The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-16
ONE OF THE WOMEN ON TRIAL
Mary Absrnathy Arraisned for Completely
in The Murder Of Mrs. Pollard.
She MAKES A SWEEPING DENIAL.
Narable Test.hcs Against Her, Making
Conflicting Statements t--Pubiic SEN
timent Not Against the Pris-
oner-Doings ofthc Miii-
tary-Passing the Time
Pleasantly.


tary-Passng the Time
Pleasantly.
TJrNrNBURG G. H.. Via MEHERRlN'
Va. Julv I5-Special.-An ur usually iafse
crowd was .n Attendance this morning
af the onening OF ia ige Orsain 8 court
to hear the proceedings in the case OF the
Commonwealth against Mary Aoefnatny
AZ one OF the murdercrs OF Mrs. Pollard
Court opened az 10 o'clock. and the
grand Jury were sent 10 their room. solo
mon Marable was sworn ana sent before
that body. Mary Abernathy was brought
into court. Hon. VIM. II. Perry, eX-judse
Of the county. who Was engaged by the
accused. had The following ailidaFiia
/ swcrn 70 by Mary Abernatly.
! -TC The Honorable County Court OF Lu-
uruhur-;
.'YoHr petitioner respectfully represents
20 your Honor that she is inIicted lot
murder ia your Honor court. ana thdt
/ She does not believe she could get jury
I in the county of Luneubuis free from
/ prejudice. that she cannot nave an lih-
/ partial trial ia the county OF l-lnenDuit'
DalfIa tflal lu SAID county Of l.uncnpultf
| So great is the popular prejudice against
| her. that there nave been various threats
| OF lyucniug. and li slc were acquitted
! sine would bee aildi4 70 leave tNe court
on the above affidavit Mr. Perry of-
fcrc. "A motion askins ior jury from
! another county.
WANTED JtsIIcy.
| After some discussion by the attorney
| for the Con mouwealth AMI attorney ior
| the defendant. MIR. Bernard said tnut he
| acknowledged that the people ol Lunen-
| burg we're cnraged 10y fhe pcrprfcation
| OF such AN outrageous crime. but the
o.-.zers OF every county in Virginia are
| likewise in favor OF the execution OF
| ilsuCe we have the strOlg arm OF
the military and the lnicrces5iou 81 'he
Governor 10 see that not violence. but
] justice is done. our Honor C.nOt
summon jury from au)thfr county elul
this county is exhausted
Ills Honor allowed Judge Perry TO- pro-
| duce testimony TO sustain his motion
! but the evidence was not sufficiently
strong. and Judge Orsain 0ycrfuied the
motion. Judge Perry Then declined -
defend the accused.
Fully two hours were employed I'm om-
| pannoilius a jury for The trial Of Mary
| Aheruatny, which resulted ln the selec-
| ti0u of the following u. III. Thompson,
! +. a. Jones. ". l.. Moses. y. y. Moore,
George Smith. Robert Jackson lc0loreU.
| Junius Blackwell fcOlOrel), Henry Black
well (colorod. w W. Hili Mumford
! Morgan (cOoreO. j. a. Evans. out OF
| abundant precduti0n, the Common
| wcaiths Attorney moved the Court 20
summon two venires. the two venires
| previously summoned having heard -nuch
| of thc testimony which viii Doe introduced
| against Mary Barnes and Pokcy Barnes,
! now indicted and awaiting trial The
| Court then ordered two yenircs. as sug-
| gestel. 10 he summoned for the trial
| Of Mary and P0key Barnes, Tuesday.
the 18th.
oiAHAHLE TELLS A DurrrENr TALE.
It was 2.so o'clock before the prisoner
Nlary Alternately was arraigned for
ilr. =. $. Pollard. the first witness.
| made the statement previously given I'm
his testimony against MaraDle.
| Marahlc previously cOnVcteD was then
| put upon tho stand. and made "A state
| ment entirely different from that pre-
! vi0usly made which in substance is as
| follows.
