Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-14
TRIAL OF DIR. PITTS.
THE ARGUMENT COMMENCED.
scenes Ia the Cour,.isocm An imfnens,
Crowd-BiIi or Exceptions "A Recess on'i
iucporicd tor the p,s,stch.I

iieporicd tor the Dispstch.l
HAMPTON. scptcmher ID. 1881.
The number Of people In attendance upon
the Pitts trial to-day was larger than thae v,
any day during the week. The COURTROOM ..
All early hour was filed To its utmost cap W,
city. ON the outside OF the WINDOWS ann
nj the doors OF the courtroom were crowns
listening eagerly 10 what was happening9 On
the inside. In the audience were mum
Der Of ladies, attracted by desire 10 get
glimpse nj The prisoner.
The prisoner, In custody OF Sheri An
drew win ans. accompanied by his Tour
brothers, was brought into The courtroom
a half hour before the court opened.
Tie court opened. as usual, at ~ O'Clock
sharp--Judgc Rocker presiding. a rev
minutes after the Judge had taken MS seat
uron tbe bench the counsel for the Com
mopwealtb and the defence filed In, taking
their accustomed seats around large
table. This table was few feet in front
Of the Judges stand. At one end OF 1t were
w. p. NJ. Kelum, \. S. Segar, and Hon.
John Goode. OF the prosecution. They could
frequently be seen in earnest conversation.
At The other end were the counsel for the
prisoner. Facing Mr.. Nicely were the
Hon. James Dennis and son, OF Maryland,
relations OF the prisoner, and who have
rendered valuable service 10 the defence.
The prisoner, wearing the same suit OF
drab, was seated with his brothers In the
rear Of his counsel.
TO THE RIGHT
q The table were the jury. and at long
deck in their rear were the representatives
CT the Richmond Dispatch, Norfolk lir-
0iridn. Baltimore sun. and Baltimore
American. 70 the left OF the counsel
table were the witnesses. They were all
from Tangier island. Accomac coast, with
the exception OF two.
As soon "a It was escertained by the
clerk that the jury were all present, Hon.
John Nicely rose md requested that they
should be taken from the court, as the
counsel had something TO discuss. 1t was
dCnc.
MIR. Nicely then moved the Court
TO SET ASIDE THE TESTIMONY
Of Joseph o. Struggles. who said in his eX-
animation on the second day OF the trial
| that he was asked by the prisoner in the
presence Of Captain Day 10 walk into his
| Phts's) Office, and that during that con-
| ycrsation Pitts said TO them that he had a
| pistol in his possession that he bad bought.
ard that Le intended TO Kill Dr.. Tom with
If. [Thc point WAS that the prisoner meant
| Or. Thorn. who had fought q duel with his
brothcr.l The motion was oycrruled by
| the Court.
Counsel for the defence then filed the iol-
lowing
BILLS or EXCEPTION:
I. To ruling 81 Court admitting tcs'i-
mony as 20 relative yllues % Dr.. Pitf,'s
and Or. Walters professional practice on
| 1angicr island.
,. 4 witness (striceles) having testified
that two or three weeks prior TO the h)mi-
| eide Pitts exhibited 10 him a revolver, and
said that "he hid bought II to shoot DR..
| Thom on sight" (Ti,nc.s understand
| ing that he referred TO the man who had
| killed Pitls's brother on The Eastern Shore
! in duel some years sincc). "and two
| others in Short and saying nothing fur
| Tier to indicate deceased a, he O hicct Of hi,
threat. ana no further conversation TO show
whom he did mean having occurred be-
| tween them. A motion was submitted to
| tie Court to exclude this evidence from
| The Jury. This motion having been over
ruled tie point was TcScI we'd for exception.
3. one Of the counsel for the prOsocu-
| ton. Mr.. Scgar. having advanced IN ar-u-
nent theory that one Of the witnesses for
| the defence (John Fox had been informed
10y the prisoner on the day previous II hi'
| intention to kill the, deceased. and there
| being no evidence TO warrant such theory,
objection was made by prisoners counsel.
| and notification given that cOntilulnce in
| this line Of argument would DE made The
! basis Of exception; and Mr. Segar, with
/ the permission Of the Court, continuing TO
/ advance and discuss said theory, Ibis sc-
ton on his part is made the basis for fur
| Their exception
The srgumCnt in the case then com
menced. 1t wGs opened by Mr.. SeSar'
| Commonwealth attorney OF Elizabeth
/ City county, who spoke two and hilf
hours. when the court took recess
| In the midst OF Mr.. SeSu's speech
Mrs Mary Walter, widow OF the man
/ who was killed by Pitts, entered the court
room Leaning upon the arm OF her father
Mr.. Tippin, and accompanied Ivy her sI5
ter Annie, and with three other ladies,
The party walked slowly up the aisle, and
reaching the seats occupied by counsel,
seated Themselves on the left with the wit
nesses. The attention OF spectators. as well
rs OF the jury, was attracted TO the party
by whispers OF inquiry as to who they
were.
MIS-. WALTER
il about twenty years Of age, has DARK
| complexion, handsome eyes, ana me
figrre. She Is little above the medium
height. She was dressed in deep black
and lad on a long veil, which concealed
her from the spectators.
Aher the recess the argument was Ie
sumed ly Colonel Thomas Tabb, WIZ
spoke until late hour, and was foliowe.
hy MP. Hughe, and the Hon. George !
Garrison for the prisoner.
Mr. John Nicely viii close for the pr
soncr and the Hon. John GoOde for th'
Commonwealth.
Ii is thought that a verdict will not b'
reached 10y the jury until late M-ndly, !
I then. You can hear numerous expression
as To what The verdict will be. Many ar
If the opinion that il gill be granddaughter
II is said that il the jury should fail t
agree and are discharged by the Court, ]
Will be almost impossible to get all OF IN
witnesses together again.
The cOnri took a recess un'ii MONDAY
when argument will be continued.
ARAMINTA.
| nTg-IryBCpTF WI ITITT WITTY.