Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-27

he was on the night of the tragedy from s
till IL O'Clock. He replied; "That ques-
ton decline to answer
To the defence the witness said: asked
him if he had heard of her death. He said,
Eyes; saw it in the newspapers" The
"eruption" was on his right land. At first
he said, mo; it is not an eruption: and
afterwards he said, "Well, it might be an
eruption or breaking out" To my eye it
looked as if his hand had been scratched.
could not say who addressed the query as to
the prisoners moral habits.
Upon this last statement Judge Crump
closely questioned the witness to know who
put the question relative to the prisoner
habits, but the witness could not tell.
'MR. MERTON"
| Miss Lulu V. Woodward was next called.
She was asked to look upon the prisoner
and say if she knew him. She glanced at
the prisoner and then said: / knew him first
by the name of Merton. I afterwards found
out his right name by hearing somebody
call him Cluverius.
| By the defence: When was that :?
Witness: In 1882.
Who was he with?
Witness: I don't remember who introduce
ed him by that name (Merton.)
Where were you when you found out such
was not his name? don't care about you
giving any particular name.
Witness: When I was out riding with a
gentleman and lady.
How long had you known him at that
time?
Witness: A very short while.
You cannot recall who introduced him?
Witness: No, sir.
Have you seen him since 1882?
Witness: Yes, sir.
Was he at the time you first met him a
college boy?
Witness: Yes, sir.
When Miss Woodward concluded her
testimony, Mr., Meredith stated to the court
that the prosecution had no moro witnesses
to introduce at present, and suggested that
as it was nearly 2 o'clock, the regular time
for adjournment for recess, that the court
adjourn until o'clock, when the defence
could begin with their witnesses.
The Commonwealth has witnesses who
have not yet been examined, and the pro-
secution will determine after hearing the
evidence for the accused whether this addi-
tional testimony ought to be presented.
Judge Crump stated that they would not
be ready at 4 o'clock; that the Common.
wealth had examined SO witnesses; that the
case was one without a parallel on earth
and he therefore asked for some time to de.
termine as to how the testimony for the de.
fence should be presented to the jury.
MIR. Meredith earnestly insisted upon go
ing on with the evidence for the accused anG
asserted that tie defence had already beer
given plenty of time.
Judge Atkins then said: "Let us adjourn
until o'clock, and then we can determine
whether we can proceed with the evidence
for the accused"
In the afternoon session, Judge Atkins
expressed desire to hear Joseph Dodsor
and Hunter Hunt (colored,) of the Ameri
can Hotel testify further in relation to the
torn note. After they had testified, Judge
Atkins stated that the only thing that caus.
ed him to rule against admitting the note
was the question of identity; that now he
was satisfied it had been sufficiently identi-
fled, and that he would, therefore, admit it
as evidence. The note was then read, as
follows: 81 will be there as soon as possible,
SO do wait for me-" 1t was not signed, but
the envelope was addressed to Get. J. Clu-
verius." Counsel for the defense took ex-
ception to the ruling, both as to the en-
velope and the note in it.
| The prosecution next introduced letter
received by Mrs. Fannie Walker, grand
mother of the deceased, from Lillian, dated
March 18th, in which she informed her that
owing to bad weather in the mountains she
had closed her school and was going to Old
Point Comfort with lady friend to remain
some time. and that all her expenses would
be paid.
Robert Carruthers assistant postmaster
| at Richmond, was summoned to testify as
to the mailing of the above letter. He said
it had been dropped in street letter-box;
knew it by the stamp ON the envelope; it
must have been dropped in the box the
night or evening before the morning of the
l4th, as it was brought in that morning by
the collector.
The prosecution here rested their case,
and the court asked if the defense would be
ready to go on in the morning. Judge
Crump replied that they thought SO. The
court then adjourned until Tuesday.