Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-18

mind. lustSttl NUdt ttiN lte'''p' -
parsons. the railroad protector ana
builder. nor Goodman. the humble con-
duc,or. should be considered In passing
upon the question OF guilt, and referred
20 the responsible obligations Of counsei
10 their clients and OF jurors to both
the Commonwealth and the prisoner.
Taking up the case proper. Mr.. Crump
said everybody knew the prosecution nan
made a mistake In asking for verdict
OF murder in the first degree; everybody
knew the evidence did not justify TINS
Mr. Crump said he proposed TO devote
himself chiefly TO the evidence, and not
to Just 20 over the surface. as Mr. Craig
had done. like rock sklmming over
pond OF water. skip. skip. skip
TELLING BLOWS.
Mr.. Crump availcd himself OF the op-
por,unity afforded by Mr.. Craig's illusions
10 Colonel Parsons az a man OF public
spirit and enterprise. and put In some
telling blows for the workingman and his
rights II was true. he said. that Colonel
Parsons was once proprietor of the Ma
turaI Bridge, and that he was one OF the
projectors and then vice-pfesident or the
Richmond and Allegheny railroad, which
had 10 so into the hands OF receivers
two years after being put Ia operduon'
but this gave him no rights above those
Of men OF honor filing less conspicuous
places. In the recent labor troubles TINS
section had been commended not for the
conduct OF the railroad managers. but for
that Of the men of sense. courage. and
character. who had done their work faith
fully and given the vice-presidents no
trouble. lie made bold plea for the
vorkingmen. who should not be made TO
cringe like q cur before men who chose
to make charges against them. The
theory of the prosecution that Parsons
was killed TO get rid OF him in an IN
vesfigatlon was pretty well picked 10
pieces. and Mr. Crump undertook by
review, Of the evidence 10 show that there
was absolutely nothing 10 support II.
with three charges IN the Parsons's let
Ter efforts had only been made to prove
what from an official position, was the
Ieagt serious OF them. and this was not
established.
CAT IN THE MEAL-TCB.
eff there had been any truth In that
brakeman story. which consututed one
Of the charges. IL would have been easy
enough TO find that brakeman. and prove
II. An" said Mr.. Crump with signi1-
cant smile. as he took up the Staples mat
tor again. there was cat in the meal
tub. The cat has hidden herself. and
never more viii her voice be heard. The
commemorative presumption. with due
respect 10 his opponents. was sheer alb
surdtv. for it could not have benefited
Goodman's chances In any way To deiibe-
ratelv XIII Parsons and then surrender
himself
THE STAPLES MATTER.
Mr.. Crump dealt with the evidence In
10
said he was satisfied that the prosecution
nov, saw that il has made a mistake in
bringing IL In. 1t was mysterious. ana
left an Indefinite something. but had no
Thing TO DO with the case. The Staples
woman. he declared. was incredible. Wv as
there "A cottage with love in IL? waiting
for her and this CONDUCTOR who. out OF
his moderate salary, already had family
10 support. Such a runaway between
Young and indiscrcet people might De
thought OF. but it was out OF the question
with persons of the ages and looks OF
these two. OaughterD No, Goodman
could not run two households in the same
civ Mrs. Staples. though brought mere
nv process Of law. came in time to prompt
Mrs. Johnson and other witnesses what
TO say on the stand.
REAL FACTORS.
The two love-letter5 written 20 prisoner
by Mrs. STAPLES were In the end the real
factors IN this matter. They had Deeh
shown TO Gabbert. according to the pilS-
oner's testimony. and yet the prosecution
dared not ask that witness about them'
If such letters were writtcn-and hefe
was proof that they were-the common
wcalth's theory fell through again. Inc
attempt Of the other side To divorce the
fl. Sfnnlag would
not do. for Ike the Siamese Twins, wheh
cut apart both died out Of the case.
No member of this jury would whip
his dog. Mr. Crump declared. on such
testimony as this. much less consider II
in an important trial like this.
MIR. Crump. In the same manner, plckeu
70 picces the theory that the shooting
was directly because Of the Parsons let
Ter although this letter struck AT all that
was dear to a man, and admitted other
attempts TO oust the Conductor.
THE KILLING.
With tho diagram Of the Gladys Inn
lobby used by the prosecution. Mr.. Crump
undertook to show that from the posi-
tions Of Henry Moody and Ed. Brown
neither of them could see Parsons ied
out by his coat lapel. lie held ana put
forward strong argument for the posi-
tion that Goodman's account OF the ira
gelv was the only reasonable one.
The hotel witnesses were honest, but
mistaken. and contraGicted each other as
T. details He argued also that Dr. MIL
ler's statement about the wounds entirely
bore out the prisoner
Coming to Colonel Bryant. who quoted
Goodman az saying he "collared Parsons
and gave him all he had Mir Crumr
said he was a hiS taking. imaginative
pood-naturcd, and loquacious old gentle
man. but was mistaken In what he really
knew and had heard.
A DIFFERENCE EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Crump made but passing reference
10 the "withered-hand' plea, and saio
Goodman as saying he "collared Parsons
,ured and that ne could use il sufii
clentlv TO write or to take hold OF any
thing. certainly when greatly excited. Mr.
C1imp. after explaining the difference De
tween this and the Cluverius case, CLOSED
his speech by taking mp what he termed
an unfortunate remark OF MIR. craig VI
referring TO the prosecution representing
some one. This was not case OF fai'
sons against Goodman, and no such spirl
should enter into 1t. The only party &c
the prosecution should be the common
wealth. Il. mattered not who farsoh'
was. and the jury Snvulh hOl SVii''"'' '
question Of what had fallen upon MS
family nor should their mind be orawi
off by pictures of blood or cries OF bru
talty. The only question was whether IN
prisoner was guilty. and he hoped ano
believed the jury would be satisfied tha
he was not guilty Of any offence and ac
quit him.
A STRONG SUPPLEMENT-
Mr.. Andersons two hours speech wa
a strong supplement 10 Mr. Crumps ar,
gurnent He was IN good voice, am
spoke with vigor and earnesness. ne
called attention to the fact that whil'
the yes OF lhe nation may be upon th'
Jury. there was a higher being whos'
eye was certainly upon them. 1t was
piteous sight to look upon the Common
wealth striving TO show malice. Wnen Il
could not be shown that the prisoner
ever made threat or even used
harsh sentence. Mr. Craig's contentioi
that Goodman killed Parsons 'a'hsi
than have an investigation was the mos
ridiculous thing he ever heard from
sensible man. The speaker picked th'
Parsons letter to pieces. declared tha'
II was conceived In malice and con
tained charges not one Of which coulc
s.g