The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-15
Didn't Know His Victim was Unalmed
Until After the Fourth Shot.
SOME MORE lhPEACHISG TESTIMONY.
Several New Witnesses Swear They Would
Not Believe the Phelpses on Oath
Mrs. Goodman and Her Children
in the Court Koom-fhe Good
Impression Created by the
Evidence OF the Accused.
The Lawyers' Fond
ness for Flowers.


ness for Flowers.
CONVICTION. VA. Aug. H-From a
Times staff cOrrespondeEt)-Captd
Thomas A. Goodman told a jury OF his
peers to-day why he killed Colonel III.
G.. Parsons on the 9th Of June last. His
recital Of the wrong which he had suffer
ed, his Indignation, and its elimination,
which caused the loss of Colonel Parsons
He was one Of the most remarkable in
the annals Of crime IN this state.
Slow and deliberate in the beginning, he
gradually warmed up until u dramatic
and pathetic climax was reached that
brought tears 90 the eyes Of jurors, law
yers and spectators
The prisoner TOO, lost control or MS
emotions. which he had struggled man
fully all through his story 10 MAINTAIN,
while his faithful wife manifested love
az strong as ile ia her symPathe. tilet.
There was that In the man earnest cl-
fort and utter absence OK NiudlCuVcncss
that Won for him the admiration ana
sympathy or the spectators, and elected
the remark from many, Il believe he
told the truth
The cross-eNamlnation by Mr. Craig
WAS most sklltuAy conducted, but dld not
detract apparently from tine strength or
the direct statement ON any essential
The ccoss-examiner dwelt upon the
Mrs. Staples episode. the letters, ana
the Phelps charges. and made ms great
est progress on the letters nom Mrs.
Staples 10 the prisoner
CAPTAIN G0oDMAS's ASSERTIONS.
CAPTAIN Goodman made three assertions
to-day I'm bis t.sfimouN which, N the
lury believes, viii give him nls freedom.
They are that he went 10 see Parsons
for the sole purpose OF inducing him to
withdraw the charges contained IN that
fatal letter, that be- would never have
drawn his pistol had not Parsons hrst
thrown his hand behind him as m IN the
act OF drawing one. and that the last
slOt fired by hlm was an accidental one.
Ii had become generally known in town
this morning that Captain Goodman
would be placed upon the stand today
in his own behalf. and before court con-
yened large crowd had gathered which
taxed the capacity OF the courtroom.
There was the usual delay over the ar
rival Of witnesses.
Mr.. Parrish. wearing a becoming red
and purple bJutOnnlere, moved about ace
lively classifying his witnesses, while
Mr. Crump, a Httle jealous Of the hOm-
age TO his friends fora, watched and
waited.
AIr. Anderson, the imperturbable. who is
a good double for Dave Richardson. PUSHED
I'm court almost breathless after the 70 81
train, and was surprised TO find that he
was I'm ample time.
Mr. Allen chewed the wrong end OF a
COvingtOn cigar nervousy, while Mr.
Craig, like Napoleon at Austerlitz. kept
his eyes upon the enemy.
At 1870 o'clock the prisoner, his wife,
his Oldest child Ga grown girD, and MS
two youngest entered the courtroom
The baby and the eldest girl, however
after remaining only a few minutes, went
out, not 10 return again.
Mrs. Goodman was attired in the same
dress and hat that she has worn since
the beginning OF the trial The jury up
short. and common metre. How firm
foundation
Or. Hatcher occupied his seat on the
right hand OF the judge.
MORE iSpiACBiNG TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Parrish when court convened
few minutes after II o'clock, resumed the
Introduction OF witnesses TO impeach the
testimony and character OF the Phelps
women.
Sir. 9. 4. Snead Of Clifton Forge.
justice OF the peace said that the ner-
al reputation Of the Phelps women was
very bad, and he would not believe them
on oath. but Mr. Geo. Farrar, druggist.
OF the same place, said he was not ac-
quainted with their reputation, and Wa5
told 10 stand aside.
Mr.. III. II. Parker said he had known
the Phelps crowd for twelve years, and
would not believe them on oath.
Doc Snead. painter az Clifton
Forge, and Captain q. L. Persinger,
merchant at Saltpetre Cave. and Charles
Rudsel a farmer at the latter place, all
said that they would not believe them
on oath.
Clerk Martin. OF Gladys Inn. was then
called by Mr. Parrish and asked. about
the swapping Of GOOdman's pistol after
Parsons had fallen. Martin said ne did
not think the pistol WAS snapped.
Alr. craig. Jumped on the witness with
both feet. He asked him did he not
say 10 Mr.. Allen that he saw Goodman
snap his pistol after Parsons had fallen2
Witness said that he tod Allen that h
thought Goodman snapped the pistol Mr.
Craig repeated the que sti0n several times
In an effort 20 induce the witness to
say whether he did or did not say so.
Witness replied each time that he said
he thought so. MIR Craig shouted 10 the
witness TO say yes or no. The judge
finally told the clerk to answer, and he
said firmly NO"
PRISONER oN THE STAND.
At this hour Ol:2O MIR Parrish turned
in his seat ana quietly told captain
Goodman 10 take the stand. lie arose
and made his way through the crowd
10 the clerk $ desk. where he was sworn
the whole truth. &c, with a nod. and
turned 10 take the stand.
In the meantime Martin had been re-
called and Captain Goodman was forced
10 stand some time. lie finally TOOK
the witness chair and hush OF expecta-
tion swept over the crowd. Captain
Goodman twirled ia his hand a palm
leaf fan and looked the jury squarely in
their faces. When he first sat down
Mrs Goodman gave him an anxious
look, then dropped ner eyes To the floor
whore they. remained fixed during the
whole OF the testimony. In reply 10
questions by Mr.. Crump, Captain Good
man told HIS story.
Had been connected with the Chesa-
peace and Ohio as passenger conductor
Chesapeake and ohio employ for about
seventeen years that he first saw the
Parsons letter on the 18th or 10Th OF June
last when Mr.. G. G. Walker handed him
copy OF it. lie finally obtained the
original, and later replied 10 the charges.
addressing his reply TO MIR. Walker. he
fore making this reply, however he sought
the advice OF his attorney, Mr. Crump.
He also made a copy OF Parsons letter
o. 10