Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-16
Goodman's Case Nov Under Considera.
ton by Twelve Of His Peers.
ATTY wooDys CLOSING SPEECH.
Powerful Arraignment of the Pri-
soucr and nm Earnest Appeal for
Other Preiudice-AdJourne

came in about twenty minutes late f"t
took seats to the right OF the pf'soHe.'
Mr.. Parrish resumed at o'clock A. a.
He began bg SAYING that one Of the Pc
cul!ar features Of this Tragedy Is ''"'
the man who Killed was retreauhS l'O"
the man he killed. Unless Goodman De-
lieyed that his own life was In danger
,here is no explanation Of why he should
have hacked back when he had piston
In his own hand.
Tbere was no special reason why the
defence should have contended that nv
pistol was held IN the left hanu' eNceP.
that 1; was true. IL made no rnaterldi
difference In which hand the pistol was
BRYANTS EVIDENCE
In sroakioe Of Bryant's evidence, Mr..
Parrish said that there was one thing
that should not go uncontTadicted ana
HAT was that Bryant was friend OF
Goodman. lie was no friend to Good
man and he had no right TO come here
and breathe out his drunken venom
ngainst the prisoner. still posing as MS
friend.
argument against the theory Of the prose-
uutiOn that Parsons walked up one step
al the door and walked twelve feet after
having been shot through the brain
The speaker scored a strong point when
he showed Mr.. LetcheTs attempt 10 write
Judge Whites name, holding the pencii
Ike Parsons held IL when he wrote. anu
declaring that nobody could possibly hhu"
whose name II was unless told. lie
showed Mr. I4etcher's attempt along with
the Parsons letter 10 the jury Gazing az
tent on TO the contrast.
In closing Mr.. Parrish thanked In clo-
uucnt terms the jury for their patience
and kind consideration, and his Honor
for his many courtesies. and concludei an
impassloned outburst with the words
"My last words. gentlemen, Is "a prayer
10 God that lie Will defend the right
At the close there was great applause
which was checked at once by his Honor
CAPTAIN WOODS BEGINS.
CAPTAIN Micajah Woods began the last
speech for the prosecution at 10 o'clock
lie said that not only were The people
of this county looking with interest TO
the verdict Of this jury. but the coun-
Try at large. as well. lie deprecated the
drawing Of distinction between me proud
and humble-the rich and poOr-and paid
beautiful tribute TO the Albemaflc lurles'
who have always held the scales Ike
bind Justice. allowing no condition Of
life to swerVc them from doing their dutY'
The Commonwealth is not blood
thirsty Il gives the prisoner the beneht
Of the doubt. and prefers 70 see ninety
nine men escape than have one innocent
man punished.
The speaker paid a handsome compli-
mont 10 Mr. Parrish. and said that he In
tended TO argue the case fairly and hon
estiy. and upon the same high plane as
the gentleman who preceded him NO
prisoner. in the speakers opinion, mas
over had ADLER or more powerful counsel
than this one.
Captain Woodss opening remarks were
eloquent and full Of beautiful rhetoric
His tribute To Honest John Letcher
was one Of the most ornate Of captain
Woods's many choice flowers Of speech.
THE PARSONS LETTER.
In discussing the letter captain Woods
said the humblest man In Virginia had a
perfect right 20 report any railroad Oun-
Cial for neglect of duty. lie drew nice
distinction between tn" bringing OF ''foul
charges" and the foul charges" them
selves. and illustrated that Il was the
duty of Parsons To report the charges
AGAINST Goodman. lie made very IN
rcuious and persuasive argument TO prove
that Colonel Parsons should have written
the letter. The speaker answered 'he
question. "What would you have done
under the circumstances with splendid
effect. lie would demand that the sun
lirht be turned upon the charges. the
bells rung out and the public invited to
witness his Vindication.
The large audience was charmed by
Captain Woods's graceful dction ana
easy now Of chastc beautiful language.
The Captain was in splendid form. and
made. in the opinion OF many who heard
IT, the speech OF his life.
NEGRO WITNESSES DEFENDED.
lie made a. strong defence Of the negro
MI
laughed out Of court. and was earnest In
declaring that their evidence Must be
accepted az true. He argued that when
Goodman told Moody that he was going
out after" Parsons Il must have been
i'm a tone OF anger. otherwise Moody
would never have asked, What Is the
trouble. Captain?'
captain Woods said, among other
things. in paying his respects 10 the coun-
sci on the other side. that they had
wandered from the case so far as Nep-
tune had wandered from the sun"
In reconciling the differences between
the evidence given by Martin and the
negro walters the speaker used the diff
ferent accounts OF the Gospel as given
hy Mathew. Mark. and Luke to Illustrate
that such differences only proved the
,ruthfulness OF the facts Of the various
versions.
EXHAUSTIVE REVIEW CT EVI-
DENCE
The able commemorative Attorney
made an exhaustive review OF the evil
dencc. At little past 1 o'clock court
adjourned until 2:5O o'clock, when Captain
Woods resumed his argument.
lie again referred To and dwclt win
effective emphasis upon the cry OF Col
onel Parsons for Mr.. White. and argued
20 show that the cry was made before
the Shooting began.
Captain Woods contcnded that unless
Goodman had Killed Parsons in malice
he would have expressed SORROW after the
killing. In calling attention 10 Mr.. Good
mans CoolncsS. Captain Woods said that
iu an Of his experience he had never seen
such GOODNESS and self-possession on the
witne ss-staud as had been exhibited by
Captain Goodman.
STRONG APPEAL
In concluding Captain Woods drew a
pathetic picture Of the sufierings caused
by the killing OF Colonel Parsons. and
pleaded for justice from the jury. His
closing appeal to the jury. not TO he
swayed by sentiment or sympathy. was
delivered with thrilling effect lie begged
for a verdict that would not place stain
upon Nirstuias fair cscutchcon, but that
would say TO the world that the lives OF
her citizens. no matter from whence they
came, were to be protected from the
hands OF numerous ana revengeful as
saEslns
Captain Woods spoke with great ear
nostncss. ana was given close attention
Iii speech. besides being eloquent and
delivered in a very impressive manner.
was logical and convincing. and did our
esteemed Commonwealth Attorney great
credit.
Upon the conclusion Of his speech. al
%'20 the court adjourned until tomorrow |
morning a. 10 O'Clock. al which time II
Is hoped that the verdict win be an |
nounccd.
Numor of AcqaitiaI.
Great interest has been manifested In |
this city In the Goodman trial Ii was !
rumored last night that Goodman had |
been acquitted. and the Dispatch phone |
was kept ringing almost necessarily by
people who wanted IA sabs,eniiation OF |
the report.
EDITOR NICHE DIES SUDDENLY. |