Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-10

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ana f. woman on the train between Rich
mond and I.ynchburg is absolutely .aiss,
I..e abatement concerning what was
"ycnorted by Il servant II simply false.
oa no euch incident ever occurred ana
,ho ,rltcr Of the unsigned communica-
ton either made a wifuliy-false state
mont or has been In the company or un-
reliable servants.
,rhe statement that I tried to induce
the wife Of the station agent at Sal'petre
cave to take n trip with me " utterly
false. had some trouble over thcre
arising from my having put OF tne tram
a woman from near Saltpetre cave VINO
| learned was not OF good character
some rumor OF this. may have reached
my assailant. but IL was grossly as
act in him to make sucb "A
statement without at least having ascer-
tanned the truth. which he might have
done from the station agent himself.
The difficulty alluded To by me was
within the knowledge OF MIR. Carlisle. az
Chiffon Forge: Mr.. u. Il. Gabbert road
master. and the station agent at salt
petre cave. viii testify to the fasity OF
the libcllOus statement concerning myself
have never been dismissed from the
Richmond and Danville road. and am not
In the habit Of boasting about anything.
ANY assistance that I can render fur-
ther in the matter | will most cheerfniiy
do and will willingly stand any invesh-
cation. should you deem such necessary
Yours truly. 7. A. GOODMAN.
THE PARSONS PARTY.
The attendance was not so large this
morning as on yesterday, but when II
became known that Mrs. Parsons ana
daughters had arrived and would PROB
ably be put on the stand during the
day. the courtroom, which was made de-
1iqbtfu for n few hours by the cool
mountain breezes, filed up rapidly. "A
noticeable feature Of the audience both
Yesterday and to-day was the small num-
ber Of negroes present ana these were an
in the gallery. The Natural Bridge party
arrived on the early train, and went Ill
rectly TO the Intermont where they re-
na5ncd through the entire day, thelr
nreseuce at court not being needed. 1ho-e
who came from the picturesque nome OF
him for whose life Captain GOODMAN Is
being held accountable were the vener-
a,Io f,,bcr Of the deceased, Mrs. Par
sore Misses Gretchen and Maud Par
cons Miss c. !. Dodge, Mr.. {. y. Nair'
manager Of the Natural Bridge prop
ertv. and Judge George Loomis. OF PARK
ersburp. ". Va. brother OF Mrs. Parsons.
Tho last named gentleman. who appears
IN ne about 70. and has "A rather benign
face with beard and hair almost white'
suent the day at court sitting withln the
bar with his sisters counsel. MT. 'iecH-
lee ID. Lctcher. son Of Governor Letcher,
and formerly a member of the House Vi
Delegates. - .,,o,
Mr. w. A. Parsons, Of Goochland, dined
with the Natural Bridge ladies' VINO re-
mained over tonight.
SEATS OF HONOR.
4 stranger entering the courtroom to-
dov might have thought that court
of three members was trying the case.
Rev. Dr. Hatcher sat 10 the right OF
Judee Moore. and Judge W. r. Mcdonald,
Of Bath and Highland. on the left. pr'
Hatcher came up this morning. and after
breakfast he and Captain IIulce went To
se. Mrs. Goodman. and remained with
her untl $50. when they came 10 the
court house. DR. Hatcher was introduced
IN the Judge by Mr. Anderson. and was
invited TO sit with his Honor. Grace
S,reat's paStor is one Of the witnesses for
tho defence Judge Mcdonald. who had
the other post Of honor. has tried two
murder cases himself within the last
month one Of them was the man Hook.
who dealt his nerhcw. William Jones a
hlow with stick that proved fatal lie
was defended by Mr. Craig, who is in
the opposite role Of prosecutor mere ana
yas only given three months and 800
fine. Judge Mcdonald never practced
law. but was court clerk for thirty years.
THE TRAGEDY RETOI4D.
Henry Moody. the head walter at Gladys
Inn. was the first witness examined to-
dav He was on the stand over an hour.
and gave an intelligent account of the
tragedy. hut his story contained "'ry Ill
lie that was new. Captain Goodman, he
said. was sitting at the table, waiting ior
his breakfast. which had been ordered
when ne heard some one talking IN the
hall. He asked 'if that was not Colonel
Parsons talking" and being told that IL
was said. I've a mind to go out after
him" Witness asked what WAS the troll
BILE and Goodman replied that PARSONS
had written letter 10 General Manager
Stevens trying to have him dlsch'iE'u'
He remained at the table few moments
and then walked out. Parsons was then
inside the Office, looking down upon the
register. Moody's account Of the Conduc-
tor's movements correspond with that OF
Clerk Martin given in to-day's Dlspdtch'
THE VICTIM HEl.Hi-f-SS'
When Goodman exhibited the letter 10
Parsons, the witness continued. he took
him by the collar and led MIN across
the lobby to the door a distanc" OF about
80 feet. saying, Come. 20 out on the
porch with me" While the TWO were on
the porch they were out OF sight Of wit
ness. but they soon returned To the lobby
door and Parsons called two CT three
4. fr.ar |
was sure the Conductor snapped his pistol
once after his victim had fallen to the
floor Witness did not see Parsons make
any demonstration except 90 try ana run
around Goodman after the first shot in
the abdomen. He did not see Parsons
make any effort 10 pull pistol. Good
man left the house after getting his Grip
without making any inquiry about Par
sons's condition, or trying to get assist
ancc for him. Moody did not see the
railroad guide. which is said TO have
dropped from Colonel Parsons's hand.
When Mr.. Parrish took the witness In
hand he confronted him with a written
statement that he made a day or two
after the shooting. This made no allu-
sion to the fact Of the pistol being snap
ped after Parsons fell: and stated that
Moody did not see Parsonss hand at all.
Moody said his statement was written by
Mr.. Martin, for Mr.. Anderson, and was
not quite as full as he thought 1t was.
lie heard no angry words between the
two men.
Mr. craig. in examining this statement
which bore date of July 2d. referred tc
II as having been made last week, which
led Mr. Parrish TO remark. Mir Craig
VIII YOU allow me TO present you with
a calendar?'
Mrs Craig: As that is the first KIND
offer YOU have made me. Mr.. Parrish,
viii be very much obliged TO you for it,
Il will try and be more generous here
after" reloined the bright Allegheny at
tOTney.
4 WITNESS WHO KNEW.
Tom Branch, one of the walters. told a
story very similar TO that OF Moody. eX-
cent ne did not see as much. lie viewed
the killing from the dining-room door
next to the parlor lie did not notice Par
sons's hands. when the trouble began
he thought the men were friends and were
"iess projlcking." lie had no idea tha'
they were mad, and took no notice o'
what they said or did on the porch H'
did not hear Parsons call Manager Whlte
Branch. with an air of satisfaction, toic
MIR. Parrish ne was not stating what III
thought. but what he knew, and wen
on To say that TO the best OF MS re-
membrancc" the pistol snapped atter far-
sons fell Mr.. Craig drew out OF th'