Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-05-21

Ss .. Maotson. Esq
live in the county of King William,
and am the father Of Miss Madison.
Am acquainted with the handwriting
Of my daughter. Register Of Tx
change shown him. This name,
"Miss 2. l.. Merton, Roanoke City," |
believe is in my daughters writing. |
haven't the least doubt Of that. /
particularly recognize the IF. L. Mer-
ton." Am not so sure about the Roa-
noke City (which was really written by
the hotel-clerk.l GAmerican Ho-
tel register shown.l recognize her
writing on the 18th Of March. 1885.
The letter IN" in Merton is not like
hers but think it is hers. / have no
doubt in the world about it being her
writing.
THE TORN NoTE-AGAIN.
Mr.. Meredith d: Mr.. Madison, please
look. at this note and tell me in whose
handwriting il is.
Judge Crump: We object to any
lEOlC tflutHCt dDput tuC hOtS hAitll but
note is put in evidence.
The Court: Note the objection.
Witness l have no doubt that il is
my daughters. THE Curtis letter was
now shown Mr.. Madison and witness
took long look at it.l
am not certain that this is my
daughters handwriting. Would not
like to say anything positive about this.
NOT MY DAUGHTERS.
Mr.. Meredith: To the best Of your
knowledge and belief. whose writing is
it? Ithe Curtis letter.
Witness Give me some time let
me look at it.
A long look and then: | don't be-
lieye this TO be my daughters hand
writing.
THE general opinion is still that it is
Lillian's.l
HER PHOTOGRAPH.
A photograph was shown to the
witness by Mr.. Meredith, and the wit
ness said: identify this photograph as
photograph Of my daughter.
Counsel for defence objected to this
testimony. The Court oyerruled the
objections.
III. N. Hunt Recalled.
He said he saw the lady who occu-
pied Room No. 81 at the American
Hotel leave the hotel five or six min
utes after she received the note he car
ried to her. He further identified the
body at the almshOuse as the person
who occupied Room 2l at the hotel.
1t was about 1870 o'clock that he saw
her 60 out. She had on black dress,
a black straw hat, and reddish-brown
shawl.
THE RED CLOCHBT SHAWL.
The shawl found on the Dunstans'
fence was shown the witness, and he
said - This looks like the shawl she
had on" Continuing, he said "She
had on something light under the shawl,
and that, with the dust, made it look
reddish-brown.' The shawl was then
thrown over the head and shoulders of
a State reporter dressed in light suit,
and the witness was then questioned as
to the color of the shawl.
The replies made by the witness
showed that while he could identify the
shawl, he was not an expert in telling
colors. Finally the witness said that
the garment the lady wore under the
shawl was the color of that jurors
coat "a blue flannel coat considerably
faded.
THE KEY.
Hunter NJ. Hunt, upon cross-exami-
nation by Judge Crump, testified that
Lillian Madison had on a black dress
and red shawl around her shoulders.
She wore the shawl over a sack. The
color Of the sack with the shawl over it
made the two appear to be Of reddish
gray color. | was at the almshouse
Tuesday night and saw the dead body.
DR.. Taylor sent for me. The body was
in the coffin. ! saw nothing but the
face and recognized it as that of the
lady that occupied Room No. 81 at the
American Hotel. Witness described
the appearance of the dead woman, and,
continuing, said: Twas examined at the
almshouse by DR.. Taylor. Some things
were shown me. | saw the clothes.
| did not see the shawl.
Judge Crump: Was watch-key
shown you?
Yes, sir.
Mr.. Meredith We object to your
examining the witness upon point that
has not been brought out by the Com
monwealth.
Judge Crump: We will see about
that.
Mr.. Meredith Ito the Court They
can 60 on, but it makes him their wit
ness, for he is, according to the rules
Of law.
Judge Crump Ny object is to elicit
from this witness some facts as to
identity.
Mr.. Meredith lie must do it with
the understanding that if it is her
property it is right; if not, it is wrong.
Judge Crump: Your Honor, We ask
you to apply it here. Here is witness
who is called to testify to articles for
Identification, and have we not right
to ask him if other articles were not
shown him for Identification
At this point the jury was taken out
for the purpose of hearing argument as
to whether or not Hunt should be per-
mitted to be cross-examined in regard
to the watch-key. After few minutes
spent by counsel in discussion the Court
stated that the hour having arrived for
recess it would announce its decision
upon the reassembling Of the court at
o'clock.
Counsel for defence asked Hunt il
watch-key was shown to him at the
almshouse.
Colonel Aylett objected to this quss-
tion, and argument on both sides fol-
lowed.
At 2 o'clock the argument was con-
cluded, and the court adjourned until 4
O'Clock.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Meredith waived the point made
- tba u -uoo..