Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-07
sM'NAMEE IN COURT.
He and Ganl Sent On for The Murder
Of Lee Atwell.
FEW WITNESSES TESTIFY.
Only half Of These for the Prosecution Put
on the Stand.
WAS THE DEAD MAN HELD?
The Conflict OF Evidence on This Point May
Furnish the Defence Strong Point De-
tails of tho Examination.

The sequel TO the preliminary examina-
ton in the cases Of Thomas n. Nc
Nance and william T. Gaul. charged,
the former as principal and the h'er
as accessory, with the murder OF ROBERT
Lee Atwoll is that they were sent on 10
the grand jury Of the Hastings Court
without moro than one-half Of the wit
nesses for the prosecution having gone on
the stand.
Not in years has there been larger
and more interested crowd within the
walls OF the old Police Courtroom IMAM
that which assembled there yesterday 10
get look ut the prisoners and 10 hear
the evidence that was TO be brought out
IN the cases. Sergeant Thomass IN
monse box. in which he Keeps MS I'M
claimed property and the articles when
are 70 be sent up 70 the Hastings Court
vas usurpcd as sort Of PLATFORM ana
on this stood as many as twenty-five
spectators 20 the proceedings.
There was a Sprlnkling OF eo'oreu per
sons in the audience, bat the great mass
OF humanity was white.
THE PRISONERS.
McNamec and Gaul entered from inc
prisoners zen and took seats within me
railing st apart for members Of the bar
,,st bchlad their counsel. Messrs. IL. NJ.
Smith. Jr.. and Hm Garter, respectively.
In the same enclosure were seated
Nfcssrs. u. G.. richardson, NJ. il. Daw-
son. and Colonel NJ. l.. Spotswood. Com
rnonwoalth's Attorney, who. with Mr.. Hill
Montague. VIII carry on the prosecution.
'rhe prisoners were calm and not app ar
emily more interested in the inyestiga-
tlo1 than hundreds OF others who were
simply there rs spectators. In the crowd
here and there could be recognized m
hers Of the families OF the deceased and
Of the men who stand accused OF his
murder.
The counsel in the case held short
consultation Just before the examination
recnn. and it was agreed that both cases
should be taken up together. Az before
stated, only few witnesses were put
on the stand. and instead Of the inyesti-
cation lasting all day rs was expected 1t
would. it was finished within couple
Of hours.
TESTIMONY SLIGHTLY DIFFERED.
The testimony adduccd slightly Gihered
from that given before the Coroh n jury
but I'm the main was identical With state
racnts made at the inquest. 1t could be
told 10y the animated whispering through
ont the court-Nom that there still exists
much feeling on the part Of the friends
and relatives Of those involved IN tho
tragedy. As the defence brought Tor
ward none OF its witnesses, the evidence
SO far appears TO be very strong against
the accused. 1t is pr sumed That coun-
sol for McNamce and Gaul Will make
an effort TO break down the testimony
af.alnst their clients because of the con-
nict therein rather than 10 introduce
Great deal Of new evidence when the case
comes up in the Hastings Court
Tho investigation yesterday showed that
there IS to be a hard fight for victory
on both sides Of the case. The lawyers
have apparently gone into the matter
with much zeal and determination. The
trial. or trials. will no doubt attract
a great deal Of attention.
IL made glad the genial Justice that he
had so slight connection with the case.
He IA averse 20 cases Of this sort, and
always shudders when they come before
him. lie, however. generally decides
points that arise in them in a sensible
equitable, and just way. There was not
so much Sticking over trivialties In
the proceedings yesterday, and the hear
ing, for one OF SO important a character
ran rather smoothly.
NIGHT OF THE MURDER.
Coroner w. II. Taylor was the first TO
testify. He said that the killing occurred