Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-10
TIE FATAL LETTER.
Production Of the Document That
Caused ParSOnSS Death.
SENSATIONS AND SURPRISES.
Written Explanation Of The Prisoner
10 The Railroad COMPANY.
THE TESTIMONY RESUMED.
Some Important Point. Brought ""' ny
Counsel ON Both sidcs-Arri'a' of
Mr.. Parsons and rarty.
SENSATIONS AND SURPRISES.
THE TESTIMONY RESUMED

IA >e,., o,rresnondcnce Of the Dispatch)
81 rn,.,~cToN. VA. August 9.-The
roodr,sn murder trial was iuh Oh
~ ,ns,fi.nal episodes this afternoon ana
~ a.. .rc,t crowd that thronged the court
"a 80, and gallery was wrought up to "a
II ,.,. of interest that bordered on real ex-
rtcncni II was. indeed great DAY IN
,he trial Of a celebrated case, and The
situation grew more and more exciting
MS the hours passed by. and one incident
h - interest gave place to another more
ebsorbing AZ the sun streamed in the
western windows OF the blk courthouse
4 and the thermometer struggled Tor 'h'
century marx. the spectators brea'heu
more rapidly. ana their minds were upon
other things than the heat. Ihe three
3 hours morning session Of the court was
consumed In the examination oil hVe VIII
pesscs. one Of them quite important lo'
t,o Commonwealth. Several others tesu-
oed after dinner. and then the prosecution
.rruur -urpris. TO every one by oneTins
,n evidence the fatal Parsons letter.
h which everybody has been anxious 10
read. and Captain Goodm"ns ihu's"""'
and bold reply thereto.
OTHER SENSATIONS.
Dcfor, the audience rallied iro" '"''
.p g, ,b,lr expectations. Mr.. Craig.
,s ss.lst,ut 10 Commonwealth s-Attor-
49,. Alien. sprung Oh even greater sur
.-l... tho crowning sensation OF the
,-.,i-bv seeking to Introduce WITNESSES
aud .orrcspouleucc to prove the most Sc
roys charge Of immortality preferred
AGAINST ine Couuuctor. and to connect 'niS
ep,s,Ac with the motive for the Tragedy
that stincI the voice Of the prisoners ac-
cuscr. ,, tho trial
"a rro--rnsecd very smoothly Tor one OF
M - .,..,to, and impOrtance There had
h..,, siight tuis between counsel hulCa-
,lny that th,. tension OF feeling between
,f.,, was tightly drawn. though not 50
4 r.,ra ss as - snap the slender wire anu
4, v.,s a subject of remark that not a Iui-
,o., az Judge Moore had been cNcepicd 'o'
Mr. Craig's shreWd method OF ieallhe VIZ
rcsses In their examination had ht'n '"e
chief source Of objection, ana the Noul
I'm several Instances had directed We
o,,,c, hu, keen Staunton attorney to con
fine himself u more direct quesuohihs'
LEGAL BATTLE.
But I'm this afternoons sitting occurred
the first legal battle proper, and 1t was
a sure enough contest between the Dri'-
lsnt legal lights Mcssrs. Craig ana
Allen on the one side, and Mcsers. Par-
risn aid Crump on the other. mahe
fiery and lmpassioned speeches, and MT.
Anderson. Of the trio for the defence
would have been heard had not the argu-
rl,pt Of his associates consumed 50 much
time.
whether or not Judge Moore will throw
down the bars ana allow the Common
wealth IN its cfort TO establish motive
fr tho shooting Of Parsons TO attack
,h. moral character OF the pr soner at me
bar remains 10 BE- seen. He withheld
hts decision until tomorrow morning
4 GREAT SURPRISE.
Returning 10 the Parsons better: Its In
PRODUCTION was a great surprise. and the
r,uson for this action was not under
stood until. by it, use, the States repre-
sentatives led up 10 the question of i'm
moral conduct and its relation 10 the
Gladys Inn tragedy.