MARY Barnes told me on Friday. be-
| fore the murder that she had two Vo-
men besides ho orself. and she wanted me
To- help them. My part was 10 keep Mrs.
| Pollard quiet and Mary Aberuithy ana
pOkcy Barnes was 10 rob thc house.
Mary Barnes part was 10 get the KEY
for TO git the money. and bring ~ To
| Mary Abernathy. She was also 10 get
| Mrs Pollard out of the house. and j
was 70 catch hold Of her and keen her
| quiet. I did not intend killing her When
| Mrs. Pollard came out ! caught her ny
her hands and throat. and held her just
| so she could not make "a noise. As soon
as had hold Of her. Mary Ahernathy
| and pOkly Barnes run iu the mouse.
When they came OUT ] let Mrs. Pollard
g0 and she made an effort 10 get up.
| Then PD<av Barnes hit her three times
| with a stick then she sOrter snlNef'u
| like and scrambled out. Then Mary Ah,I-
| nathy. who had am axe ln her naHt, hll
AIRS. Pollard "a good many times h'n
| Mrs Pollard died AfterWari We Went
| q, divide the money The bargain was
20 Oct Mary Ahernathy keep the money
| and give ont % each SO as 10 Keep d.-
count As soon AS Mary Barnes gave
the key 10 Mary Abernathy she was
10 70 10 the field and keep Mr. foilafu
from thinking anything wrong
ACKNOWLEDGED LYING.
| Nfarabio made several conflicting state
mcnts. and acknowledged lying Wnen
confronted with these facts. Inc pro4ecu-
| ton impre ssei lorclul} upon the Nith'NH
mind the importance OF making a correct
| efafapent fnasmlc, as he was already
| convicted. and the iiie 0t the prisoner de-
peudol upon his truthfulness. He persist
ed that his last statement was cotite~
The prisoner Aiary Abernathy then
asked the witness the following questions.
d. When was it when you saw me last !
| 4. That Friday.
| o. Di ] give you any money!
| 4. Yes. that day al the spring.
| .. Did I ever 80 to your house and md
you thcrey
4. once. on Thursday:
| H. &. Gregory testified that he went 10
| Mrs. POllard's about Z O'Clock, and found
| Vrs Pollard living on her back, with
| several long gashes Oh her face. From the
| evidence given by Mr. Gregory, Dr. Neb-
| lett stated the eashcs or Acr lace were
made after death.
! The next witness cQlOret girl, af-
forded quite an amount OF amusemept Tor
me eourt and spectators, and ia answer
10 the question OF how many hcurs there
| we're in a day, she replied she WASH
sure. but there used 70 be twenty-fOur;
| and in answer To how long IL would take
10 get supper, 1T depended on now much
they had TO cook.
| prisoner. testified that he heard the bell,
| and sent his wife over 10 answer the
| hen, which rang about half-past ], and
| said Mr.. Pollard didn't want nun. w hen
working in the corn-neld at my house /
| heard a kind Of mOurnful noise, and an
| unusual disturbance. about . O'Clock ana
| went over in a hurry, came back, told
| my wife and she went over - cne house
| and aided in putting the dead body or
| Mrs Pollard I'm the house"
| Lula knight (cOloredD was again called
| to the stand and wished 10 know 'N no
wants me-" Her former testimony was
reiterated.
The PRISONERS TESTIMONY.
| Mary Abernathy was then apprised OF
| her right to testify in her behalf which
| she ala unfalteringiy and unhesitatingiy.
| She said she went 10 Mr. Pollard as re-
| Guested by her husband. 10 answer the
! hell. found Mary Barnes and Mr.. Pollard
| In the garden: talked about the garden,
| etc. and sat down In the front porch Tor
| while In company with Mrs Pollard.
| Nlr Pollard. and Mary Barnes. She saw