Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-04
THE AXE WASBL00DY
Tom Sully Gives Damaging Evidence
Against Thornton Adams.
pE IS SENT ON FOR MURDER.
Jus,ice Atiee Commits the Prisoner to
Jail. but Judge Minor Grants
Bail In $1,000.

Thornton Adams will be tired for the
murder of Sammox Rosdeitcher.
Only the failure Of the Hcnrieo grand
iury 20 indict or some providential inter
ference can save him from having 10 pass
through this dreadful ordeal.
Justice Jacob s. Atlee last night, after
a. examination consuming nearly eight
hours time, decided that there was sufii-
ciept evidence TO warrant him in certify
ing the case TO the grand jury of tho
County Court, which meets next Monday.
The prisoner, who had been out on bail
f,r several weeks. was committed 10 jail.
Int his incarceration was for only brief
period. Application was made 10 Judge
Minor for a writ Of hdboGs corpus. and ban
bsiuc granted and given Adams was imme-
diatclv released and before 10 o'clock he
was out at Mr. Feitig's farm, where he IS
employed as a laborer.
More than ten days ago the hearing was
fixed for III O'Clock yesterday morning, out
long before that hour n large and eager
crowd Of spectators bad collected IN the
courtyard and waited with marked impa-
tence for the investigation 20 begin.
AZ half-past ii the examination was com
menced and the courtroom was then
crowded, and as hour after hour passed
and the witnesses were still testifying, the
-roud increased more and more. and when
the decision Of the Justice was rendered
about 7 IN the evening, there was hardly
t,auding-room.
THE PRISONERS APPEARANCE.
The prisoner appeared at the opening of
thn case clad in "A dark coat ard trousers
Vith blue tennis shirt and crayat; HIS
face wore the usual questioning LOOK out
seemed TO indicate no trouble or realiza-
nop Of the awfal offence with which he
vas charged. During most OF the time he
sat with his thumb in his mouth and
with his ewes fixed upon his counsel
with a meaningless stare. AZ times he
smiled al what appeared TO HIM 70
io "a funny expression, but as the
hours dragged wearily on and there
.oemed 20 toe no end 10 the testimony
it- face rclapsed into ITS usual calm
gcss but at no time did he evince eVi-
I.Dce of fatigue either of body or mind
Several persons rendered him fruits and
,lkes. as the lengthy proceedings stilnu-
lated the appetites OF all interested, oul
Le declined TO accept anything at all eX-
cent an apple and one or two small cakes
which were offered him by areporter..
SQUIRE Atlee presided over the eXaInlha;
H0n and the prosecution was represented
Iy Commonw ealth' Attorney Thomas, as
usied hv Messrs. ID. G. richardson ana
Harvey Wilson. 80,
u. W. Cosby. Jr., appeared for the de-
fence.
After the case was called the witnesses
ior both sides appeared and were sWorh'
TEE FIRST WITNESS.
The first witness who testified was Dir.
Uugb Davis. the keeper Of the county
almshouse. He stated that the peddler
was brought 20 the pOOrhouse on the "a
II July by Mr. Feitig who said that he
had been wounded az his place on the
night before. At first Mr.. DAVIS had
doubts about receiving "MoX." as patients
usually came to him with recommenda-
tions from the Board of Supervisors OF the
county or some Of It's members. lie, now
ever. received the wounded man, telling
Mr. feitig that he wOuld have TO notlfF
the overseer for that district the next day:
me oyerscer sand II was all right, and
Mox" remained there until the DIST. Dir.
Davis then gave a detailed statement ss 10
how the peddler partially recovered and
left tLc almshouse. and Of his relapse ana
death
THE rEDDLEB's VERSION.
While llr. Davis was testifying Mr. Wise
s-ked him 20 state What version " MOX
gaye as 10 his assailauts and how he came
by bis wounds.
To this the Commonwealth Attorney
objected. stating that such evidence was
not legal. as the statement was made in the
absence of the accused, and spirited con-
lost then arose between the lawyers.
Mr.. Wise maintained that the peddler
was perfectly sane at times, and that such
a4tatement from the witness would be adj
missible, and Mr. Cosby said that where
the statement oxculpated prisoner and
did 10 harm 70 any one It was legal with
out doubt
Mr.. Thomas then arose and said that the
rule must work both ways. If II was good
Tor the exculpation of the prisoner II was
GOOD for evidence against one. lie asked
that the testimony be Oyerruled.
The discussion was continued for con
siderable while, but finally Squire Atlee
decided TO overrule the testimony of Mr..
Davis on that point.
The CORONER TALKS.
Dr. Leftwich. the coroner of the county.
wac then called, and gave minute account
II the pOs-pt0r'fui and the nature of the
wound His testimony was substantially
the same a. that given IN The examination
of Mr. Fcitig, and published In full 10y the
DpG'cb both IN an interview and IL the
report of that case.
DB. BRYANT.
The next witness was Or. Bryant, tho
physician who attended the peddler during
ms sickness and after his relapse. He was
positive in his assertions that the wounds
we're caused by some blunt instrument,
probably an axe. This gentleman was of
the opinion that the condition of the ped
Her was greatly aggravated by the visits
be made To tins city and hy the wine
which twas discovered he drank on one
or more occasions He was present at the
D1c lpOrte7H and IN fact did the cutting.
when the body was dislnterred for the
J0g n,0rieln. seven DAYS after II had been
buried, II was very black, and the
witness stated that he could not
have told whether il was a white
man or "A negro had he not known
the circumstances attending his death. On
placing his hands on the head of the dead
iaan the skin peeled of and the brain was
iua SKATE of perfect decomposition, being
iu q melted condition.
Dr. BRYANT was closely questioned as TO
the nature Of the wounds and the physical
condition ot the peddler before he was as
s4ul,ed. No new facts were developed by
his evidence. which was given in detail
when the charge against MIR. and Mrs.
ie.tlg was investigated.
MRS. FEITIo on THE STAND.
Mrs. Jacob Feitig was then called TO the
sand Ibis was her first appearance IN
clnrt. or rather the first time she had testi-
fed publicly. She was perfectly calm and
collected. though at tunes she became
F,mewhs, puzzled at the questions put to
aer. a. she does not understand English
perfectly.
Mrs Feitig stated that "Mox " came 70
Der house on Saturday evening. She could
not remember the exact date, but said be
remained there Sunday. Monday, Tuesday,
aud portion OF Wednesday, until be was
earned to the slmshouse IN the wounded
condition, II saw him the night before
b. was struck" said she. He was sitting
N the dining-room."
q. What took place theref asked one
OF the prosecuting attorneys.
A. Mr. Feitig was reading to hlm ana he
g., there until a little after 10 o'clock.
q. Did you see him have any money
A Yes; was fixing supper. ana when
came in he said Mrs. FeitIg, you aiwavs
say haven't got any money: AZ TINS nc
showed his money 10 me. III wa Si'
don't remember whether he had II III hi,
hand or pooket-book. There was a 80 and
sone 81 notes. Tom Sully bought some
thing Of him. had just paid HIM Suiiy "
al ot ,ttu ha f.a1H 'hOxF Sl.Lu