Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-15
nO0DMAN'S VERSION.
colonel ParSonS'S Slayer Tells the Story
Of the Gladys Inn Tragedy.
7E IS GRAPHIC And DRAMATIC.
The Keynote Of The Defence Disclosed
by The Prisoner.
HIS CASE STRENGTHENED.
The More Material Portions OF "is 'es"-
many No, weakened nv Rigid
Cros.-Ixarnination.
7E IS GRAPHIC And DRAMATIC.
HIS CASE STRENGTHENED.


fs,an Corrcsponaence OF the Dispa'on'
CONVICTION. VA. August l&-Captain
- cooiman's own version OF how he
IN. 10 shoot and Kill Colonel Henry c.
parsons in the lobby Of the Gladys Inn
nt Clifton Forge on the morning of June
e,,h IS now before the jury OF the Allie
ehany County Court.
II was given to-day by the Conductor
himself. who was on the witness stand
nearly the entire day. The rigid and tho
r,peh cross-examination BY Mr.. Craig
lasted up 20 adjournment. a little after g
O'Clock. and It IS probnble that the wit
ness viii he recalled later on.
The prisoner who is on trial for his life.
made his statement in a clear, straight
forward manner. that seemed to impress
the spectators who ,hronged the court
r.om with the frankncss and honesty Of
the witness.
lie spoke with marked deliberation, and
eapeared 60 weigh well every word and
sentence that he uttered. His tone of
voice was rather low. though entirely ma
,csttilons Of suppressed excitement and
nervousness. Captain Goodman became
dramatic as he began TO tell the Court
ana Jury how deeply wounded and NOR
,ari ae was when he received the Par
e..S letter. which threatened not only
t.s own ruin. but the destruction OF the
f.a.c and happiness Of his family. The
q T,t N-ff nj
D.. voice fsItcrcd as he referred TO those
nearest ana dearest TO him-hs wife ana
rrlHr,u. lie rather lost himself here.
aa3 was beginning 10 give graphic ac-
count II how he felt upon receiving the
Parsons charges. when the prosecution
objected. ana The Court told Captain
Goodman 10 coniine himself to the facts.
THE SHOOTING SCENE.
Another and even more dramatic scene
was that enacted when the Conductor
a1t down from the witness chair. and by
lis own movements which were quick
nervous. and realistic. showed the jury how
colonel Parsons threw his hand behind
ham. as II 10 whip out his pistol. and
sa0ot down the man who was demanding
% rctraction Of bad charges.
II was in this connection that In "a
note of the defence. saying that he would
never have drawn or used his pistol, had
d.. not thought that Colonel Parsons was
about 70 shoot him. Captain Goodman
went further and said that he did not
approach Parsons with any idea OF having
q difficulty but simply to ask such "a
rapartion as he thought any honorable
man would give another whom he had
sasIilfI.
EXTREMELY SEVERE.
Tn. cross-examination conducted by Mr..
rrsi- Was extremely severe. lie showed
f.- accused no quarter whatever. ana
th-.Rdly attempted 10 lead him on 10
either making damaging admissions, or
{, Ieuy facts to which other reputable
witnesses had sworn. Captain Goodman
i...ru- confused at times. and he was not
,.tlit3y clear on some points. Upon the
,.f... hr stood the not fire pretty wei.
ibis explanation Of the Staples matters,
though plain enough as made IN ms dliect
-.-tuauy was somewhat involved when
vr craig had finished with him. lie
found that old letters are not always
peasant things to refer 10. ana that
WRITING is more lasting and accurate thdh
HE WAS CANDID.
r-,.q tie whole. the case Of the de-
ln.e has been. in my judgment. and that
.t r.lus others. materially strehGtheheu
lr putting the prisoner on the stahd.
bis evidence has the stamp OF cdndoi'
and when he came 20 mistakes that he
DAD made De- owned up TO them' thouBh
3D. some instances with reluctance
'rtr..eh1ut the greater part of the trying
rii.al 90 which the bright stanton law
ser subjected him. he remained cool ana
\ elected ,
T.c more material parts of his testl-
,.rv were Eot weakened much, II at
au
THE JURYS ORGAN
.rt. Int arrival of the Richmond tram
......f Soma. delay this morn ng. as MI.
....r..u. ~ counsel for defence anu
several Richmond witnesses were on IL
ft- waiting audience was r'S"leu WIN
...r by th. jury. VINO have an organ
u tl.r room. ,.,.
,.,..tn Goodman WAS accompanied into
cyur. Nv ni- faithful wife. whose cohau't
t.....nolt the Trial has won the aiii'I"-
GIL. d.. au. and three Of their chliureh'
..I.diu. th. Oldest daughter. pretty
4 ..r of about IT, she and the youngest
Ia only remained short while anu
nome of th.m were in the courtroom "''S
Afternoon. ,.a,o
| Moore throughout the morning SESSION.
BAD REPUTATIONS.
,,..rs g. \ Sntad. George Nj. Farrar
a. D. ralk .r Daniel Mead. and r. J..
stl.y. of chiffon Forge. and Captain u.
l.. rer-Iuzr = and Charles Rudisiil' OF
S.Itutifs cave. Ntrc introduced 10 snow
t..t tlr Phelps women bear bad repuia-
lions f1i .,uta and Vcraclty.
Ni,ss.s. Fdrrar and Staley knew no
tnin- rl ga lr reputation In this partlcu-
lar un. bat the others all said they
would not believe th,m on oath.
SNAPPED TWICE.
Mr. Martin. the Glady clerk. was
recalled ana questioned at some length
.h.ut hearing GOOdman's pistol snap
after Parsons fell.
Mr. Craig pressed hard for positive
,. ,r no and witness adhered TO the
..,.,r.uf that 10 the best Of his memory
4 Captain Goodman snapped twice as faI-
... MAS fallire. but not afterwards. lie
.i.t .ld tlat when hc wrote Ned
.i..lb.f statement the latter sara ne ulu
l.f tank the pistol was snapped
Sir Anderson in this connection. state.
t.t ST. White. manager OF the inn. had
N..8t.s statement written for him al
i.a request and that b ing counsel for
fe defence be puposely refrained IRON
.nr any of the Commonwealth Wit
r... s not desiring 10 influence them at
OK THE STAND.
Cliftl Goodman left the seat by his
'.t'.e and walked to the Clerks desk
io b. sworn. HIS face. made white by
.H.m.r' in prison. was freshly shaved.
f. rrr ID black suit and white cravat
.'+ f-l pllm-ieaf fan. which he used
almost instantly. Mr.. Crump took the
"iit--. through the usual preliminarios
t .'r uf f1 the real testimony and then
10 tim F.v, his account )f the tragedy
in hlr Hwr Way
Captain Co. Imam said ne mad been with
N" Jam. s-i.fer Division formerly the
h'rhm'ul and Aneghany) little over
,iF years he WIS shown the papers in
hn cfsr and after glancing over them
stated what has already been told in
TIE Dispatch about how the Parsons let
t'I caue INTO his hands. Assistan,-Super-
sntcndent Walker first gave nm copy
c' the Parsons letter and two days later
D. formally received the original for a
IMPORT thereon.
HARDLY KNEW WHAT TO DO.
4 aid not do anything for TIE first day
tvfp I4yau le witness "A he openeA