Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-08
BEN WHITES CRIME
1t is Again Described to the Manas-
sas Court.
Ills COUNSEL VIGOROUSLY FIGHT
A Number Of Exciting Verbal En-
counters.
THE CASE NEARLY ENDED


Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
| MANASSAS, Va, March S.-After The
Stars report of the trial of Ben. White,
the negro charged with having criminalIy
assaulted Mrs. Elliott, near this place. on
January Is last, closed yesterday after
noon, Judge Lipscomb overruled the pend
ing motion Of the defense that the jury be
composed Of men not residents of Prince
| William county.
As the motions of the defense now seemed
| to be exhausted. empaneling a jury was
the next step in order, and it would nave
proven a decidedly tedious task had not
counsel maintained a constant interchange
of repartee.
In examining the veniremen Judge Lips
comb asked each one only two questions,
namely: Have you formed or expressed an
opinion?' and Have you made UP your
mind to hang the prisoner?
While the selection of jurymen was being
made an Interesting incident occurred
gentleman named Gardner was declared
ny the court TO be competent juror. Are
You related to the Mr.. Gardner already ac-
| cepted?" Attorney Green, one Of White 8
counsel. asked.
He is my father" was the reply
| Then, may 1t please the court" con-
tinued Mr.. Green, Il submit that this
gentleman cannot serve on the panel for
the reason that another member of his
family is already on it." This seemed to
puzzle both the judge and the other counsel
Finally the court admitted that he was un-
certain as to the law on that poinr, but
TO guard against the matter being ques-
toned hereafter Mr. Gardner No Sas
excused from service
Without further delay a satisfactory jury
was secured. and at 4:2O o'clock the clerk
administered the oath. The panel is COM
posed OF white men. all evidently farmers,
al
The court having been sitting contin-
uously for nearly six hours, a recess was
at this point taken ''in order to refresh our
selves. as Mr. Green expressed it. 1t was
generally understood that Judge Lipscomt b
intended hoftinS :, nisnt ses~icn. hut after
recess, however, because of indisDosition he
adjourned the trial until 10 o'clock this
morning.
Adjourned Until Today.
Audible sighs of relief from all portions
OF the crowded room greeted the announce
ment. White was taken to -hes jail, hand
cuffed to Robinson. and both were then
marched to the Cannon House Under escort
of the Alexandria Light Infantry, where
they were placed in room on the top fiocr
and strongly guarded Throughout. the night
Just before adjournment MIR. Campbe II
stated that the defense would present no
witnesses today, md that all II intende
to do was to conduct searching cross
|
No women have been present at ths trial.
but Mrs Heffiin and Mrs Elliott were in
the witness room all day yesterday wait
ing to testify.
While the excitement has apparently
| entirely subsided, the ma ajority Of the resi-
dents in this vicinity are of the opinion
| that mob viol"I,e Is supply smclGer;ng
| and will flame up ut the slightest action
| In favor Of the accused. Numerous groups
about the court house and the hctels after
| discussing the situation. are unanimously
| of the opinion that had not the Alexandra
| Light Infantry been III attendance Robin
| son and White woIld nave departed this life
| by strangulation long ago.
| The prisoner has been surrounded at all
| times by at ieast score of brjstling
| bayonets and loa 4 ID rifles.
| Robinson and White present a most riti-
full appearance. ley 9TH are cowed and
trembling, and very seldom raise .heir
| heads
Why Robinson WIS also brought to Ma
| nassaS cannot be learned with any degree
of certainty. JUICE Lipscomb when ask ed
said: why, isn't this the proper place for
him?'
In Court This Morning.
| Although the weather early this morning
| looked threatening, the usual large crowd
was on hand. and at 10 o'clock the court
room was literally jammed.
| The customary delay occurred this morn
ing, it being IL O'Clock when Sheriff Leach
man opened court. The militia appeared
unusually vigilant, as it was thought the
| appearance of the assaulted woman on the
| stand might incite the crowd to attempt
| the long expected violence. One sentry
| complained to the commonwealth's attor-
ney that too many spectators were permit
| ted within the bar
"lf they try anything we will have very
little show" he claimed.
Counsel returned to the fray with new
supply of wit and the proceedings were
| opened by Attorney Campbell.
| Then Commonwealth Attorney Thornton
began his opening address to the jury, but
Lawyer Green objected at the start to near
ly every word spoken, and for time both
were talking at once.
The court directed Mr. Green to remain
quiet and Mr.. Thornton went on to tell
graphically the story of the crime.
Mr.. Green. however. persisted in his OBJ
jections until Judge Lipscomb and himself
were indulging in a decidedly lively con-
troversy, which continued until the court
said: Il will tolerate this no longer"
! In spite of the warning. the attorney OBJ
jected to that remark of the court and kept
on objectng.
No attention was paid to 1t.
Mrs. Elliott ON the stand.
For the first time during the hearing the
proceedings at this point assumed an aspect
of gravity. Amid stir of expectancy Mrs.
Elliott the first witness, entered the room.
She repeated in an embarrassed manner
| Dut III d IrIn tone, story OF tne assault,
as already published in The Star. During
| the recital the court room was almost pain
| fully quiet. The jury listened with eager
attention and White sat immovable with
his back toward Mrs. Elliott and his head
sunk low on his chest lieutenant of the
militia and forty soldiers guarded the mser-
able wretch.
| Mrs. Elliott sustained searching cross
| examination, Mr. Green endeavoring in
every manner possible to impeach her
veracity, but without success.
| Mrs. Heffln was next called, her teSti-
mony being practically the same that
of her siSter-in-law. The witness, with a
burst of tears, repeated the threats used by
the accused at the time of the assault, which
had visible effect on the jury.
| The next to testify was Mr.. Mayhem, to
whose house the women fled after the as
sault.
Mr.. Green objected to nearly every state
ment made by this witness and the COM
monwealth's attorney sarcastcaly agreed
to throw out everything the other side
wanted out.
Recess Taken.
! At this point, the prosecution having
closed it's case and 1t being l o'clock, a re-
cess for one hour was taken.
1t is a foregone conclusion that White
vill be convicted and sentenced to DEATH
and that result will in all probability be
reached this afternoon. Nobody knows
Capt. Mushbach stated that he expects to
Govt fh..Y,, ,J,;,