Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-17

have arisen out Of the prisoners own
misconduct; unless the Jury further be-
iieve from the evidence that, although
the necessity did thus arise out OF the
prisoners own misconduct, the accused,
before firing the fatal shot or shots. fairly
declined an encounter between himself
and the said Parsons by retreating as
far as he could and then firing In self
defence.
8. II the Jury believe from the evidence
that the prisoner did not intend to fire
the last shot. but that said shot was
caused by Parsons's seizing the prisoner
pistol, or attempting to wrest II from
the prisoner, they are instructed that
they cannot convict the prisoner by rea-
son OF the firing Of said last shot.
THE ARGUMENT OPENED.
Mr.. Craig opened his argument at 4:33.
and spoke for two hours. He will speak
an hour or two longer tomorrow, and
will be followed by Messrs. Anderson.
Crump. and Parrish. In the order named.
for the defence. Commonwealth s-Attor-
ney Allen will close. There may be a
night session tomorrow to finish the
argument
Mr.. Craig spoke In an impressive man
ner this afternoon. and was given close
attention by the jury. He has a good.
his gestures impressive. He opened with
a tribute to this part Of the State. with
which he Is connected by many tender
associations, had few pleasant words
for the fury, spoke of the Gladys Inn
tragedy as "red-handed murder" and
told the jury that while they should dc
perfect Justice to the prisoner, they re-
presented the Commonwealth. and her vio-
lated law. The speaker made n most
graceful allusion to the presence OF Mrs,
Goodman, and said he was glad to see
her there, as an instance OF the noble
women OF Virginia. He spoke In terms
of praise OF Mrs. Goodman's conduct: salo
he sympathized with her from the bottom
OF his heart and regretted deeply tha'
the hand OF the man with whom she
stood at the altar had committed 'he
deed for which he was now TO answer
Mrs Goodman scarcely looked up at the
very nice reference to her.
Mr. Craig pictured the sorrow into
which the killing of Colonel Parsons mao
plunged two families. and tfron proceeaeN
10 DISCUSS the evidence. He held up 10
the fury the points on which Captaii
Goodman's testimony was in conilict WIN
that of the Commonwealth's witnesses
argued the prisoners fear or an III
yestigation. In which Parsons couio nave
nrO1llceu eNllrnCs W ploN' wv
made against him. as the motive for the
killing. and was reviewing the immoral
aspect of the case with reference TO the
alleged advances OF the prisoner TO MIS-
Staples, when the court adjourned.
FIENDIsH AND OUTRAGEOUS.
He characterized the action OF counse
for the defence in trying to snow the
character of Mr.. and Mrs. Staples 10 Dc
had. and holding them responsible TOT uit
bad reputation Of their relatives-the
Phelpses-as "fendish and outrageous.
Mr. Parrish interrupted the speaker once
or twice. claiming that he was trans
crossing the rules Of the law In going
outside Of the evidence. He was sus'
tained in one instance. and not IN an
other.
"When 7 stick to the evidence / want
YOU TO stick TO your seat" remarked MI
Craig. with some bitterness.
He soon added: "And 1t will not 90
Mr.. Parrish, to monkey with buzz-saw
much longer. as you may find out.
Mr. Parrish paid no attention to TINS
and the argument proceeded. S. B. w.