Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-31


we have no positive proof that YOU are
guilty OF the charge against YOU. but
IL Is credited to YOU by a committee. rep
reseniing n strong Organization. among
which are numbered a gregt many OF
our customers. and We must. OF course.
pursue the course witch will help us
retain their good viii and patronage. and
this course Is tho only one open for us.
Yours truly.
(SigneD MILLER & RHOADS.''
Mr.. Carter objected 10 the admission OF
this letter brt his objection was over
ru'od
\ short recess was taken at this juno
ture and Miss Gibson. when court re-
convened again. took the stand and was
put through cross examination by Mr..
Carter.
In response TO questions propounded by
counsel Miss Gibson testified that she
did not hear Mrs Hatcher say anything.
She was paid s. per week by Miller q
Rhoads.
Miss Sallc Fiournoy was the next wit
ness examined. She was last March and
Is now employed by Miller a. RhOads.
She was ia the store both on Monday
and Wednesday when Mrs. Todd and the
other ladies called. She was present
when Mr.. Miller summoned Miss Gibson
TO The Office on Wednesday and told Miss
Gibson that she reckoncd that was more
about that Hatcher matter. The defence
h8d no questions to ask her.
WHAT MRS. TODD SAID.
Mr. ". : Rhoads vas examined next.
ana ;.slihfd that he MAS present during
the greater part of he interview between
Miss Gibson and the other ladies. He
heard Mrs Todd ask if Miller Il Rhoads
kept any one in their employ who talked
about customers. or If they would DO so.
He vas uncertain which she said. He
identified the letter already submitted
as having been written by himself and
asserted that he had subsequently given
Miss Gibson a high recommendation.
Nj Rhoads was cross examined hy Mr.
Pollard and said that the word com
mittcc" used I'm the letter was use1 unad-
yissdly. aud he merely supposed that the
ladies' were committee from the Grace
Street church. an it was on ihat supposi-
ton that he discharged Miss Gibson. Mr..
r j. Todd ana Mr Gates asked him
about two months afTer Miss Gibson's :
discharge TO take her hack In their en-
ploy. but this WAS not done.
The plaintiff closed her case tempo
rarily upon the conclusion of Mr..
Rhod SIS testimony. and a few moments
Was given the defendants counsel for
consultation
THE DEFENDANTS CASE.
Mrs. T.. H. Van Burcn was the iirs'
witness called for the defendant. She
testified 10 being IN the party at Miller
& Rh0ads's. and said that she was asked
to 20 by Mrs Hatcher through Mrs. Todd.
She first heard MIR. Miller ask Miss Glib
sor II she had said any thing derOgatDry
TO Mrs thatcher. aud receiving negative
reply. he turned aud asked Mrs. Hatcher
IL she didn't say there was some pers III
present 10 whom she had made the state
mrnt about Mrs Hatcher. Mrs. GOddin
then stated that she was the person to
whom the statement was made by Miss
Gibson and she detailed exactly what
Mss Gihson is alleged 10 have said
The first thing she heard Mrs. Todd
say was Niles Gibson. did Cohen tell You
ANYTHING about this when YOU were in
his store?" NO" Miss Gibson replied.
wen" asked Mrs. Goddin did you hear
ANYTHING about Mrs Hatcher in Cohen
store Yes" was the reply. Mrs. God
din tnen asked Miss Gibson 10 tell her
wlat ~ was. but Miss Gibson refused.
saving tha, she didn't indulge in gossip.
Mis-. Todd thcn turned 10 Mir Miller and
said: You wouldn't keep anybody in
your store who talked about your Gus
TONERS. would YOU
I'm th,. Cross-eNaIninatiOn. counsel for
the plaintin endssvored to show that a
meeting Of ladies was held In reference
To The Hatcher matter prior 10 the visit
10 Miller X RhOadss store. and that wit
ness was warned against going IN Miller
& Rhoads's store. Mrs. Van Buren de-
MED that either was the case.
MRS. TODD'S ENACT WORDS.
Mrs. Van Buren, was closely cross
questioned by Mr. Meredith. ana asked 70
give The exact words used in the inter
view with Miss Gibson. Tho witness
could only recall the exact words or MIS-.
Todd TO MIR. AHiicr. which she said were:
Mr.. Miller. there has evidently been
some talk I'm your store about this mat
ter. and / do not think you would Ike
- have this gossip.
She was further examined by Mr. Mere
lith and then Mr.. Pollard propounded
several questions to her He asked her
II il was not true that Mrs. Todd when
abe told Mr.. Miller tina; she didn't think
~ would like to have this gossip. hai
reference t. Miss Flournoy's remark 10
Miss Gibson. She answered in the al
nrmative.
MRS. HATCHER CALLED.
Mrs W. +. Hatcher was now called to
thu. stand. and gave her testimony IN
clear. distinct, and suCcinct manner. she
stated that a. soon as she hearu thtie
was q rumor rife affecting her reputation
she began an Investigation. ana ascri-
tanned that Mrs Goddin had heard the
Iumor. She got Mrs. Todd to 30 with
her. and called on Mrs. Goddin. Ihat
lady expressed great regret that she had
ever r-peated the VumOr. She said thlt
4 lady at the lace counter in Miller q
Rhoads's told her that when she was
living II COhens Mr. Cohen toId her
that Dr. Hatcher had told him that MS
y.if,. was a keptomaniac, and when sne
took ANYTHING 10 just charge If u MN
Mrs. Goddin didn't KNOW The name oi the
Young lady who tod her TINS
Mrs Hatcher said that she, MIS-. an
Buren. Mrs. Todd. ana Mrs. Goddin went
~ The church for conference. Ihey
decided that Mrs. Hatcher Should 20 ia
I'M. store OF Miller 4 RhOads and make
,rrarpsusurs. and the others should walt
outside. -,
This they did. and Mrs. Hatcher had
Miss Gibson summoned and repeated MRS
Cndaln's statement TO Mr. Rhoads. MISS
cihson Mrs. Hatcher testified. said III
nervous fashion. Il didn't say anything
ah,ut YOU. Mrs. Hatcher
Mrs Hatcher said she told Nj. khoads
a. she left the store that she hoped ne
wouldn't discharge Miss Gibson. MI
Rhoads replied: An. bdt we must N.Y.
our store clear. -. ,-o,,,
MIR pollard attempted TO draw from
,frs Hatcher a statement OF what Mrs.
TODD said 20 Mr. Miller and III he-
tween himself and MIR Meredith en'ued'
COULDN'T REMEMBER.
The examination was hnaiiy resuiltu'
a,1 Mrs Hatcher asserted that she
couldn't remember what Mrs; Todd sal
She was put through rigid crosS-eX, eS,
animation by Mr.. Meredith, anu sa,u
that several times she and her ltlehus
and their husbands gathered an the study
81 Grace-street church and discussed 'he
1,tirsfinn al issue.