Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-12
THE ACC0MAC TRAGEDY.
Trial of DIR. James ID. Pitts-Second Day
Arrest OF the Accused Described-Wha lie
Especial telegram to the Dispatch. |


Said.
Especial telegram to the Dispatehl
HAMPTON, VA, September II, 1881.
This was the second day OF the trial OF
Or. James ID. Pitts for the killing OF Dir.
Little r. Walter on Tangier island. Acco-
mac county, Va, May II, 1884, the case
having been removed to the County Court
OF Elizabeth City-Judge Booker presiding
The first witness called was the Rev. c. ;.
Baker, who was cross-eXamined at conSid.
cradle length.
smith Walter, q brother OF the deceased.
testified that DR.. Walter went to Tangier
island, was taken sick and left. and was sick
for several weeks. He returned in NOyem-
Der last 10 collect money to enable him to
20 TO Baltimore 20 complete his medical
studies. After his brother graduated he
returned to AccOmac and in few weeks
resumed his practice. He remained a few
weeks in TangIer and came home on a visit,
remaining three days. When he returned to
Tangier on the 30.h day of May, he had
not recovered from his illness. lie was
suffering from rheumatism at the time.
The deceased was FIVE feet ten and half
inches in height and weighed $50 pounds.
Captain Peter Davis testified that he was
acquainted with deceased and his brother
Smith. Thought the deceased smaller than
his brother. The prisoner looks Stouter
now than DR.. Walter did when / saw him
last Walter was the taller OF the two.
William +. Jacob, eX-treasurer OF Ac-
comac, testified was acquainted with the
deceased from his bOyhood. and | know
his brother. DR.. Walter was taller than
Or. Pitts, and stouter man. DR.. Walter
was weakly man after his sickness. !
Of s1o v.ri-, orr. IA .i.aal
condition at the time OF the homicide.
John Z. West testified knew Or. wal
ter and his brother smith. The Doctor
was taller than his brother, but not -
stout.
Miss Julia A. Parks testified live near
Mrs. Caroline Thomas, on Tangier, about
fifty yards distant. / heard two pistol
shots. They seemed to be out OF doors. !
heard my mother, Mrs. Thomas, "hallOo.'
Mrs. Caroline Thomas, with whom the
prisoner, DR.. Pitts, boarded, testified that
she was I'm the kitchen when she heard the
reports OF the pistol
AND THE nALL0OING.
| went in the yard, she said. and took
seat, and saw DR.. Walter holding one hand
to his mouth, and the other holding the
door. / did not see him come out.
l did not see him again until they
took him in the house. DR.. Pitts
asked Inc If he might have q rli-
low TO put under DR.. Walters head.
do not know who took DR.. Walter into
the house. DR.. Pitts boarded with me two
weeks. Nv daughter was sick at the time,
and DR.. Walter was attending her. j only
heard two pistol. shots; heard fuss that
as II some one was tearing up everything
that was In the room. 1t sounded like some
thing falling. / heard the pistol IRE,
and the fuss afterwards. The sounds
were pretty much together. II
seemed az il the pistol sounded
first. Ii seemed a. il the falling was
A CRUSHING OF GLASS,
and ] thought my daughter, who was sick,
had fallen among the bottles. | did not
hear the window fall.
Miss +. Thomas testified: / live with my
mother, Mrs. Thomas. NV room adiolns
the one occupied by Dr.. Pitts. heard the
two doctors talking. Ii seemed in low
tones. | heard two pistOl-shOis. After the
shooting DR.. Pitts came to my room
and told me not to be fright
eneG, that should not be hurt.
| 7 was vely sick at the time, and can give
no idea OF the time between the shots.
Richard A. Spence testified: on the
18th Of May last, the day DR.. Walter was
killed, was at my home on the island
| The first knew OF the shooting, heard
| the
WEEPING OF SOME ONE.
went out of the house and learned that
| DR.. Walter was shot. | went to tue place
as fast as | could. When | got there Dr.
Waiter was dead. In a few minutes bis
wife came. The next day i went
into the Office Of DR.. Pitts to
make an examination, expecting 10
be called upon 20 testify. | found iol
| OF bottles and papers on the floor ana
| blood on the papers. j went to the WIN
| dow and found blood on the sill and on
| the ground, saw little door under the
| staircase. and there was also blood there
| | saw satchel and hat with blood on IL
| The latter belonged to Or. Walter. l saw
DR.. Walters gloves on hi lands as BE lay
lie died fifteen minutes before got there
AFTERNOON SESSION.
CAPTAIN p. II. Connerton testified; an
a notary public.
! ARRESTED DR. PITTS.
When Pitts killed Walter ] was at my pace
OF business. found Pitts at the store
Crockett a. Co. asked IL they had dlsaruet
him. They replied: " No; you hau Dv. W.
come and DO it," did so, and Douhu MN
l said: doctor, what caused you 10 u
thisl"
He sand: "Just what would cause me {
do ii to you or any other man." lie saiu
Captain, want TO speak with you'
We walked aside, and be SAID: II yo'
want anything, Captain, loose Ill! "'"u
and give me my pistol " :. "A
said: doctor" trying to turn IL Oh
edo not be alarmed. VIII take carr =
YOU the best can" thougnt u pc. "o
TO take him to the main land that hlghI.
feared mob. He gave Inc n's eH ~.
cartridges. i had taken his pistols. -,
Scarborough has them. Or. rus alu n'
self had trouble in March. When "ie"'o
him had him
COVERED WITH NY RfLk'
Our difficulty had been settled. i near
that there were threats OF MOB ulu u.
see any indication OF one. lie (fnlsl y
fused to be arrested except by an ouice'
lie did not resist me-"
DIR. o. b. Finney testified: 81 EXAMINE
DIR. Waiter before the acting coroner, ~
G.. T. Scarborough, at the poSt-i'ortc"
There was one wound " the LETT arm, pas
ing ont the shoudcr.bade; one III ~
neck. passing into the chest; one 80
the right sboulder-bladc, neal tue spun
and one passing through the lungs, cuttn
! the blood-yessel near the base OF Inc nea,
The wound IN the neck and through u
lung must have been made by shots iro
the side. am acquainted with gun'sh
wounds. Did not form any theory q,
the direction OF the shots. My recolle,uI
ia that there were powder.marks abor' u
, wound In the neck" u,
DIR. q. T. Scarborough testified: 4" ~
At the Courthouse. Am justice Of u
i peace, and a. acting coroner held an
, quest on the body OF DIR. Walter and SUI
! moned Drs. Finney and Harmrn,on
: make the post-mortem, and followed tue
. CAREFUL Y In their examination"
: The witness described the wounds .,
nroduced the ball that was found under Z
: updsysbirt near the srmpit. The load
Listol Of Dr.. Pits and I've extra cartrldg