Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-13
HEARING THE EVIDENCE.
CASE OF ROBERT HOPKINS

What Witnesses Say sf the Train. Wreck-
Ing sf yuss Ism and sf nspkins's Ad-
mississs.
The Husting& Court Judge Holladay
presiding for Judge Atkins yesterday
further heard The case Of the Common
wealth against Robert H. Hopkins, who
is'indicted for tAmpering with switch
on the Chesapeake and Ohio railway on
June IL, 1884, thereby throwing pas
senger-train off the main track and kill
ing Engineer Aleck Hall.
Following are the salient points of
| witnesses testimony:
| William Dance (colored) was sworn.
| Mr.. Allan Before the Common
wealth's Attorney commences his ex-
animation Of the witness / wish to ask
a question. Were you not talking to
Policeman Baker a few minutes ago?
Witness: I was; but I did not say
anything to him about my testimony.
Mr.. Allan: Very good. Go on Mr..
Witt.
What is your occupation?
Factory hand.
State what you know Of this case.
met Hopkins, the prisoner, on a
Sunday night on Seventeenth street,
near Chsppell's bar-room. was with
| John Judah (colored), standing on the
corner, when Hopkins came up to us
and said, " How-dy do" and asked me
if / did not know him. He said his
name was Bob Hopkins.
A HAUNTED MAN.
Hopkins, Dance continued, was in
liquor, and he said that he was the man
that changed the switch that caused
Engineer Hall to be killed; said that
he was haunted by Halls ghost and
could not sleep at night, and also stated
that he had key and "could change
every ID switch on the road" Do
not remember what Sunday it was.
Policeman Baker first came after me.
To Mr.. Allan, counsel for the de-
fence: 1t was Sunday, three weeks
before Christmas, when Hopkins spoke
to me on Seventeenth street.
was at Chappell's bar-room, short
distance from there, before | met
Hopkins. Hopkins talked with me
about twenty minutes. He said nothing
more to me but what | have told you.
| did not ask him any questions. When
| left Hopkins remained with Judah.
| told my brother Spencer what Hop
king said. Do not remember when
Policeman Baker first came to see me ;
1t was after the arrest. He came to
Chappell's bar-room for me. was not
at work at the time, and when not at
work am at Chappell's most of the
time.
THE PRISONER BROTHER.
Dance, continuing went to the Third
station-house the evening that Baker
came for me; it was about o'clock
when | got there. Baker told me to
| tell all that | could remember that Hop
kins said to me, which | did. After
having finished with me | was told to
stand aside, and they took Judah into
the room then. | waited for him we
both went away together. | do not
know how Baker found out that Hop
kins had talked to me about the switch /;
have never met with Baker since that
day. Yes, was summoned by Baker
to appear as witness.
Here Mr.. Millspaugh came from the
clerks Office and whispered to Common
wealth's-Attorney Witt. Mr.. Witt
rose and said 4" If it please your Hon.
or, will be compelled to have William
Whi.loek, a brother of one Of the ac-
cuscd, excluded from the room, as he
has been talking to Witness"
fSince the trial commenced, by re-
quest Of counsel and order Of court the
witnesses have been kept out of the
courtroom and only admitted there
when they were put on the stand.l
Mr.. Allan: say here that | sent
Whitlock out. as wished him to keep
an eye OH colored witness by the name
of John Judah. ] wish your Honor
would have the witness brought in and
see whom he has been talking to.
Some one remarked that it was HOl-
loran who made the report.
Mr.. Allan: All thought so.
Judge Holladay: Bring in the wit
ness, Sergeant Lee.
Holloran was then sworn, and stated
that he saw William Whitlock talking
to the following witnesses Messrs.
McCarty, Howard, and Rogers.
Policeman Welsh: saw him talking
to some one | did not know what it
was about.
Mr.. Allan hope your Honor will
go to the bottom of this.
Commonwealth's-Attorney Witt; !
hope so, too.
Judge Holladay: : Yes bring in the
others.
Mr.. McCarty William Whitlock had
no conversation with me in reference to
the case and made no request Of me.
Mr.. Howard He asked me to notice
a colored man, and pointed him out,
and asked me not to let him talk with
any one; said nothing to me about this
| case.
MIr.rRogers: asked Whitlock when |
would be able to 90. as wanted to get
back to work said nothing to me about
the case.
Policeman Welsh saw him talking
in general way.
Mr.. Witt then asked the Judge TO re-
quest the officers of the court not to
allow witnesses to talk to each other.
Mr.. Allan Your Honor, this is no.
thing more than | expected, and it is
! the cause of my having William Whit
lock here to look out to see what is
going on on the outside, for | have as
much as can attend to here.
The cross-examination of Dance was
then resumed.
THE FOREMAN OF THE GRAND JURY.
Mr.. Thos. Potts: was foremano of the
| grand jury that made this indictment.
| / felt it my duty to call the attention Of
the grand jury to this case. Mr.. Hollo-
ran gave Inc the information upon which
| ! acted, and also communicated it to
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com
pany. spoke to Holloran about COM
pensation, and he said he did not want
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