The letter is written on linen note-paper.
and covers hve sheets. II Is not signed
lut The words Yours truly come just
~ the bottom Of the page and the oms-
sion of the authors signature was eVi-
uily an oversight.
COLONEL PARSONS'S LETTER.
The letter is dated Natural Bridge, Va,
jane Z. 1891 and is as follows:
George ". Stevens. Supt c. and .. Il. X.
Co..
D.ar Sir.-Some time ago | called your
~ .ial attention to what | deemed dis
courteous treatment Of my daughter by
conductor of yours named Goodman:
however. stating that he did not violate
your rYl.~. except In his cruelty OF man
nor Nothing came of il. Since then
mt principal Inconvenience comes from the
fact mat my wife has refused To ride. OF
allow any lady friends unattended upon
a.. train when he was on a.. If II could be
avoided. and it has resulted In much tele-
graphing ani changing Of plans. About
the time of the first occurrence | learned
.C % similar instance of treatment of the
slut az a banker I'm Richmond. who felt
anal st feels. as much a. | do. Two
other Instances came To- my attention
1ut of gentleman from Harrisonburg,
luI one ~ gentleman from san Fran
cisco who Was greatly offended, and one
/ ,t whom. ] think. sent IN "A protest. but
lu every cas-. be- kept within the rules
a boor is generally honest" and | sup
4 Ios.i De- wa- until some reports came
90 uy attention. which | have taken oc-
h ci>.ol Co inquire into far enough to be-
iHAN I'M. fN true.
passenger on A train between Rich
ncul and lyuchhurg saw him take a
woman into tfc ladies closet, but begged
r'. nut Go report IL with the informant $
y uau, / uoW learn that IA" brakeman on
\ %. train SAW the occurrence.
\ servant u'W reports that col1red
Flrl at Naltcus hpt~t,l that Goodman
took h,r on las uain Tor his purpose to
Il Chiffon Forgv.
g. Sai, d. tr.i To- induce the wife Of
thr station agent al Sal; Pctr. Cave to
take triu ". Ga him. hut was intercepted
ty har husband. ana fight Was barely
a,.r'c1
waite of this particularly. because
g'n frIi rv ore man who would he a
wines aeunst him that he has threat
tn.I h.s hf- and that hc has boasted
ttgt BE- taught he Richmond and Dan
VI .u expensive lesson for dismissing
lun wlfhou: cause. ! presume that these
LIST instances were brought tD me be
Clus. BIS Was known that ! had diiii-
CuN IurF ago with this man. You are,
therefor. ~i liberty TO use my name as
Ir.e uNrF charges. but ! have them
sn,1t'. sl thli YOU could 10y your ordi-
natN agencies nrst discover their truth
Yours truly
Tto--1 n.t much has been said about
h 49, th' liter that Captain Goodman wrote
i 10 tf- Ci-. tp,akc and Ohio officials in
reply % tl1' of colonel Parsons. which
was referred To- him for an explanation,
j. Ha 'nl l.r,stug as the more famous one.
This Was also introduced by the de-
fence. ans is here given In full:
GpOIMAN'S LETTER
a RICHMOND. VA. June % 1894.
81 To M G. e.. Walker. Assistant Supcrin-
81 teniea'. Lrhmond. Va:
Dear Sf.-l outs. enclosing a communi-
cation concerning myself addressed to Mr..
| g. W. stevens as superintendent. was
safely delivered
am astnuudci al the cruelty malig-
nant assault Ladc upon my honor as a
man ana upon my character as husband
by the depraNci author Of that COM
munlcaiion. II seems to be assumed by
Mir Stevens that The author OF this libel
il II. 4. Parsons. and IN making now an
explanation which my superior officers
have right to demand / refrain from
chsracterizing. as IL deserves the foulness
OF the attack made upon nae by an enemy
whose hostility I seem Co have incurred
solely by rigid adherence 20 my duty
in the service OF this company
.f.f.,uapfe Ina the unsigned a.p,