Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-22
WHOKlLLED JENKINS
JUSTICES TYLER AND LEWIS SEEKING
LIGHT ON THIS QUESTION.
Examination Of Lizzie Walters and Virgil
Walton Begun-some Interesting
Facts Brought Out.

Justices William J. Tyler and James T.
Lewis spent the whole OF yesterday taxing
testimony In the preliminary examination
OF Lizzie Walters and Virgil Walton
charged with the murder Of Solomon Ben
jamin Jenkins
The inquiry. which will be continued to-
day. is being conducted In the County
Court house and attracts a large crowd OF
Interested spectators. The prosecution IS
conducted by Commonwealth s-Attorney
sands. assisted by Mr.. Justis Lizzie Is
represented by Messrs. J. Garland Pollaru
rni y Thomas Mosby. and Walton Dy
Icfsre. II. St. John Coalter and George r.
VICE.
fne first two witnesses were J. X.
SEN ' with whom Jenkins boarded, ana
,.c-' = r"nnctt. at whose house the
,erci was a visitor the night before
iis death. Their evidence conceded with
w1at has already been published In the
Dispatch.
Coroner Ieftwlch testified that when
Snead called on him and notified him OF
Jenkinss death he 50 described his synp-
toms prior to death as 20 leave no doubt
but that jenkins had died Of congestion
Of the lungs, and he gave him a death
certificate setting forth the cause Of death
a, congestion Of the lungs
MISS BENNETT ON THE STAND.
Miss Molle Bennett. TO whom jenkins
was engaged 20 De married. was the first
witness put on the stand IN the afternoon
She was very nervous a. first. and hel
replies 10 the questions asked her by Mr.
Sands wera scarcely audible. She so0F
gained confidence however and proved e
be- an excellent witness She testified thai
jenkins came TO her home on the nigh
prior 10 his death. and took a seat neal
the fire. He said he had cold feet. a head
ache and was sick a. his stomach. Hf
remained until . O'Clock. During his visi
he went TO sleep twice, and she aroused
him He drank two dlppers of water
which We're handed him by her brother.
In answer 10 a direct question, the wit
ness stated that she was engaged 10 Jen
kins. and they had expected 10 have beer
married on the LIST OF February
When Jenkins came to SIC her on tn
night in question, she further testified, h
brought a bottle Of medicine and q bO'
Of pills to her brother-in-law, who wa'
sick. and who had requested him 10 pur
chase them for him. The pills were pro
duced In court and Identified by her. The
box contained twelve pills, and bore
label Of Il. l.. Harrison. Fulton Pharmacy
corner Of Williamsburg avenue and Lou
isiana street.
Witness stated that jenkins was In the
habit Of visiting her about three tunes
week. He was not at all desponden'
when he left her on the night of the 9th
Of January, and had no appearance OK q
man who contemplated suicide.
TOLD or HIS DEATH.
She was notified Of his death on tho
morning on which f. occurred. ana immc
diatcly went 10 sncad's house. She went
IN 90 the room whore the body lay anf
found paper on the mantel which VA.
similar 10 those used by druggists In put
ting up powders This she threw on m.
hearth. Mr.. Sncad picked it IN. She saw
! nothing whatever I'm the paper.
number of letters which were al
| dressed to Lizzie Walton ana signed bl
/ Solomon T.. jenkins. and which wer'
| found IN Lizzie's possession. were handr'
! the young lady To- look at These SIN
| Identified as being Jenkins's writing. I've
| Of the letters she could not fully Identity
! but she explained that his chirograph,
| was not the same at all times. Whcl
! cross-eXamncd 10y counsel for the dcfeuc
= witness stated that she knew NOTHING
( Of Ienltus's relations with Lizzie Walters
! and that she Miss BennetU had only re-
! ceived two letters from Jenkins. SIT
! had known him since the lst OF last Sep
tember and had never known him 10 b.
| sick, except about Christmas, when M
had chill.
Miss Alice Bennett corroborltel IN
| testimony given by her sister with on" o.
| two exceptions. she said that Jen6in
| appeared sick and respondent on th
! night in question. but she had no ide'
that he contemplated suicide. He sai'
as he departed. BE good girls IN l go
| you again.
WHAT THE DETECTIVE KNEW.
Mr. II. X. Yeats the d-tc who Ia
| been at work on the case. yeins cane
! t. the stand. testified substantially VIVA
| he had already stated in tn iniervi'W
| through the columns Of the Dispatch
| He detailed with much precision the con
ycrsations which he had held with IN
two prisoners prior 10 their arrest. am
| Identified the papers containing on &C
| count of Jenkinss death. which were pro
| duced by the Commonwealth Attorney
| as those which he found InIcr walton
| bed.
lie produced number of letters re
ccived from officials AMI residents O.
| charlottesville in reply 90 commune
tons addressed to them by hi." which So
! forth that Walton. who claimed q hay
resided there for several years, was Know
there as a hard nut" da"nC served
term i'm the Charlottesville Grain gant
l'p,n cross examination By Mr. f1llar
line detective became somewhat excited, an
stated that his reason for swearing "u
! warrants against the prisoners was ina
Jenkins had told him tire" weeks previou
l "a eltiII ID death
hanging oy.r him.
In reply 10 the question. rs that all?