Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-10
W. Fl. GODSEY ON TRIAL
JUDGE AND JURY INVESTIGATE TIE ST.
CHARLES HOTEL HOMICIDE.

Some Diefiulty Experienced in Getting
yury-various Accounts OF
the Fatal Shooting.
In the dIning.room OF the st. Charles Ho'
tel on the night Of April the I'd Mr.. W. II.
Godsey, the manager, shot and killed David
Glass (colored) who was one OF the walters.
All the guests OF the house had been served
with supper, and Mr.. Talley, an employe,
and accused were at a table eating theirs,
when Godsey. remarking upon the difficulty
OF keeping the servants in the dining.room,
got up, went to where Glass was, and had
difficulty with him. During the fight God
sea fired four or five shots, and Glass broke
n chair over Godsey and threw at him
heavy plated pitcher. Glass died almost in
stantly. Godsey gave himself up to the po-
lice when they arrived.
Collections were recently taken among the
colored people 10 prosecute Godsoy, aud eX-
Judge Edmund Waddill was employed to
assist the Commemorative Attorney, aud
was in the active discharge OF those func-
tIons yesterday. Prisoner was represented
by Edgar Allan, Esq.
Godscv has been in Jail since the hom-
eide. Having been duly examined and in
dicted he was yesterday brought into court
for trial. lie looks TO be about thirty years
Of age, wears spcctacles, aud has student
like appearance.
TIE PLEA.
Upon his arraignmeut yesterday Godsey
pleaded "Not guilty" 10 the indictment,
xtft.f .fat che 4. n
UeniTe then called only ten were found quail
fed; some had "prejudice for or against the
accused -; some had scruples against capi-
tai punishment; and some Of the colOTed
venremen had contributed 10 the fund
raised TO employ counsel TO assist the Com
monweath's Attorney.
The second Uenire tdcids was by order OF
the Court issued by the clerk, and the Ser
geant soon brought in twenty mole citizens,
aud the panel was then completed, as fol-
lows: w. II. Lubbock. T. J. Noble, Frede-
rick l.. Hableslon. William c. Otey, j. Il.
Newell. W. J.. Griffin. George 3. Hall, A. b.
Duesberry, n. Goodman, j. III. Gary, Mar
tin Oeters, and d. G. Hill.
Frank J. Parater, l.. Dorsham, James W.
Burrer, and J. A. Dyson were struck off by
the prisoner.
REASONS FOR REJECTION.
The following were rejected, having
formed decided opinions or become other
wise disqualified: William Ferguson, De-
cided opinion; II. A. Cary. preiudiced;
Robert Robin.on (coored), contributed
money for prosecutions; Philip Elerson
(colored), decided opinion; John Judah
lcolorcd), decided opinion; T. L. Mayo, de-
cided opinion; d. l.. Kramer, scruples; b.
Jackson (cOlored), gave twenty-five cents to
the prosecutions; John Hume. decided opin-
ION; Samuel Brown (colored), set aside by
consent; William Powers, scruples; ID. J.
Carter (colored), decided opinion; Arthur
Harris, decided opinion: Joseph 7. Wilson
(cOloTed), scruples; A. q. Pretlow, decided
opinion; William III. Carter, expressed opIn-
ion; Julius Schuman, decided opinion; A.
Greentree. scruples; J. i. Netherlan, deaf;
William Bostright, decided opinion; X. j.
Buss, contributed money.
THE FIEsr WITNESS.
Coroner Taylor was the first witness. He
said that the deceased had three wounds-One
in the neighborhOOd OF the right groin, one
in the left groin, and one in the right
shoulder. The groin wounds both ran
acl oss the ,dy laterally. One ball was found
in the bladder, another close TO the bladder
resting on the pubs bone lniront The third
(and fatal bullet entered through the edge Of
the right shoulde blade, passed through the
lungs, and striking rib re rtbounded, stopping
near IFS entrance, producing hemorrhages,
which caused death. The Coroner noticed
burned powder on deceased's clothes where
the bu let entered the back, showing that the
pistol was fired when they were very close
together. al first saw" he said, "thc body
on the night OF the shooting, but did not
make the post mOrtem until the next day"
Mr.. TALLEY.
Mr.. W. II. Talley was the next witness
introduced. lie said: am acquainted with
:he prisoner. The shooting occurred on the
night Of the ID OF April at about fifteen or
twenty minutes after O'clock. | was pres
ent i'm the dining.rOOm when Mr. GOdsey
passed through 10 the kitchen. saying he
could not keep any servants in the dining
room, and went out, Glass following him.
Soon afterwards | saw them in the dining
room together. When the scufile ensued |
saw Glass raise the chair and heard the
firing, but could not tell which took place
first. Saw Mr.. Godsey was following Glass
around the table, Glass gong backwards.
As Glass got between witness and Godsey he
(Talley) left the room, just as the fourth
shot was fired. After the third shot Glass
dropped the chair.
Witness said Glass was fixing up the table
when Godsey weDtup behind him and grabbed
him in the collar, and scutlle ensued.
Boston Nowlan and Norman Jones (colored)
were In the room at the time. Godsey was
going around the small round table in the
middle OF the room. Glass was on the opp0-
site side Of the same table when he GLASS
threw the pitcher at Godsey. When Glass
raised the chair Godsey lifted his arm 10
ward Off the blow.
Mr. Talley SAID when Godsey passed
through the dining-room Glass said: $50
on, MIR. Godsey; get one more drink, and
you will be ready for good quarrel in about
five minutes" Godsey returned and order
ed Glass to leave the dining. room, which he
did not do. Blows by both parties immedi.
ately ensued. Mr.. Godscy was manager OF
the dinng-room and had charge OF the
walters. When the blows ceased the chair
was raised, but witness could not tell
whether Glass struck Godsey or Godsey
fired at Glass first. lie aid not see the ps-
t0l. Godsey's arm was bruised from near
the wrist almost TO the elbow. Saw wound
on Godsey's head. At the beginning Godsey
went to Glass, caught him in the collar, and
then made the remarks as above.
BOSTON NOwLAN.
This witness, colored man, said: was
employed in the St Charles Hotel at the
time the difficulty occurred. | was standing
in the dining.TOom when Godsey passed by.
Soon coming back Godsey caught Glass by
the collar, and said, "You get out OF here"
and shot Glass twice. Then Glass picked
up chair and struck Godsey. Glass was
going away from me around the table, with
Godsey following him firing. | suppose
they were ten or twelve feet apart when
going around the table. | was In the
dining-room all the time. Mr.. Talley was
in the dining.room when the firing
commenced. | don't know whether he
remained there during the firing or not;
think Mr.. Tsley went out during the firing.
Glass fell on the round table in the centre OF
the floor and went TO another table and then
fell oil on the floor. Glass was at the end OF
the table when the last shot was fired. Glass
was near the centre OF the floor when the
shooting occurred, but made his way near to
the door. Godsey had his hand in his side
pocket. He had on a sack coat when he en-
tered and drew a pistol from that pocket.
Glaos thray thp uitcher az (fOdSPy. tfOdScv