The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-31
CIBSON-TODD DAMAGE SUIT.
Continued From First Pnge)

Mr. Cohen III Miss Gibson had acnho"i-
edged making the remark accredited TO
her. Mrs. Todd had nothing TO do. she
said. with the presence OF Messrs. A,iiier
q Rhoads at the interview In the oLiee.
Todd said. Did not hear her make the
remark In reference TO Miss Gibson. Nr;
Rhoads. she said she must have done IL
She remembered nothing or the CONVERSE
ton between Mrs. Todd and Mr.. Rnoads.
Ire conference held az the chuich re,
ferred to was that Of close friends ana
not OF general nature.
The witness was closely cross-exaHlnei
by Mr.. Meredith, and was on the stand
for some time
A recess was taken at this stage OF the
proceedings for lner until i:l5 o'clock.
At the hour named court reconvened.
and Mrs. GOidin was put on the stand.
In answer to questions by Mr. Carte.
she testified that she was not member
OF Dr. Hatcher's church.
WHAT MIss GIBSON SAID.
one day In August 1894. said the Wit
ness. she went into Miller & Rnoads 10
make some purchases, ana MISS GIBSON
came forward to wait unon her, and the
following conversation ensuet, according
TO the witness:
Il hope tomorrow will be pretty
day. said Miss Gibson.
80 do l." replied Mrs GOdd!n, "as
want 10 so 10 church.
What church do you attend?" asked
Miss Gibson.
i want to 60 TO ifdct-StIttA BdltiTt
tomorrow" answered Mrs. GOddin. "Dr.
Eatcher's church.
"D!d you ever hear that Mrs. Hatcher
was q RleptOmaniacF' asked Miss Gibson.
when | was IN Cohens store Mr. Cohen
told his clerks If AIRS. Hatcher came In
and took anything. not TO take any notice
OF IT.. bat TO charge tx and send the Dill
to DR.. Hatcher. who had said he would
pay for whatever was taken.
This conversation took place between
herself and Miss Gibson. said the witness.
In August. ls4 and when Mrs. Hatcher
heard. some time later. that there was
such a report out about her. she came
10 see witness. who told her about II. and
wished something TO be done about IT,
on Saturday, March llth, last she went
10 Miller ~ RhOads' store alone, but did
not see Miss Gibson. Went again on
Monday. when Mr. Quares told her thai
Miss Gibson was AT dinner. on this occa-
sion she was accompanied by Mrs. Todd.
They waited until Miss Gibson came back.
and witness identified her as the young
lady who had told her about Mrs.
Hatcher Wednesday the witness and the
other three ladies' again went to Miller a
Rhoads'
Witness went on to describe the facts
given in this interview in practically the
same manner as the preceding witnesses,
saying that Mrs. Todd had said 10 Mr.
Miller Evidently there has been some
gossip going on in this store, OF which |
know you do not approve. To which
Mr.. Miller replied. Evidently there has,
and am sorry for IT,"
Witness positively denied that Mrs
Todd had made the remarks attributed TO
her that MILLER Il Rhoada ought not to
keep persons in their employ who talked
about customers" and "Oh, pshaw. Mr.
Rhoads. we might as we'll 60 II Mss
Gibson knows anything she won't tell it,"
Nothing, said the witness. could change
her belief that Miss Gibson was the lady
who had made the remarks 10 her about
Mrs. Hatcher
Mrs. Goddin was kept on the stand for
a long time. and was closely cross-eN-
amined.
MRS. IoDD's EXAMINATION
Mrs. Todd was then placed on the stand,
and stated that Mrs. Hatcher had been
her friend for twenty years; that she had
asked her 10 go with her 10 find out
about the rumors affecting her character,
that they went TO several places. and
finally went 10 see Mrs. Goddin. who re-
peated to them the conversation she had
with young lady. alleged 10 be Miss Glib
son. I'm Miller * RhOads I'm August. 1871.
Mrs. Todd went on 10 tell how. at the
request Of Mrs. Hatcher, she had visited
Miss tlOurnoy and obtained from her a
written denial that she ha1 said anything
about Mrs. Hatcher; how she had gone to
Miller y RhOads with Mrs. Goddin, when
the latter identified Miss Gibson. She
then described the visit Of the four ladies'
10 the store Of Miller x Rhoads on March
18th. and gave version of the Interview
I'm the Office similar 20 that given by the
other ladies', and also stated that after
the interview with Miss Gibson al the
store Mr.. Cohen had been sent for TO
the church, and asked about the matter
He had told them that he had never had
any Gibsons i'm his store except the young
ladies' who have been since with Miller x
Rhoads. The witness said she had never
had any conversation with Mr.. Rhoads,
and had not asked Miss Gibson 10 deny IN
writing that she had made remarks about
Mrs. Hatcher. Her idea i'm going 10 Miller
x RhOads' store she said. was In the
hope that Miss Gibson might acknowledge
that Mr.. Cohen had told her about Mrs.
Hatcher. i'm which event il was their in
tentiOn to call on him.
IIyrLy CEoss- xAMISATIoN.
The witness was crOss-examinod by
between herself and Mr.. Meredith were
quite exciting, the witness retOrting I'm a
spirited manner 70 the thrusts of counsel.
Mr.. Meredith questioned her in regard
10 obtaining the writing from Miss Glib
son, denying having spread report about
nOy, denying having spread report about
Mrs. Hatcher, and Mrs. Todd finally adj
mitted having told her. when the young
lady expressed an unwillngness 10 write
the denial. that If she would not some
one would have to speak to the firm.
Mr.. Meredith dwelt on this fact, which
he characterized as a threat" and con-
siderable time was consumed in discuss
ing IL. Under Mr. Merediths questioning,
Mrs. Todd described how she had traced
the rumor around She had been 20 see
Mrs. Rowe and also Mrs. Apperson. Mrs.
Apperson had said when they called upon
her that she was extremely sorry about
the matter, and would do anything In her
power 10 help Mrs. Hatcher
Mr.. APPERsoS DIsPLEAsED.
It developed at this point that on the
night Of the visit OF the ladies' 10 Mrs.
Apperson Mr.. Apperson had called at
the home of Mr. Todd. and said that he
objected TO having his wife harrassed
about the matter. and If II was not stop
ped those who did it would be sorry for
il. or words TO that effect.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Montague
Mrs Todd said that she had had an inter-
view with Mrs Norman Randolph on the
subject at meeting OF one Of the hos