Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-09
THE GOODMAN TRIAL.
JUDGE White Roles Captain pettuss
ETidenca Hot admissible.
MARTIN AND LEWIS cosrLlcr.
DID Goodman Say He coiisred Par
son.s-Reading OF che ramsss
Letter TO the Jury-rhe Con-
ducsor'. Dramatic story.

CHARLOTTESVILLE VA, March 81
Especially )--Court opened with surprise
for the defence IN the Goodman trial to-
day. On yesterday the lawyers wrangied
all the afternoon over the admission OF
the evidence Of Captain Pettus; and the
Judge took until this morning TO de-
eide whether a narration by the prisoner
short time after the stating OF the cir
cumstances OF the tragedy and the In
nuences leading up TO Il was res ges-
tae.
When court had convened, Judge White
inquired OF the defence what II was pro-
posed to prove by Captain Pettus.
Colonel Parrish replied that they ex-
pected to prove that Captain Pettus met
Captain Goodman about thirty minutes
after the tragedy; that Captain Goodman
told him that Colonel Parsons had writ
ten a letter against him: that he asked a
retraction; that Colonel Parsons had
thrown his hand back. az II 10 draw his
pistol; and that he (Goodman) shot Par
sons.
II seems evident that Captain Pettus
would have corroborated Captain Good
mans account OF the killing. and his
evidence was very important to the ac-
cused.
After hearing Mr. Parrish's statement
Judge White ruled that Il was not ad-
missible at this stage OF the proceedings.
A CONFLICT.
J. r.. Martin, the clerk at Gladys Inn
at the time OF the tragedy. was called
by the defence to say whether he had
A.. n. \. -
mans pistol snap. while Parsons was
falling. He declared that he had told
Lewis he did hear the Swapping.
Lewis was put on the stand. and swore
that on Wednesday Martin had said he
was not positive about the swapping OF
the pistol and that IL he said one way
the plaintiff would object. and IL he said
the other the defence would jump on
him.
II. 8. Cooper. train dispatcher OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Company at Clif-
ton Forge, related the overheard conver-
satlon between Colonel Bryant and Good
man. and Goodman did not. as Bryant
had sworn. say he had collared Colonel
Parsons and given him all he had.
THE PARSONS LETTER.
NJ l.. Akers. chief clerk TO General
Manager Stevens. Identified the Parsons
letter and the jury exhibited eonsidera-
BILE curiosity at Its contents, and when
Colonel Parrish read 1t profound silence
prevailed.
The accused was put on the stand
and told the story OF the tragedy. The
opening was prosy enough. but the In
terest grew In intensity. and the Cap
tain's manner became more impressive
and dramatic as he proceeded. IL was
especially so when he told how moru-
fed and shocked he was when he received
Colonel Parsonss letter. which re regard
cd as threatening his ruin and the de-
structlon and peace OF his family. His
eyes filled with tears, and he was Dy
no means the only affected person In the
great crowd This account OF the Tragedy
was almost verbally the same as be
gave last August
GOODMAN ROSS-EXAMINED.
The cross-examination by Colonel Craie
\ probably did not injure the prisoner
| cause, and certainly the expression oil
| SPECTATORS showed that IL won with them
| a stronger sympathy with the man on
| trial. II Colonel Craig sought TO be dra-
| matte he succeeded. He left his seat, and
| he and Captain Goodman rehearsed the
| shooting scene, the object of the attorney
| being To force the accused TO admit thai
| Parsons grasped GoOdman's wrist, iiistehc
| OF his hand The prisoner at each repe
| tition of the question answered quietly
that Colonel Parsons had grasped MS
| hand.
RESUMED HIS SEAT.
| AS soon as this answer was returned
| Colonel Craig would repeat the question
| and this circuit OF question and answer
was kept up so long that Goodman
| stating that he had been I'll for three
| days, said he hoped Colonel Craig would
| assign his reason for resumlng MS seat
TO that cause and to no unwllllngness
TO remain standing as long as Crais
| might desire. The prisoners manner was
quiet, and in every respect In strong con-
| trast with the more mercurial attorney
| THE attorneys for the. defence objected
| 10 the continued repetition OF the same
| question, but the Judge permitted II.