The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-10
Morgan Makes "A statsment.

Morgan Makes statement.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, December Z.
-(Correspondence The Morgan-Coles
case drew large crowd to-day. as
usual. The interest was of a more in
tense character. The defense began
the presentation of its views of the Gaze,
and the prisoner himself told the story
of the tragedy.
The red rust found in Mr.. Coles pis-
toll a few hours after the homicide. re-
ceived close attention. Well'known
sportsmen, Captain Harris. Mr.. Martin
and others. were put on the stand and
swore that under certain conditions OF
the atmosphere red rust appears IN
few hours after the discharge OF the
pistol. Others, equally "a creditable,
swore that discharging pistol will not
always dislodge all the red rust that
may have accumulated previously.
Morgan bad boarded with Mr.. John
A. Alexander for nearly four years.
and had frequently driven through
Coles place with Mr.. Aexander's
daughters These testified to the good
feeling which they had observed be
tween Mr. Morgan and Mr.. Coles.
Morgan told the following story on
the witness stand: Il arose on the morn
ing of the 24'h of August about :
o'clock. dressed ordinarily: went into
breakfast when the bell rang. All OF
Mr. Alexander family. except Mr..
King. were present. saw Mr.. Alexander
there for the first time that morning.
He SAID he was going to Scoitsvllle. !
4 Cor IF.a N L. fl ~ FtlIl
on my riding clothes. took my pistol
of nay bureau and put 1t in my pocket
the hilt exposed. This was my usual
way of carrying it. | saddled my own
horse, and we started for Scottsville,
and stopped in Warren. We then went
IN and passed Mr.. Coles house, and
turned in at the gate which
leads through Coles field on to
Scottsville. We had gone some dis
lance when | heard some one riding
rapidly behind US. | turned to see who
IL was. and found Mr.. Coles directly be-
hind US. / said: Good morning. Dir.
Coles. but he took no notice of my
,alutation. Mr.. Coles said: Good morn
ing. Mr. Alexander and Mr.. Alexan
der said, Good morning, Mr.. Coles
He said: L do not allow people to 90
through here. | stopped my horse at
once. Dir. Coles then went on TO say
that a gate had been left open. and a
SOW and pigs got out. Nr. Alexander
said: You have q fine flock OF turkeys.
Nr. Coles Mr. Coles then said: i
do not allow people to go through here.
gentlemen. Mr.. Alexander replied: III
had known that | would not be here,
Mr. Coles Mr.. Coles replied: 1 God,
sir, | don't mean you. looking delibe-
rately at me. l SAID: | was not aware
this was your land, Mr. Coles lie re-
plied: You are q ID scOundrel.' |
turned TO Mr.. Coles. and, saying What
did you say | dlsmounted. Mr.
Coles turned his horse around and
rode deliberately at me. / did not know
his intention whether TO knock me
down with his horse or TO strike me
with his switch. When he came near
me, to protect myself. | caught his
morse by the bride and turned to
my left. | then said: Yes. and
you have told a ID lie on me to Df.
WIngfield, and propose to get you TO-
gether and clear myself. lie said :
Yes. did. ami you are ID scoun-
lrel and coward. At the same in
slant he dropped his switch, threw
his hand back, and drew a PTS
toll. | picked up the switch as
soon a. he had dropped it. | did not
strike Mr. Coles. or if | did, | had no
intention to do 50. He then took delib-
crate aim at me and fired. | felt the
ball craze my neck on the left. The
smoke.blinded me for few seconds. |
drew my left hand over my eyes.
dropped the switch from the right. and
drew my pistol. As / did SO looked
40 and saw that Mr.. Coles had another
deliberate aim at me. l fred without
taking aim. Mr. Coles pistol fell iron
his light hand to the ground. ran to
my horse and jumped on him, and rode
for DR.. Wlngfield as hard as | could.
Not knowing the extent OF his INJURIES
and feeling sorry for what felt had to
do. rode for doctor at once.
He then relates his endeavors to find
4 phvsician. during which he rode some
twenty miles from the residence OF one
TO that of another. DR.. Wlngfeld was
not AT home: he next went for DR..
Waller, who also was absent. but he
soon found him in the road.
No evidence was introduced to show
that Morgan made any attempt to es-
cape arrest. He deposed that 1t was his
purpose to give himselfiup as soon as he
had procured physician.