The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-11
STlFLES AND HIS WIFE OK THG STAND
Ir3gs Moore Says ii is Competent 10
Prove Immoral Conduct.
The PRISONERS FAITHFUL Wife,
Mrs 'taples Tolls Of Improper Advances
Accused Made TO Hcr-Wanled Her
TO Cone 20 Richmond With
Him-Interost I'm Trial.


,. staff Correspondent )--The tcsu-
n the Goodman murder trial to-
g.. been more like that adduced in
r., famous breach of promise suit
f. such as would be looked for I'm
CO.. ,. homicide The prosecution en-
l....rel au day long TO break down the
,4.-..,.r u the prisoner at the bar or
destroy l- reputation for morality ana
s. lance with the requirements
q, l, oa a duties.
T-e lay has been a trying one FOR the
.-.. hut more especially has it tried
.. t.ra,arancc of his fa4.-.ful wife. who.
B. her fortltude and loyalty to her hus-
land 3D. this his hour of peril. has won
t.. respect and admiration of all who
have attended the trial She occupied her
D.l seat by the side of her husband
and lust .n the rear of his counsel. Sne
rarev ever takes her eyes from the floor,
lrf Id S.. mon. frequently to-day when
So. presented I'd look Of indignant surprise
-. ..r,. az tr. charges made by Mrs. j.
A staple. a-ainst the moral conduct OF
The Cpgorurity of counsel for the
r.r.-..ftilu ID ,ulcaVor TO prove one OF
lie charges Of immortality pre- leIIen 80. -
Colonel Parsons atdnSt Dap'@iu
Il .l~ lI..N % ~
General Manager Stevens, OF the htsd-
r.ake ana Ohio railway, was aloIdcH ~
the decision OF judge Moore inns hloIh' 8,
FL which Dee admitted the ttS'tinou. VI
A. Aaples. section master al Spilhs
WOOD station. 0u the James hlVer ulNls-
i'm of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
.r. OPINION or rHY JUuGF.
The opinion Of the Judge on this poih'
~ have carefully considered the OBJ
jccuous urged by the ajtoIhSSN.s 'ut Any
Il .f,rcr against the admisslbllty OF eNl-
g.r.s sought on yesterday 70 be iH'Io-
o.crd by the Commonwealth anu am
NOW ~ The same opinion shci tNleI '"'ii ~
.l The purpose for which the evidence
&. offered is not TO determine Mhcthel
III. accused has been guilty OF immoral
conduct. but TO sho~. If possible
motive for the killing. j. C.. an influence
i,,.rsfing on the mind of The accused
MA. would have tendency 10 H'd"Nc
tne killing -,
tore that the evidence of the common
wealth along this line must De conhheu
l. offences substantially idenuned ia
Character with those specihed in me let
ten a. colonel Parsons 10 General Man
uecr Stevens, but not necessarily lueh-
tlcsl I'm an innaterial details, such as
the exact location OF the occuIIe IehCtS'
and the exact parties participating thete-
The letter Of the accused 20 G. G.
Walker shows that he considered the
evidence objected to as the same referred
10 in colonel Parsons letter Df accusa-
ton The influence. therefore, upon the
prisoner and tho motive Vas the same
as the charges were Identical IN every
particular, and the Court ls, therefore.
Dt the opinion that the testimony should
be admitted.
gates Of sensational testimony directed
at the moral conduct OF Goodman, ana
will bee the means Of prolonging the trial
changed the trend of the prosecution, and
places the prisoner in position Where
he has not only 10 prove that hls klillI6
0f Parsons was justfiable, but must estab-
hsh through his whole lie clear record
and an honest purpose
sTApIFs o. THE STAND.
The examination of J. A. Staples and
1is wife occupied almost the entire day.
Both Of them were placed under q severe
ire OF cross-eXaInlnauou, and the TACT
was AT least estaDlaned beyohd queS-
lion that counsel for the defence will con-
lest every inch OF ground. and the legal
ability IS not lacking in Goodmans > be
one significant fact developed during
the examination OF Staples Is that the
objectionable woman Phelps) referred
tl Dy Goodman i'm his reply ~ Parsons
and who, he says, ne put OF MS ualn
f3r not possessing her fare, Is niece OF
staples. who, as witness to-day, charged
t.e prisoner with making improper ad-
faucts 10 his wife.
me defence on oss-examination sought
u establish the fact that the mother oil
mis- Miss Phelps, a sister of the witness
t-t.pleSt was the originator Of the uou-
I.- b-tWeen Staples and his wife, ana de-
tl.uE separation between them, brought
I'll. strife between Goodman Tor the pur-
I.r. How well the defence succeeded IN
t- the jury OF the prisoner peers must
o- l-. but careful observer can see
lrm the evidence below that their
progress in that direction was great.
.uIe letters figured in the case to-day
ta9 from Goodman 10 Stapies-denying
f.. charges uf improper advances towards
lStaplesD wife. and the other second
and more emphatic denial, and suggesting
'.. Phelps woman as the duthOr OF the
...se reports. Here are the letters:
GOODMAN ro sTArLFs.
G.. & O. Railroad Co,
Lynchburg, Va, Sept. o. 1871
Hir. j.. a. Staples. Section Master, Spring
wood. Va.
Dear sir-Your letter of the Sd instant
received and / "il Say that / was never
more surprised boo my lie as having such
q charge against nay character as you
have made. d have never spoken a dozen
Nni1e 20 your wife, have never been on
Joy Udln Dut three or four times to my
hno"ledse. ana then ! did not know ner
name. and her actions have always been
iAat OF perfect lady. 50 far as 4 know.
me idea OF having asked your wife 10
TAKE any trip myself, nor ash anybody
'ff 70 take any with me, and Wneu i
a. tahe trips / generally get of duty ana
the my wife ana children with me.
Nnat ] said about fishing was one night
your lady came down on 81 II IN salt
l.ire and ] said 10 her IN a JOk ng way:
was SpringwOOd n good place for fsn-
l.f. ana could She get up party and BoY
llnhlAg at the time she was single lddy.
lhe next time ! saw your lady tnlnk
asked her if she was railroad y ople, too,
ana she said yes. that her husband was
e fer al lFltg
ite nrst time ! knew that she was your
wife. That is the fun text Of all the
words ever passed between me and your
VIE. AND + can face you Dotn and make
tie same statement
have been with the Chesapeake ana
ONO Company nearly seventeen years
except IL very short while with the Rich
mYud and Aneghany before the Chesa-
Ieake and Ohio bought IL out, and my
character is we'll known by the company.
Ay feelings have been very much Hurt
iy your letter 10 me. especially as i
lave always been kind ana courteous 10
al laulcs Lastly, ] must know your au-
t.Orty for making such charge against
IT, a. you fail to state II In your letter.
Very respectfully
II. A. GOODMAN, Conductor.
T.. S.-A letter VIII reach me at IhIlon
Forge. Va, or Buchanan, va.
l.,.f. a. LEI1Tk IRON THE sAME wRlrEK
McCurdy House. III. T.. Jones, Prop,
Clifton Forge. Va, Sept ,, le9l.
1ir j. a. Staples Section Master, spring
Dear sir-Your letter Of the 5th IN
Slant received to-day. l was oil duty