The Springdale news., 1889-04-26


 man, came along, and to him Tom Edwards, another eyewitness to the killing, stated that before the first shot was fired he saw Smith throw a rock at Richmond and advance on him in a threatening manner. Be sides these contradictions the States witnesses were greatly at variance with each other on all the minor facts of the ease. Only on the main points mentalnod were thoy agreed.
 Richmond, as you know, says Smith attacked him with largo rock and said that he intended to knock his brains out with it. That he threw the rock, and that 1t glanc- ed Richmond's head just above his right ear that Richmond drew his pistol and fired, Smith all the time advancing on him; that Smith then seized hlm, bit his arm severely and tried to wrench the pistol from his hand; that after severe strug- gle he twisted the pistol out of Smiths hand and shot him again.
 pr. c. M. Green, a physician here examined the wounds and tcstif- cd that the one on the arm looked like 1t had been produced by bite, but might have been done in other ways, and that the wound on the head was produced bv some hard substance coming in contact with it.
 It was also shown in the oxamlna- tion, what l know to be true, that my sons reputation in the commu- nity where he lived was that of a peaceahle, orderly, law-abiding cit izen; that he had never had aper sonal difficulty with any one. Eve ry one knows that no man becomes a murder in 2 day. Men come to be mnrderers as they come to be drunkards-by degrees, by indulg- ing theT passion, ty developments of thelr animal natures, and the dwarfng oftheir moral perceptions. If my son is murderer the passion was not inherited; it was acquired and acquired instantaneously.
 His hte heretofore has been incon- sistent with the assumption that he could be guilty of murder. 1 will be alloyet to say, too, that his moth CT and l have endeavored as best we could to train hlm in the faith of a Christian. But people will ask and have fight to ask) why was ne arm ed with ! pistol on this occasion. 1t was proven Tn the investigation that he had owencd the pistol about three weeks and that he was not in the habit Of carrying it; but that on this occasion he expected to stop at a neightor's in the community and would not go home until after dark, and that he had the pistol because if armed he would feel more com tortable walking along a country raod after night than if unarmed. This is unquestionably against law, built is equally unquosuouable that many young men habtuaIly do the same thlng under similar circum- stances.
 It was luther proven toat the de- ceased negro was insolont quarrel some, overbearing, quick 10 take Otfenses and d turbulent and troub- le3ome man in the community iii which he lived; and the State made no cffot to shake the testimony on ibis point nor that as to the boys good character. It was also shown that tie negro would have weighed about l75 pounds and was much superior to the boy. physical strength. h thls brie vEtatem mt 1 have endeavored to sot forth the worst circumstances that were prov en against my bCy. l could have given many others in his favor but l fear that the limits of your spac w0nl1 not allow it,
 What l have stated is based on the testimony taken in the examin- ing trial. Ny son has just been admitted to bail in the snm of 5000, which has been given by the his friends here. have been in the county only a. few days but find 'Aao ny oop i"o 'haHy iloHuo among the best people in 1he conn rty, including both Democrats and Republicans. Some of the principal witnesses for him are Republicans. On the ofhcr hand find unmistak- able evidence that Smith was such a character as any respectable com munity would rejoice to lose, while every one, of course, was shocked at the manner of his taking off.
 Yours, C. c. RICHMOND.
 4 Woman's Discovery.
 "Another wonderful discovery