Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-03-20
Stauntoll Spectator.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 20
Captain John A. Goodman Acquitted.

Ndptdlu tUuu VUUumdu AtYuAttOus
The second trial of Captain John A.
Goodman. conductor on the Ches. &
Ohio Ry.. for the killing of Col. Fl. c.,
Parsons at Gladys Inn in Clifton Forge
last June, which was commenced in
Charlottesville on Tuesday the 5th
instant, was not concluded till Satur-
day morning the 10Th, when the jury
rendered verdict of aequittal. AT
the former trial in Allegheny. he was
found guilty of murder in the second
degree and his term was fixed at IS
years in the penitentiary, and it is re
ported that a. first, ten of the twelve
jurymen were for hanging him. The
verdict was surprise to us, as we had
supposed the verdict would be for man
slaughter.
The trial was very interesting one.
and able counsel were employed on
both sides, who, after the examination
of the great number of witnesses sum
moned, addressed the jury in the fol
lowing order
Greenlee D. Letcher, of Lexington,
opened for the prosecution, and was
followed in the defense by Judge g. K.
Anderson, of Clifton Forge, and Judge
R. T. w. Duke, Jr., of Charlottesville,
who were followed for the prosecution
by w. E Craig, of Staunton, who was
followed in the defense by Judge
Beverly Crump, of Richmond, Col. R
r. W. Duke, of Charlottesville, and r
L. Parrish, of Covington, who were
followed in the conclusion of the argu-
ment for the prosecution by Captain
MicaJah Woods, of Charlottesville,
commemorative Attorney for the
county of Albemarle.
The argument was concluded Friday
evening when the court adjourned to
o'clock Saturday morning to await
the verdict of the jury.
Great interest was felt in the result
of the elaboration of the jury. After
reading the record of the preceding
day, the clerk Of the court asked the
jury if they had agreed on verdict,
when the foreman nodded assent
What then occurred is thus given by
the Charlottesville Progress of Satur-
day afternoon -
''Sheriff Watts warned the specta
tors that demonstrations of applause
in that court house could not be per
mitted, and if attempted would be tol
lowed by the arrest of such persons as
I, in,
1--WE, the jury" read the clerk, find
the prisoner, Thomas A. Goodman, moi
guilty"
An attempt to appalachian invol-
untary one-was made, but checked.
for a moment. During that brief
interval the accused and his wife were
clasped in each others arms. The
seventeen-year-o old daughter threw her
arms about her parents and the smaller
children nestled near. Mrs. Goodman
wept freely, and finally Captain Good
man yielded to his feelings, which had
been hitherto under storm control
Sinking in his chair, he gave way to
tears quietly.
Friends and sympathizers pressed
forward, pressed his hand, and ex
pressed their joy at his deliverance.
In the meantime the applause broke
through all restraints. People lost
sight of the respect due to the court
Those offenders detected by the sheriff
were promptly arrested and taken tt
the bar of the court and fined, but il
is believed that the fines will be re
mitted as the applause was giver
under the impression that court had
adjourned.
The Progress reporter interviewed
several of the jurymen after the trial
was concluded and found them unan
imOusly of the opinion that Captain
Goodman shot in self defense. When
they first began to deliberate upon the
verdict they should return, one stood
for conviction OF involuntary man
slaughter and eleven for acquittal.
The Parsons letter played an in
portant part III bringing the jury to
verdict favorable to the prisoner, but
there were many points in the evidence
that, in the opinion of the jury. Wen
to establish the truthfulness of Cap
tain Goodman's statement. One OF
the strongest points in the whole case,
said several jurymen, was brought Out
by Mr.. Crump in his speech when he
showed by the absence of two bullel
holes on the right side of Colonel Par
sons coat that it was reasonable to
suppose that Colonel Parsons was hold
ing back his coat by having right hand
in hip pocket as sworn to by the
prisoner.
Every man on the jury averred that
he had no idea what turn public senti-
ment had taken, and really expected
their verdict to be disapproved by
many-especially those who did MOI
hear the evidence.
The jury was unit disappearing Of
Colonel Craig's method of cross-ex
aiming the prisoner.
At the conclusion of the trial the
members of the jury were the recipi
ents of hearty congratulations on ali
sides.
all had been fully made up, he thinks.
before any speeches were made. With
him Goodman's evidence was fully be-
lieved and there was nothing else to be
done but acquit.
When the Progress reporter called at
the Parish Hotel to which Captain
Goodman went with his family after
the verdict, he found the man who
had just been restored to liberty sur
rounded by his happy family, his
faithful wife still crying for Joy. Fol
several hours he held quite reception.
hundreds of friends calling to Offer
their congratulations. The jury called.
among others, and as Captain Good
man thanked them for their verdicl
and prayed God to bless them. he wal
greatly affected and the tears rolled
down his cheeks. We never saw
happier family circle than the little
group at the Parish Hotel this morn,
ing.
CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Captain Goodman protested, after
the verdict, his innocence of any
wrong, and explained the charges con
tanned in the letter. He insisted that
he had simply done his duty in col
lecting fare whenever passes were nor
shown, and that he had never beer
disrespectful to any lady under his
care. 81 would" said he, "have de-
Tended any lady that travelled on IN,
train from insult at the risk of my own
life."
In speaking of the banker of
Lynchburg," to whom he had given