The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-15
YESTERDAY MARKED THE ELEVENTH
DAYS SESSION.
THE FA TIER or ". W. Balm A
CONSTANT ATTENDANT.
ASoTHER PEN SKETCH OF THE
PRISONER.
The Sister Of the Prisoner on the witne"
Stand-Dr. Nicholson to be Re Gross
Examined-An UnsophistIcated
Negro Testifies for the Defense.


Of " NJ Balm, the man who was killed.
He is venerable man with gray hair
and beard, and is reputed to be one Of
the wealthiest citizens of the county. He
has not missed day thus far, and this
morning marked the eleventh day of the
trial. His face is a study. Every fea-
ture is rigidlv set, and bis eyes wander
alternately from Judge Riyes to the jury,
resting upon one and upon the other
with a steady gaze. No one follows
the course OF the tnal with greater
interest or intentness than he. He
seems 10 catch every word that is said by
either witness or counsel, and when, as
Is frequently the case, the lawyers argue
some objection, no reporter could give
greater attention TO what is said than
this sturdy old gentleman. Strange to
say the only time that he has displayed
any emotion up TO this stage Of the trial
was when he was stirred by some sym
pathetic words, brief but touching, that
were spoken by Mr Mcllwaine, one
Of the counsel for the defense
Then his eyes quickly filled with tears,
as though some sad memory were re-
called. lie recovered himself at once,
however, and since then he has been as
calm and deliberate as though he had no
interest whatever in the tragedy which
the evidence daily brings fresh before him.
II his face expressed any emotion in its
imperturbility, IL is not revenge, al
though there have been those present as
spectators who have thus interpreted his
constant attendance. But that he is
sincerely convinced that his son was
ruthessly slain, is not 10 be- questioned.
and IL ought always 10 be borne in mind
that Nat was almost id0lized by him.
He has been, and is. one of the most
picturesque figures in the court rOOm
and his presence is full of suggestiyeness
Now, as to the prisoner a pen sketch
Of him would show but little change in
his personal appearance since the day
when the clerk arraigned him in open
court. and when he firmly responded
mot guilty TO the awful indictment
which was brought against him He has
grown a little pallid from long confine-
ment. and sometimes his interest in the
trial seems to flag. Then he bends his
head upon his arms and thus resting
on the desk in front Of him, one might
think that he was in profound
slumber. But this position is not long
maintained He soon straightens him
self up in his chair, and then his eyes
roam around the room in dreamy way.
lie is An inveterate tobacco chewer, and
il is not often that he is seen without q
ouid i'm his mouth His meals are served
to him from the hotel table, and in this
respect he fares as well as any person
here be he judge, juror, or spectator.
Eleventh DAYS Session.
When court met this morning, a few
minutes after o'clock, Mr.. Holland, for
the defense. asked that DR.. Nicholson,
of Wakefield, be at once sent for, in or
der that he might be re-cross- examined.
1t was currently reported on the court
green Yesterday evening that DIR. Mich
olson. before returning home last week,
and after giving in his evidence, had
materially modified his statements, and,
i'm fact. had made admissions which
would have a favorable tendency toward
the prisoner. 4 sU5DGna was there
upOn issued for the Doctor, returnable
tomorrow morning, and suJpgnas
were also ordered TO be served upon
Messrs. L. A. Faison and j. r. Bell, in
whose presence the doctor was alleged 10
have made the admissions These pre-
liminaries having been attended to, the
Commonwealth, through Mr. Mckenney
entered upon the crOss-examinatiOn OF
Percy Marks, the prisoners brother, who
claimed TO have seen the shooting, and
testified Yesterday i'm his brothers behalf
This witness did not make a very fayora-
bic impression upon the jury, the cross.
examination being aimed to test
his veracity, which counsel sey-
eral times attempted TO impeach
bv implication. Percy said that
although he had been at home with
out interruption for the past two months
he had never on any occasion, or at any
time, heard the facts and circumstances
discussed by his people. The question
was asked for the purpose OF intlmatlng
that there had been possible consulta.
ton by the Marks family in order to map
out a programme for the defense OF
the prisoner The witness subsequently
modified this statement, in answer tc
question by Mr.. Holland, by saying
that he had heard nothing about the let
ter or what had happened before the
shooting. lie did not mean TO tell the
Court and jury that he had not heard
any of his family speak about the matter
In any of its bearings Mr. Mckenney
objected to both the question and tn,
answer. and IL o'clock the Court ad
iourned until 2.30 II. NJ, counsel for the
defense asking for time TO hunt up au
thorities in support of the admissibilitl
of the question.
Miss Mary Marks, a sister of ia,
prisoner, was the first witness at the al
ternoon session of the court. She is
pretty brunette and was neatly attireC
in blue dress. Her manner was very
modest and her cheeks were slightly
flushed by the excitement of the oc
casiOn.
Miss Mary was at dinner when th'
shooting occurred just outside the DIN
/ ing-rOom she saw Mr.. Balm threatei
Carleton, and she also saw him continue
to advance after he received the first sh0
as though he would continue the assault
Her story, as she then told it, was in &C
cord with the evidence heretofore giyer
| in by her mother, although on cross-eX
animation she stated that her brothe
fred almost as soon as Balm began L
come toward him, drawing the pisto
from inside pocket of his vest, whicl
was unbuttoned
A few questions ended her cross-ex
animation, and then James Ransom wa
called. "Jim,' as he is familiarly known
is very unsophisticated negro boy, a
swarthy as the blsckest of charcoal, VIII
thinks Stony Greek metropolitan city
His nose is iattened almost over tn
whole surface of his face, and his smll
extends from ear 10 ear. His attliud
during the examination was one OF gent
resignation. His replies were invariabl
accompanied by an obsequious bow an
an unctious grin. He assumed an heroi
and grotesque position when he pointe
TO the model, by means of which h
illustrated his statement.
Jim described minutely the route D
which Carleton came over from the bal
room to the house, using the yernacula
freely. He heard the conversation whic
excited Carleton, who, according to Ia
witness, began "a hard shiyering, an
walked down OF the porch, addressin
Mr.. Balm as reported heretofore. Then,
said linn "Mr Rain Whirled shOl