Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-27
WARD-WHTTE.
THE TRIAL or A CELYDRAfHp CASE
COMMENCED At ABINGDON.
Judge Ward on the Stand for Hoars-he
Tells the Story Of the
Shooting.
Special telegram 70 the Dispsteh.l !

Special telegram 10 the Dispstch.l
ABINGDON. Va, March 26.--0n the
call Of the twenty-first name on the list
Of one hundred talsemen brought iato
court this morning In the White eese
the panel was completed. The jury
being sworn, the case opened with the
testimony Of Judge Ward, the prose-
cutting witness, who was kept on the
stand until the adjournment Of the court,
at $50 P. NJ.
Judge Ward testified in . clear,
calm, concise. and legal manner sub.
stantislly as follows: On the 2a.h day
Of last September, on his return from
a business trip to Charlottesville, he
was met en- route at Glade Spring by
Mr.. G. II. Fields, local editor Of the
Southeast Examiner, and informed that
the defendant was offended ct the fol.
lowing article which appeared In the
Examiner Of the day previous--vix.:
"The man that goes into q convention
and seeks the support Of that convention
and then runs, without any valid rea-
sons, against the nominee Of the convcn-
ton would steal the coppers of the
eyes Of dead negro -; and that de-
fendant. with friends. hsd been going
to the depot and was on the lookout Pr
witness. Arriving at Abingdon, wit
ness and Fields took the bus for tho
Colonade Hotel, witnesses boarding.
place. En- route witness saw defendant
going towards the depot in quickened
pace. White turned, looking into tho
bus. then turned confusedly back and
forth, and, seemingly excited, followed
in the direction of and after the bus.
White was last seen by witness as the
bus passed the post-oiiice. Alighting
at the hotel, witness conversed with
friends and sent for cigar, which no
lighted. Meeting Mr.. &. V. Litchtield
and going into the front Office in con-
versation, he informed witness that
Messrs. Winston and Stack, Of
Bristol, were in town and on
the lookout for witness. Witness
then went into the dining-room, and
whilst seated at dinner observed VIM
ston and Stack seated nearly opposite.
Witness and Winston engaged in con-
versation about the Virginia Military
Institute. familiar topic with them.
Dinner over, witness went to his Office
TO look over the mail. lie returned to
the hotel and went to his room for q
nap, but was interrupted by the en-
trance Of two friends. lie went out
again. and to Colds drugstore oppo-
site the courthouse, and after convers-
ing a while with DR.. Gold returned in
the direction of the hotel. Recognizing
friend coming up the street, he
halted on the sidewalk near the
hotel steps. lie saw no one on
the opposite side OF the street
at that moment. Suddenly be was un-
conscious recovering he found himself
down on the pavement and realized he
had been shot with buckshot from Z
shotgun, and saw DR.. White with Q
gun in his hand on the opposite side ol
the street. Dragging himself to the
wall near the steps, witness saw Ora
ham White across the street with pis
tol in hand and ID. 7. Campbell fur
ther up the street. CoOlly calculating
the chances, witness with one Of th'
two pistols which he had in his posses
sion opened fire on Graham White
who got behind a tree and returned th'
fire. The firing continued along tn
, line till several persons interposed AM
witness was carried by friends to hli
room.
On cross-examination witness admit
ted writing the above-quoted article
and others Of similar character, ant
stated that, although admitting he hat
DIR. White in his mind at the writing
he claimed the article as general an
political, and not offensive enough 4
bring on attack from DR.. White. Wit
ness admitted he had armed himsel
with the purpose Of self-dcfence, bu
more especially against Winston AM
Stack, as to whom he was espe
cially warned, and he was expecting
no attack from DR.. White at tha
: time. Witness was questioned will
view of contradictions as to Ger
tain alleged conversations had by hin
with L. W. Rose prior to the writin
of the articles, which conversation
witness denied having had, as stated II
questions by counsel for defence. Judg
Wards testimony extended over thre