging
Redden with having committed 4fel0nious
assault upon the person Of Sarah j. Purse,
on the 23d day of February Of the present
year. Aa.lI 4sfs.
Mr.. Sharpley requested that all witnesses
in the case be taken in charge by the sheriff
and taken from the room during the hear
ing.
Mr. Gray wished to except the plaintiff
and her mother, but Mr.. Sharpley insisted
upon his request and all the witnesses were
removed excepting Sarah j. Purse, the
prosecuting witness. -f.. -..
Alexander b. Cooper, deputy attorney
general, opened the case, briefly stating facts
which he promised to prove.
Mr.. and Mrs. Purse left their home on
February 23, leaving the house in charge of
the daughter Sarah j. Purse. About noon
Redden came along and raped at the door;
Sarah let him in; lie took his seat by the
fire, and was then given something to
eat by request. After the meal he went to u
front window of kitchen and looked up and
down the road. Sarah then began to be
afraid and started to go out. She was seized
by Redden who threw her on the floor. He
covered her mouth and threatened to choke
her II she cried out. He then committed an
outrage. When he asked her If she would
tell her mother she said "yes," and he
threatened to cut her throat If she did. He
then left towards Odessa.
Sarah j. Purse was placed upon the stand,
and when questioned by the Court as to her
ability to understand the nature of an oath, g,
said she was 'going ON 14' years Of age,
and "would go TO the bad place" if she told
an untruth.
and modest manner and evidently fully
appreciated the situation and gave answers
very intelligently. Live near Odessa, near
as can guess about mile from Odessa;
lived In February with mamma and papa;
papa's name Henry Purse and mothers
name Catharine Van Horn; am 13 years old
on last of last April; live on State road lead
ing from Odessa to Fieldsboro; the house we
live In, as near as l can tell, is about Is or
20 feet from road; two rooms down stairs,
kitchen and big room; kitchen faces road at
one end of house; kitchen has window
facing road, but door is back from road;
stove, chairs, table and cupboard in kitchen;
trouble occurred in February last.
The witness here identified the prisoner and
began her story.
Was at home on the Thursday in ques-
tion mother was in Fieldsboro and father
was at Smyrna, having gone the day before
father came back In afternoon mother was
away to see sick person parents have three
children on 23d of February was home
with little child "going on years old :"
was left IL charge OF house, as was
custom during mothers absence washed
up breakfast things and baby sister
sat in chair at front window then
swept out kitchen; made bed in front room
house u stories high; swept out bed room
went back to kitchen and took baby in lap
by front window; sat there not for long;
about 10 O'Clock AL. Roy, colored man,
came in for drink gave 1t to him and he
went out James Redden came in, as near
as l can guess, between IL and 12 have
dinner after mamma comes home she works
out and is away during day get dinner
two meals a day-breakfast and late dinner
never SOW Redden before recognize him
positively; no mistake he spoke and said
GOOD morning." and sat on chair; said,
"Good morning." had baby in my arms.
Redden sat on the left hand side of the stove.
A diagram of the house was then shown
by Mr.. Gray, who was examining witness.
He explained the plan of the house.
Continued In second edition.