The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-12
DANVILLE.

THE GRAND CONMANDERY KNIGHTS TEN
PLAR; ELECTION or OFFICEks-TuE CASE
OF FERGUsON-TuE TESTIMONY IN THE
CASE.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa'ch.l
OCTOBER IL, 1885.
Here is a complete list Of the officers
elected by the Grand Commandery yester-
day evening: John l.. Roper. Norfolk,
grand commander; Frank a. Reed. Alex
andria, deputy grand commander; VIII
liam II. II. Lynn, Staunton, grand gene
ralissimo: James b. Blanks, Petersburg.
grand captain-general; George w. Dame,
Danyille, grand prelatc; james l.. Beck,
Lynchblug, grand senior warden; Thomas
j.. Evans, Richmond, grand junior
warden; John +. Regnault. Richmond,
grand treasurer; William b. ISaacs. Rich
mond, grand secretary L. :. Tower,
Richmond. grand siandard-bearer Daniel
i. Turner, Jr., Portsmouth, grand sword
bearer; James l.. Avis. llarrisOnburg,
grand warder.
Citizens kindly sent in their horses yes
terday morning for the use OF the Grand
Commandery and visitors, and the parade
and drilling along some Of the principal
streets proved a beautiful affair. Last
night the officers above named were pub
lcly installed, Colonel Withers. conducting
the ceremony. After the installation about
one hundred and fifty persons sat down TO
the banquet. and in due time toaSts were
offered and speeches made. Amongst the
speakers | should name Colonel WitherS,
Mr.. Peyton :. Coles. Mr.. Roper, Mr..
Isaacs, Major Sutherlin, and Colonel
Evans.
The case Of John A. Ferguson. indicted
for the murder OF Policeman j. 9. Parks on
the 9th OF September last, was under dis
cussion in the Hastings Court yesterday,
and the discussion will he resumed this
morning. The death-bed statement OF
Parks, which the Dispatch has published,
was admitted as testimony. A small boy,
George Tye. StepsOn OF Ferguson, testified
that he was sent by his mother for Parks
on the day when Parks was shot g because
she was afraid Mr.. Ferguson would shoot
her" that he heard Ferguson tell Parks
not to come into the yard, and reply to
Parks when he demanded the pistol
that he could no. get it out; saw
the scuffle over the pistol, in which
Parks pushed Ferguson against the
porch, and that the pistol went off
while both had hold Of il, and he did not
know who fred It. and that Parks had been
at the house once befOre-once when sent
bv Mrs. Ferguson while Ferguson was
threatening 10 cut her with an axe, and once
to summon himself (rye) about some hogs.
Julia I've, the boys sister, testified that she
saw Parks have Ferguson against the house,
and did not see hun shove Ferguson of the
porch. and, as she had gone into the house,
did not see Parks nave hold Of the pistol.
Mrs. McCarty saw Parks backing Ferguson
about and Ferguson move his hand in front
OF himself, and heard the pistol fire; heard
Parks call on her husband, who was dis
abled, to come and help, and command some
negroes. who came up, 10 throw Ferguson
down and tie HIM; saw Parks push Fer
gIIson against the fence; did not see the
children on the porch. and could not have
seen them if they had been there. Police
man Wynn heard Ferguson say when he
was arrested. =" reckon somebody is salts
fed now. Parks has been at my house all
day after my wife" Mrs. Nostrand said
that Ferguson had threatened to shoot Po-
liccman wynn (who, rs has been said,
had a warrant for his arrest if be attempt
ed to arrest him. Others gave in testimony
not very important. ALPHA.
tBy ISOLATED PreSs.l
DANvuLE, VA, October 11.-John A..
Ferguson, who shot Policeman Parks on
September 9th last while the latter was
trying to arrest him, from the effects OF
which wound Parks died the next day,
was on trial yesterday and to-day in the
Hastings Court on the charge Of murder.
This evening the jury returned verdict
OF not guilty. The jury acted on the
ground that there was no legal warrant
for the arrest OF Ferguson, and under the
instructions of the Court that man has q
right TO defend himself even 10 killing an
officer who endeayors to arrest him with
ont warrant