Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-26
EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION IN.
The Defence Now Called Upon TO
Show Their Hand.

heard. ID seems safe 10 say that near.
ly two weeks more will be necessary
to hear the testimony that will be Of
fered by the defence, the rebuttine
statements Of witnesses for the pros
cution and the defence, and the
arguments Of counsel. To this end
the June term Of the court, which be-
gins Monday next, will probably have
TO be pushed out Of the way and
fixed for a later day by An order
Of Court, so that this term may con-
tinue the needed time. There are posi-
bic difficulties in the way, but the situ-
alton seems TO admit of no other course.
So far judge, jurors, prisoner, and
counsel stand the trial very well. For
the most part the weather has been
cool and cloudy, and the atmosphere
Of the mean little courtroom has,
therefore, borne less heavily upon them
than may be expected when the sun
shines from clear sky and more
summerish weather is upon us.
THE ToRN NOTE.
Judge Atkins yesterday morning
gave a rehearing to the counsel for the
Commonwealth on their motion to ad-
NIT as evidence "the torn note"
Ills Honor reserved his decision.
n. p. billiard.
This gentleman, beng sworn, testi-
fed: | am commercial traveller, and
am native Of Essex, and | know the
prisoner. | naturally had good deal
olsympathy with the prisoner, and meet
ing Captain Aleck Bagby March 22d
about 3 o'clock, he and | went down to
the jail together. told Mr.. Cluyerius
that regretted to find him in trouble.
lie said he could prove his innocence
and would account for every moment
Of his time spent in Richmond on the
18th. Captain Bagby asked him
"Did you read the account of the
tragedy in the Dispatch at Tappahan-
mock when handed it TO your" lie
said no that he had the Wing. The
Captain asked if he had the
scratches on his hand when he went
down TO West Point with him. lie said
no; that he struck his hand against
railing at Centrevlle, and that that
was the way they were made.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.
To defence i spoke Of this eonver-
sation to numerous parties; 1'spoke Of
it generally. Soon after Captain Bagby
and had the conversation with prison
er, and before we left him, Mr.. John
Robert Bagby, who is in the dry-goods
business here, came up tous. No, sir
l didn't 90 there in "a confidential ca
pacity"; but went there with sym
pathy for the prisoner. Process wa.
served upon me here in Richmond. l
did not speak of this conversation TO
any officer Of this court, but several
persons had said TO me that probably
would be brought in as q witness.
suppose the conversation lasted fifteen
or twenty minutes, and | have stated it
as accurately as | could, not to have
taken il down in writing at the time. The
prisoner said 10 Captain Bagby that he
did not read an account Of the tragedy
in the Dispatch A.; that "he had the
Whig." Yes, sir; ] went down there
"as sympathizing FRIEND" bat it was
not a secret or confidential visit. l
could not see what harm there was in
telling of our conversation. The i'm
propriety of my detailing this conyersa-
ton never occurred to me, and the
question of where he scratched his hand
had then never been discussed that |
know Of. lie said that he did not have
the scratches when he went down from
Richmond ION the l4thl; that he struck
his hand against railing at Centreyille,
and that was how the scratches were
made.
0nIecr Logan n. Robins.
This well-known gentleman, q native
Of King William county, during the
war an officer of the First regiment, aud
for eight years a member of the Rich
mond 'police force, who accompanied
Captain Epps when the arrest was
made, was next sworn, and for the first
time made his statement Of the occur
rences st Mrs. Tunstall's. The follow
ing are extracts:
q. When was the frst time that you saw
the prisoner during the arrest-where was
he al the time? A..Tho prisoner was in the
., Mere yeu called ins A. Yes. sir.
O. Now Twill get you TO tell the jury, as
well as you can recollecL what happened
after you came In the supper-room at the
time OF the arrest OF the prisoner. A. was
confronted by the prisoner. who was stand
ing 10 the left Of the table Ms 1 entered, and
he said: mr.. Robins. how is thtse IL is
ridiculeus What are the ,sasaI eirsnnstances, ss,
have. so that may prepare my defence
1 told him that he wesn lawyer ana enough
ofa lawyer TO know IL was best that should
not say anything until came on the wilt
ness-sfsnd.
o. DO you remember what was done
pexts A. ] passed a little 10 the left OF
Captain Epps, who wss standing near par
and / remarked that was aetuated by ne
ill.win In this matter; that what had
done was simply IS an ofncer OF the law
that when came upon the case bad no
warrant against Thonss J. Ciuverius.
AT sUPrxR.
O. Did you remain standing, or take
seat or what? A. We were then prcesee
10 sit down. | sat ~ the head Of the to aole.
Idid not slt Immediately 10 the end OF the
table. but sat ON one corner OF the teoie
and Captain Epps 10 my riget and the
prisoner beyond. 10 Captain Eprns lert
and Mr.. oliver set at the foot OF the table.
@. pid you hear anybsdy make any re-
msrk except the prisonerr 4. while we
we're at supper, think. Mrs. Tunstail pro-
duced a letter. and she Was talking about
Iillians giving up school and going TO
Old Point vita Q stck Tread 10 remain
there perhsFs two months.
"a. 80 you remember whether she gave
the date Of that ietterf A. deaf think
che gave 10 at that time.
q. TO you remeInb when II Was she
gave itS A. She gave II after We came
down nom up-stsifs.
q. How long were you sitting atthe table 7
Do you reecilestf A. We'll, cir. IL was very
sbert meal; l soudn's say exactly how
hong SIR. ] suppose certainly no, more thss
q. When you len the table. what was
doses A. fhe prisoner iusisted that We
shouid remain all night at Hrs. Tunstails.
and suggested IN the mean time that one OF
us could take the eonveyance tack. while
the other could take him up ON the ears.
Captain Epps remarked, No, be could rot
stay; and hs said. IL You have any prepa-
rauons 20 make. viii sc,ompany you.