Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-14

threatened TO materially lengthen the
trial. He held that any evidence bearing
directly upon grudge was aamss'p'e,
but that testimony touching the cruel
treatment OF members OF the farsohs
household must be confined TO the spe
cifc charge made in Colonel Par
sons's letter. that the conductor had
been rude to one OF his daugh-
tsrs. or course. testimony showing a
breach OF manner between GOODMAN
and Parsons would be allowed. Having
thus failed tyIc, 10 open the way ior
getting in evidence by which they nope
To show malice on the Part OF tne PITS
oner. the prosecution abandoned tnis hhe
or inquiry entirely, took MISS Douge OIL
the stand presumably for good. and an
rcunced that they would rest their case
Tor the pretnt.
OvERRULED.
Just as the court was about to take
recess for dinner and to give the defence
time 10 prepare for their examination,
Mr. Crump submitted a molten. similar
TO that made Saturday and overruled, TO
exclude for every and all purposes the
evidence of the Staples and Phelps fami-
lies as immateriai. irrelevant, ana Illegal.
This WAS overruled and exceptions noted.
The aft tsrnoon session OF the court was
quite short. as the defence was not ready
with many Of their witnesses. About flf-
teen We're sworn, but the examination OF
n Il OF them was deferred. Hon. A. +.
Withrow, Manager White, OF Gladys Inn:
Captain Jack Talley. and Messrs. c. c.
Walker and VI. l.. Akers are among those
VITO will appear for the prisoner. Ther.
are q large number OF others whose
ranes have rot been made public, in ad-
CitiOn TO the RichmOnders who have al
reacy been referred 10 in the Dispatch.
The first step Of he dcfelce was to try
and impeach those of the COmmOnwealth's
witnesses who testified as 10 the alleged
Ifase OF GOodman's official life. Tn eir
Success in this Line was entirely salts
fectOry. and they propose 10 go further
ara show that the Phelps women are of
tad moral character. and as such no pure
Y man would associate with. 1t IL clearly
q cir purpose also. through this or sonle
other means. to attack the character OF
Mrs. Staples. to whom the Conductor Is
alleged To have made advances.
REPUTATION BAD.
The first witness for the defence was
Mr.. o. f.. Smith. the Chesapeake and
Ohio fresht-agent at Clifton Forge. who
testified that the reputation OF the Phelps
women for truth and veracity was very
bad. Mr.. Parrish, paving the way for
getting at Mrs staples. asked what was
th- reputation of Mrs. Phelps and her
two daughters for virtue and morality =.
and witness was about t. answer when
Mr. Craig made an objection.
The jury was taken out and the ques-
ton was argued at length. Mr.. Craig
stated his legal objection that In trying
t. mpeach witnesses only their veracity
can be attacked after which Mr.. Parrish
argued In support OF his question. He
agreed with Mr. Craig entirely as TO the
law
They had already he thought impeach-
cd the Phelps witnesses out Of their own
mouths. but their design now was 10
prove the reputation of Mrs. Staples's
Intimate associates.
The evidence OF Mrs Staples had shown
the Phelps women 10 b. her close friends
and the defence proposed to prove that
thy were nOtoriously bad characters. and
such as no woman of good moral charac'
ter or worthy Of believing would have
anything TO DO with
4 PALPABLE HIT
Mr. Craig defended his witnesses in a
speech of some warmth and hit at Mr..
Crump for saying day or two back that
tho prosecution had raked the line Of the
Richmond and Allegheny railroad with a
fne-tOoth comb to ct the scum TO come
here ana testify against "A man who was
well known for his high sense of honor.
Mr. Craig said because they could not
bring witnesses with diamonds I'm their
ears and wearing silk dresses there was
no reason that the poor and the lowly
should not be believed.
NOT ADMISSIBLE.
Judge Moore ruled that testimony as
n the immoral cha meter Of the witnesse .
was not admissible. The defence eN-
copied. and Mr.. Parrish stated that they
would later on try and accomplish their
purpose In another way.
Mr.. Smith. on his cross-eyamination
practically answered the question that
Mr.. Parrish wanted him 10. He said he
had never known Mrs. Phelps nor her
daughters 10 b. witnesses. but would not
believe either of them on oath, and nine
ty-nine out OF a hundred men in Clifton
Forge would testify that they were women
OF very bad reputation i'm every respect
Mayor W. H. Davis. eX-Mayor !. +.
Rowles. Captain r. n. Davis, Henry
Saunders. and J. :. Wood all corroborated
Mr. Smith. and said that the reputation
Of the women was very bad. and none
Of them would believe either the mother
or her daughters In court. When these
Witnesses had been heard the defence
asked indulgence until morning. when
they will have additional witnesses and
be ready 10 continue.
VALUABLE WITNESS.
I. :. Wood was an especially valuable
witness for the defence. in that he con-
nrmed Captain Goodman's statemen,
that he once put Kate Phelps now hrs
Peggins. OF his train at Iron Gate be-
cause she had no ticket Wood was
4. "a train fltl time
though not the one referred 10 In the
Conductors letter In reply TO Parsons
charges as having paid the way OF a
woman whom he threatened 10 put on,
and said while the Captain did not ac-
tually eject the woman. he told her she
would have TO get of. and she did so. Mrs.
Peggins. IL will be remembered. very indlg-
nantly denied that Goodman ever put her
off or threatened TO put her OF.
GOODMAN TO TESTIFY.
Cantain Goodman will be put on the
stand tomorrow. after some Of his Wit
nesse have been examined, with a view
10 breaking down certain parts or the
Commonwealth testimony and his story
Of tha killing and circumstances leadlhs
thereto will be followed by the evidence
OF others. who will cOrroborate his state
ment In certain points. Numerous friends
viii also testify to his good character
Mr.. Parrish announced this evening that
tn. defence expected 10 get all thei
evidence in by tomorrow night uniess
the examination shall prove more tedious
than is anticipated. 1t is expected that
the Commonwealth will introduce good
deal of testimony in rebuttal. and the
argument on instructions will hardly be
reached before Wednesday afternoon.
a REPORT.
II had been whispered around that the
prosecution would introduce evidence
showing that Goodman had threatened
the life of another conductor, who had
reported him for an alleged immoral act
II he should do SO again. No sueh testi-
- oe,.r.a opd would prOb-