Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-15
IT is NEARLY ENDED.
A VERDICT IN THE GOODMAN CASE
PROBABLE TODAY.
Mr.. Crump's Mastcriy Dissection of
Evfdence-Speech of Mr.. Parrish.
OF Covington-The Intense Interest
In the Trial.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. March IA
tSpecial.)-The trial OF Conductor Thomas
A. Goodman for. the killing OF Colonel II.
c. Parsons Is rapidly drawing to a close.
Eight Of the best criminal lawyers In
the State have been engaged in the case,
nine days have already been consumed
In the evidence and the argument. and It
Is reasonable 10 expect that before an
other issue OF the Dispatch makes Its ap-
pearance the verdict will have been rem
dercd
When the court convened this morning
Mr.. B. T. Crump resumed his argument
for the defence
At the risk, he said, Of wearying the
jury. he did not intend to skim the evil
dence. giving extracts here and there,
but to review 1t in detail. He then pro-
ceeded to take UP the evidence, piece
by piece, and show the Inconsistencies.
PARSONS WENT VOLUNTARILY.
Mr.. Crump said he. too. knew Colonel
Parsons well and he stood there to de-
fend his memory against the insult which
the counsel for the prosecution had
heaped upon II when they claimed mat
the prisoner had dragged Parsons by his
coat lapel a distance Of fifty feet with
out resistance. Parsons went out voiun-
tarily lie weighed twenty pounds more
than the prisoner. The whole evidence
went to show that Goodman was retreat
ing at the moment he was shooting, ana
must have been backing from what he
considered a danger. Martins testimony
corrObOrated this statement. II II was
not true, and had Goodman taken Par
sons 10 the door for the purpose or Killing
him, the body OF Parsons would nave
been pushed out from the door. and would
not have fallen In the direction which IN
dicated that he was advancing.
MIR. Crump made a most adroit arsu-
mert to prove that the prosecution was
wrong in its theory that the first shot en-
tered the head. Martin saw the nrst shot'
and had the hand OF Goodman been raised
rs II must have been, Martin wouid nave
seen IL.
VERY SARCASTIC.
And again. when the speaker came
10 refer to the failure 10 hear me- u
dence OF Captain J. II. Pettus he was
particularly earnest and sarcastic. lie
succeeded, however, In getting the fuli
effects Of the Pettus evidence before the
jury. Mr.. Crump's speech. when was
directed simply to a review OF the evil
dence, was "A model of its kind.
one of the Oldest lawyers at the Abe
marie Bar was heard TO remark when
Mr. Crump had concluded that he mad
never heard such a clear. arguinenta-
tive. and convincing summing up of evil
dence" in his life. 1t devolved upon Mr..
Crump to clear up the mysteries and in
conslstencies Of the evidence. and there
Is no doubt of the fact that he threw
light upon certain phases Of the case
hitherto involved. IL vas brilliant effort
and did great credit to the criminal at
torney from Richmond.
COLONEL DUKE AGAIN.
Colonel r. 7. W. Duke followed Mr..
Crump In a pathetic appeal for justice.
He heard, he said. Colonel Craigs speech
and saw the magnificent acting by that
gentleman. and from that speech he was
certain that Goodman was innocent. In
all his life he had never received fee
for prosecuting n man for his life and
liberty. Colonel Duke INDUCED in some
delightful "reminiscences. speaking for
half hour before court adjourned for din
ner.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
As soon as the court reconvened Mr..
Parrish began his speech The courtroom
was packed-tndeed. such a jam Has never
before been seen there on the occasion
OF a trial quite number Of ladies were
in the bog to the left of the Judge,
while his Honors reserved platform was
occupied by as many men as could be
crowded upon II.
The prisoner was attended by his wife,
two daughters. and baby boy. and by
their side sat Mrs. Mamie Letch and
Mrs. W G. Payne.
Beginning with a reference 10 the law
affecting this case, Mr. Parrish called at
tention to MIR. Letcher's mistake In
bringing TO the attention of the jury the
verdict at the former trial. and said that
1t was a travesty upon justice.
The speaker then read the decision In
the Ward White shooting case, which was
tried in Abingdon. and applied it TO
the present case.
The prisoner was entitled to the beneiit
Of every doubt. Certainly the defence
has created a reasonable supposition that
the prisoner was eXcusable or justihable
in his act. For the first half hour Mr.
Parrish spoke upon the instructions.
He was very. bitter in his denunciation
OF MIR Craig for telling the jury that the
defence were entitled to no benefits OF
the instruction which related 10 killing
in the heat OF passion, because that was
inconsistent with the plea of self-defence.
The defence were entitled 10 the beneht
of both instructions. regardless OF Mr.
Craig. who represents the hatred and
persecution Of the prosecutors
THE CAUSE OF RIGHT.
Continuing. the speaker said he loved
10 speak for the cause of right. For nine
months he had stood by the prisoner
because he believed Goodman TO be
persecuted man Never in the history OF
Virginia had there been case similar
10 this one where conviction followed.
The lawyer from Covington was very
strong In his ridicule of the cases clted
by Mr.. Letcher as parallel to this one.
In one OF the cases reference was made
TO "poe-axe." and juryman John Hop
kins, at the request Of Mr.. Parrish. ex-
plained what a ''pole-aXe" was. In refer
ring TO the Clark -Moffett AFFAIR. Mr. Par
rsh said that a minister always made
a mistake when he went outside Of the
Gospel Here Dr. |. a. C. Bledsoe and
DR. j. William Jones. who were sitting In
the Sherins box. were seen to nod ap-
provingly "It IL the first time" con-
tinued Mr. Parrish. that | have had
chance 10 get even with the preachers
who have been hitting at me for the last
twenty FIVE years"
THE UNWRTTTEN LAW.
Mr.. Parrish grew eloquent when he
came TO speak of the "unwrtten" law
in Virginia, which allows no man TO de-
stroy the peace and sanctity Of the home
circle he drew beautiful picture of
Captain Goodman's working his way up
from brakeman to conductor. and sup
porting little family, and was extremely
severe when he came to speak of Par
sons. the proprietor of Il big hotel. In
speaking OF the letter he inquired "Did
you ever read anything so vile. so bitter.
so foul?'. He was particularly oaustic
In his denunciation of Parsons for writ
ing such a letter and touchingly pathetic
in picturing its effect upon Goodman. He
explained in detail the various diagrams
Of Gladys Inn and reviewed the evil
dence bearing upon the tragedy
At o'clock court adjourned until 10
tomorrow, when Mr.. Parrish will re-
sumo his argument. He has already
spoken four hours.