Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-14
THE GOODMAN TRIAL.
Opening Of the Testimony In the Case
for the Defence.
SIX WITNESSES EXAMINED.
The Phelps Women Alleged to Be Un-
worthy Of Belief.
A DAY OF LEGAL TlLTS.
Judge Moore RuIes That Testimony ms to
the Immoral Character OF witnesses
Is Not Admissible.
A DAY OF LEGAL TlLTS
,stan correspondence of the Dlspatch)

der trial took the case III NAM" '''9
ternoon. n predicted In my dispatch sd
tlrday night and the end does not seem
to be so far In the distance. The 'ohi-
| rnonwealth rested her case rather ui'eA-
pectedIy. and as many OF the "''hesseS
, for the prlsoner had not returned from
their homes. but little evidence was
taken on the other side. Judge Moore
made TWO rulings that VIII some"na'
| contract the broad range that the inves-
| tigation was taking.
| In tho forenoon he declined for the Sc
cond time to allow Miss Dodge TO TESTIFY
with reference TO Captain Goodman
manner toward the members Of Colonel
Parsonss family when passengers on his
train: and this afternoon he refused TO
let the prisoners counsel question wit
nessos with reference 10 the reputation OF
certain of those who testified for the
| Commonwealth He permitted them to
impeach. but not to 70 further. Both ses-
sions OF the court were short to-day.
FOR THE Defence.
only eight witnesses We're put on the
stand, and the testimony of all was very
brief Six Of these were for the defence,
and they helped 10 brighten the outlook
for the prisoner. All 81 them swore that
the Phelps women were unworthy Of be-
lief and one. who was at one time brake
man on Goodman's train, confirmed the
Captains declarati ton that he once elected
Kate.
In the ,rOss-cxamination Of the prisoner
this matter may be broachei to afford an
opportunity for getting the Common
wealth's evidence on, this point before
the jury
Misses Maud and Gretchen Parsons
the one tail and slender brunette and
the other handsome blondc-have re-
turned TO Natural Bridge after spending
nearly week here. They d!d not go TO
the courthouse at all and are not ex-
pected to return TO Cnyington.
ALLEGED RUDENESS.
Miss Dodge and JuG-e Loomis are still
at the Intermont. II was 10 Miss Kate
Parsons. who is still in Germany. that
Captain Goodman is alleged to have been
rude on his train when she left her pass
at home and was made to pay her fare.
when Judge Moore convened court this
morning everybody connected with the
trial. which is entering its second week,
looked fresh after day Of rest.
My friend Copeland, Charlie Rose, Sam
Crowder, and the Dispatch man spent the
Sabbath at the Hot and Warm Springs,
and Mr. Crump visited his family in
Richmond. lie was Jsck however, on
the early train this morning.
Witnesses were late coming i'm, and the
attendance was rather small.
INClD "s
Two rather unusu1 things marked the
proceedings of the morning. When the
prisoner and his wife entered they were
accompanied by their sweet. l0-year-od
girl and curly-heaied boy Of about three
years.
The boy. utterly oblivious OF the fact
that he was IN tribInal where the life
OF his father was IT stake. continued to
| talk 10 his papa and display such a dis
position TO play that Mrs. Goodman had
TO take him out The girl retired about
an hour later.
The other amusing incident was the
| playing OF an organ in the immediate
neightorhood. and for IN hour or more
the Court had rather unwelcome ac-
compartment.
ARRIVED.
Captain +. J. Hulce. Messrs c. c.
| Walker T.. !. Cab-ll. +. j.. Isdacs, Mrs.
| John *. Chldrcy. and Miss Margaret
| Childrey arrived from Richmond to-day.
| The three first named are witnesses.
THE Low MOOR VISIT
Soon after court opened MI Craig asked
| that rule be issued for Mrs. Alice
| Phelps. the aunt To whom the Low Moor
| visit. about the details Of which there
WAS such conflict Of testimony, was paid
by Mrs. Staples. MIR Craig said they
| were anxious 10 secure the attendance OF
| Mrs Phelps. VINO had not responded &
! the summons sent her. She IL now Al
| Clifton Forge on visit While on ms
fcet Mr.. Craig stated incidentally that th'
| Phelps witnesses who have been examined
| had been brought here against their Will
! il having required an attachment to get
| them after they had ignored both sum
mons and rules. This statement created
| good deal of surprise on the part OF
| the audience. 1t is designed to have Mrs
Phelps testify as to the visit of Mrs
| Staples 10 her house.
| Commemorative Attorney Allen was tht
| first witness to-day, and testified with
| reluctance being an attorney In the case
lie was only examined as to the blood
| spots on the railway guide which was
| dropped 10y Parsons when he fell in the
agony OF death. Mir. Allen received the
book about noon Of the day that the
shooting occurred, and found two spots
on IT, which he was certain were blood
stains. though they had not been analy Z d.
MIR Parrish pressed Tor a more direct
and positive answer, but Mr. Allen said
hc could not give one.
CULTURED WITNESS.
The prosecution again endeavored by
recalling Miss Dodge to show that Cap
tain Goodman had a grudge against Colo
mel Parsons. and was discourteous in his
bearing toward members Of the Parsons
family when they were passengers on his
train. This lady, whose refinement and
culture are In such striking contrast
to the illteracy and dense ignorance of
the female witnesses who testified last
week TO the conductors alleged improper
overtures 10 Mrs. Staples, was brought
into court by Judge Loomis. She wore
deep mourning, with white ribbon
around her neck She was first asked to
state whether or not Colonel Parsons was
in the habit of carrying pistol. but the
defence objected, and the question was
ruled out Mr. Craig. who meekly bowed
with only his gentle yes, SIR told Miss
Dodge TO state what she knew or the
cruel treatment OF members of Colonel
ParsonS's family by Captain Goodman. Mr..
Parrish objected.
The Jury was sent out and there was
a long argument by Messrs. Allen and
Craig. on the one side and Messrs. Parrish
and Crump on the other as 10 the admissi-
billty of testimony along this line. Inc
purpose OF the prosecution was 10 show
the existence OF malice and grudge on
the part of Goodman Parsons reported
the conductor twice, and Mr.. Craig In
sisted that IL WIS their right 10 intro
duce evidence of the existence of a mali
cious state OF mind toward Parsons MIR.
Parrish argued that the Commonwealth
could not 40 outside Of the charges con-
taiued In the Parsons letter unless they
could produce facts. not Impressions or
circumstances, 10 prove grudge. Mr.
Crump insisted that the prosecution must
conlIne itself TO the charges in the let
ter. and stick to the theory that IL had
been following with reference 10 motive
for the killing.
WITHIN RULES.
The defence also emphasized the fact
that in his letter embracing all the charges
he had TO make, Colonel Parsons said, re-
ferring 10 the alleged indignities To MEN,
bers OF his household: But in every case
he kept within rules" MIR. Allen held
that the Commonwealth could follow As
many theories as 1t pleased. and said
while he had not at first fully concurred
with Mr. Craig about the admissibility
OF this evidence. the argument OF Mr..
Crump had convinced ham that his asso-
ciate (Craig) was right. Ar. Parrish did
not fail To twit the Commonwealth At
torney about making this confession. that
h.. nod put Mr. Craig up TO fient for a