Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-07
REFUSED TO TESTIFY.
AN INTtRRsrInG CASE BEFORE TIE
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONER
An Abstract o! the 7sstimouy-Thc Accused
Sent On for Trisl-Distinsuished
Visitors.
Correspondence Of tho RIchmond Dlspatch.i

Correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispstch'i
PtTEasBuRa. VA, February G, 1889.
The continued case OF Frank Rop'pson
(colored) charged with avioiation OF secilon
TIC n the Revised Statutes IN refusing 10
ie,fiiy before notary public 10 the depon-
lions now being taken 10 the contest OF Jonn
u. Isnssi0u W. y. G. Fensbe for the sea-
IN the tiity-lrst Congress from tbls dlNric''
VAS called before UulHd States Commission
er ". ". Hagl2nd at O'Clock this ,itcr-
noon. The sccu'ed AZ It appeared from TOE
evidence, WAS one OF Langsion's witnesses.
lie WAS placed upon the ritnes-sisnh a.
Lsngston's Hall At noon on the 3lsi DAY OF
Jshuar'. and was kept upon the STAND LOT
elk days. The direct examination compri'ed
eil ht questions and answers. The cross
examination ran through 3l6 questions, sli
% which Eere written down IN full. VIVID
me answers. For the first several DAYS aho
town 10 TIC 29sth question on the cfets'eN'
lminaton the witness uu reported 10 htve
answered fairly well In re'ponfe TO ms
at qustti0n he rtiu'ed 70 make answer
and Iiited. according % toe testimony tnh'
10 oil further questions on the suolect undef
ronfiderat on ne would decline 10 make any
further answers In his direct examination
ihe witness Dad submnfcd IS q part OF ne
.FhfillDlN 4 iINI ~ ~ l-l0NuNs -
legitimate voters intending 10 vote Tor Johh
*. Lsngston for Congress. who were oD-
strucird from voting at the sixth. Ward polls
IN dis civ on the On dsV OF lat NoSembeI.
Attached 10 each aams was the olscs OF resi'
demos Of theae alleged voters. witnesses
testified that the main object 81 the cross
ex9ninsiion OF the WltseG was TO establish
his credbllity AID veracity. and that no
questions we're asked thst were not regarded
a. strictly legal and Of weight to the con-
iester. After the 29Sth question the only
answer that could be gotten from the
<lintss bearing upon this list Of names Wa''
81 have sn,uercd that question" or " re-
fer Tou 10 ihs record" Every possible e.
fort sad persuasion wers used 10 get me
eifnsS to answer. but without avail, ana
the proceedings finally became 20 mono's-
nous e. 20 be dlsEHeetOie. Then, when no.
thing rlso could be done, NarTsnt Tis
,wora ont for the Srre.t Of the wines,
4hich wss served upon him while on the
witness.fiand. ono Of the 0tnesscs-s lHT-
ver-io,tihed that ne retarded Robinson IS
one o. the most contumacious witnesses be
pad ever uel with.
The accused Wa represented BY ex.G07cr-
nor William r. Cameron As counsel.
The Commls.loucr after hsariug all the
teftlW0NF EeDt me accused on 10 ths thi''h
states Cont for Trial and admitted him to
BAH for his appearance. Thepenslty imposed
for vlostlon Of the llGlb section is dns and
imprsOament.
His Erceliency Governor Lee. Mayor IL
tyson. Or. Brock. senator LsVen'tein, and
Nr. Julius Strhus. OF Richmond. sccompA-
med by President IngallI Of the Cbesapeake
and Ohio railroad, arrived Ia the city to-day
and were driven, on 4 visit. out to the Cen
raj Luuaiic Asylum, IN charge Of Dr. Banks
dale. tbs superiutenGent Of the asylum.
The suit Of the colorsd man Harper
.ysiaSt the Norfolk aud Western Railroad
Company for 10000 damages for the loss OF
leE ws brought 10 close IN tho Hastings
Court last evening after trial OF several
lays. The jury bilsd TO agree, and de-
clsruE their Inability to arrive At a verdict
vere discharged bY the Court and the case
continued until The next term. II Il re-
ported that nine OK the jurors we're in favor
Of tbe damages claimed aud three we're FOR
no damages.
Alleged "White- Cap" notices OF warning
hgvr been received BY number OF our cti-
ztns, both white aud colored. some OF the
recipients are men Of The beat IiindlnE IN
he community. and this isci bai caused con-
ddersbls comment. Should any attempt at
violence ever De made II is more than pr0ba-
bic that tragedy will have IN he reported.
ROBIN ADAIR.