The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-15
THE STORY OF THE SHOOTING.
Goodman on the Stand in His
Own Defense.
He Proved to be the Best Witness Yet
Examined-Had Contidered tho Matter
Carefuliy-It Was His Habit to Carry
Pistol-Told Parsons He Must Make
Defence.

RICHMOND, Aug. l4.-When GOOdm an,
the Chesapeake and Ohio conductor,
charged with the murder of Col. H. G.
Parsons, went on the stand at Covington
this morning, there was ripple of ex-
citenent in the courtroom and the Judge
warned the crowd to be in order. Good
man was very pale, but calm, and his
voice strong. He told his story in a
simple, straight forward manner and
was the best witness yet on the stand
he began by telling when the Par.
sons letter was first put in his possess
sion. He took day to consider, sought
the advice Of Lawyer Crump, and Crum o
wrote the reply to Parsons charges. On
his way to Clifton Forge he inquired for
Parsons. He arrived at Clifton Forge
and went to Gladys Inn, where he was
accustomed to stopping. He took q
toddy at night and asked the bartender
If Parsons had been along lately.
In answer to question the witness
here said 1t was his habit as an officer
to carry pistol while on duty. He had
pistol IS usual when he retired. He
arose next morning and went down
stairs. putting his pistol in his pocket.
The train would leave at $50. He
brought down stairs small satchel he
always carried, put the satchel on the
hat rack, went into the dining room and
ordered breakfast. He heard some ono
clear his throat in the lobby, looked
and saw man he took to be Parsons.
He asked the head waiter, who said it
was Parsons.
Witness said he would go and see the
colonel, went and saw Parsons at tho
partition in the lobby. Witness took
the satchel from the hatrack, went into
the reading room and took O COPY OF
Parsons letter from the satchel and re-
tired to the lobby. Parsons was then
standing with his back to the fire
place.
Tho witness walked up to him, but
Parsons did not seem to see him and to
attract his attention he took the lapel
OF his coat and said: Come out to the
front" just before they got to the
door the witness said: Are you the
author of this ruinous letter, not only
calculated to ruin me, but to destroy
tho peace Of my famiiy?"
When they got to the door both
stepped on the porch and faced each
other. Parsons held the letter up,
looked at 1t, threw 1t on the floor and
said. "Sir, you nor family are con-
sidered."
Parsons then started in, but the
witness put his hand on him and said
"You must retract that letter."
Parsons said, WHAT" and at once
threw his hand to his hip pocket (wit-
ness here left the chair and gave
graphic description Of Parsons attitude
and how the shooting occurred).
When Parsons threw his hand behind
the witness pulled his pistol with the
right hand and, being lefthsndod, fired
with the left hand four shots in rapid
succession. After the fourth Parsons
grabbed with the right hand the left
hand of the witness in which was the
pistol. He held it so firmly the witness
had to wrench the pistol from Parsons
grasp and the weapon was accidentally
discharged.
The fifth shot, which Goodman says
was accidental, took effect in Parsons
head, producing the wound that DR..
Miller pronounced the imm ediate cause
of death.
after the pistol WAS empty He went to
see Colonel Bryant, the stationmaster,
and told him to get another an to take
out the train, as he had killed Parsons.
He did not tell Bryant: 81 collared Par.
sons and gave him all I had" After
seeing Bryant he went down town and
surrendered himself
In answer to question he said he in
quired for Parsons because he wanted to
see him and ask q retraction. II Par
sons would not grant it he intended to
go before the Rock Bridge grand Jury
and have him indicted for criminal
libel. He had already consulted Mr..
Crump as to damages. He was informed
that judgment against Parsons would
ba worthless. He wanted not money
but vindication.
When the witness left the dining
room he had no other purpose than to
ask a retraction and believed he would
make it, With much emotion the wit
ness hero said: 81 cannot explain tho
deep sorrow felt that he should try to
destroy my family relations, the sun
shine of my life."
He thought Parsons would give him
satisfaction, and did not expect to shoot
oven after Parsons had thrown the let.
ter down. The idea OF shooting first
came into his head when Parsons threw
his hand behind him.
Witness then thought he would be
killed. He would not have drawn the
pistol but for this. He stopped shooting
as soon as he saw Parsons right hand.
The last shot was an accident. After
the shooting he picked up the letter
whore Parsons had thrown 1t. He was
then questioned as to the charges In
Parsons letter and said all were false.
the letter and it's substance.
The impression at Covington TODAY is
that Goodman will be convicted of
murder in the second degree and that
his punishment will be fixed at from
five to ten years in the penitentiary.
The Mystery Not Cleared Up.