Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-01
TESTIMONY ALL in.
The Cibson-Yodd Suit Wit Probably Be
Concluded To-day.
SOME SPICY EVIDENCE GIVEN.
The Law and Equity Court Engage"
Yesterday In Hearing Fi"in''"s
witnesses Put on In Rr""''"'-"'
Armament 70 ne Gone Into Today


Court yesterday morning. and about 'he
same crowd which was In attendance OF
the preceding day was on hand.
The session was quite short, and only
a few witnesses were examined; but the
testimony was of a spicy character, ana
considerable feeling was displayed by
several of the witnesses.
Miss Gibson sat. as on the preceding
day. Immediately in rear OF her counsel
and Mrs. Todd occupied a like position
sitting behind her attorneys. Rev. Dr.
and Mrs. Hatcher. Mr.. and Mrs. Van
Buren,. and Mrs. Goddn occupied seats
near her
The case was closed. so FAR as the wit
nesses are concerned. the only testimony
taken being that for the plaintiff in re-
buttal. The attorneys spent some time
in the Judges office. arguing the instruc-
tions. which will be given TO the jury
this morning. The argument. which. IL
~ understood will be very exhaustive IN
it's nature. Will then be gone into. ana
the case VIII probably be submitted this
afternoon.
WITNESSES IN REBUTTAL.
When court opened yesterday morning
MIR Meredith stated that he had eX
amined authorities in regard to the ad-
instability OF the question asked Mrs.
Todd on the preceding day. If she had
not slandered the whole Gibson family
after the suit was brought. and there
was doubt on his mind as to the pro-
priety of admitting it, and the Court
ruled 1t out
The attorneys for the defendant rested
their case after this statement. and the
plaintiff began the examination of wit
nesses in rebuttal.
Miss Retta Gibson, sister OF the
plaintiff was the first witness put on
the stand. She was Intercepted by MI.
Meredith who began;
1T has been testified in this case that
Mrs. Goddin. Mrs Van Buren,. Mrs.
Todd. and Mrs. Hatcher came to Miller
a Rhoads and had an interview with
your sister. Dir you see them
Witness replied. No
counsel: Did they send for you?
Witness: No.
Counsel: 1t has been further testified
that Mrs Goidin and Mrs. Todd came
there on the Monday preceding and asked
for you. and the clerk told them you
We're sick Were yousthere then?
Witness: Yes.
Counsel; Are you positive?
PLAINTIFF AGAIN on THE STAND.
The plaintiff was then again called TO
the Witness chair. She asserted that
she had never said Mrs Hatcher was a
kleptomaniac. and denied that Mrs. God
din had said in her presence that she
,plaintiffD had said Cohen told her that
Mrs Hatcher was "A kleptomaniac. She
positively denied saying anything that
the defendants witnesses had attributed
TO her.
She left the stand after this and few
minutes recess was taken an order To
give counsel for plaintiff time TO talk with
some new witnesses. Their plans, how
ever. apparently miscarried. ana Mrs
Hatcher. at the request of Mr.. Mere
dith, was recalled 70 the stand. She
was asked " the rumor rejecting on her
character and purporiing To emanatg
from Miss Gibson. wasn't first brought
TO her by Mrs. Todd and If she didn't
treat il as an absurdty until Mrs. Todd
continued To tell her of 1t. She replied
mo | first got the rumor from my hus-
band. | don't believe that Mrs. Todd ever
brought me anything of her own Volt
ton"
After this Mrs Hatcher was permitted
10 retire. and Mrs. Rowe. one of the
plaintiffs Witnesses took the witness
chair She testified that she was niece
OF Mr.. Todd and said that on the LIST
OF March Mrs. Todd called on her ana
insisted on seeing her in her parlor. She
asked her If she had heard OF any scandal.
and. receiving a negative reply. sald:
ION. yes. you have that about Mrs.
Hatcher" Witness recalled the scandal
then and said Mrs. Todd Immediately
began heaping abuse on witness sister,
who. she claimed. was the author OF
the unfortunate rumor.
Miss Gibson was asked If Mrs. Todd
was not advised to let the Hatcher mat
ter drop. and replied that she was. but
that she said she (Alrs. Todd was going
to sift the matter TO the bottom. as
she thought wiser heads than hers (Mrs.
Rowes were at the bottom of il.
HIS MEMORY CLOUDED.
Mr.. W. $. Rhoads was recalled lie
could not recall the conversation alluded
TO by Mrs. Hatcher in which she asked
that the plaintif should not be discharged.
lie did not hear Miss Gibson say that
she had heard anything in Cohen's store
about Mrs. Hatcher. His impression was
that Mrs. Todd did most OF the talking
when Miss Gibson was in the office.
Under cross examination by Mr.. Carter,
MIR. Rhoads testified that his mind was
very clouded as TO all that transpred
In his store on the occasion OF the visit
OF the four ladies'. and he could recall
but little Of the conversation.
Mr.. y. T.. Quarles was the next wit
ness recalled lie testified that Mrs Todd
and Mrs. Goddn when they came TO the
store for the first time did not. as they
testified. ask for a lady whose name they
did not know. but asked directly for Miss
Gibson, saying no more or no less
AFRAID OF HER TEMPER.
Miss Sallie Flournoy was recalled and
asked as to "a conversation she had with
: Mrs. Todd. and whether or not she gave
Mrs. Todd a written paper certifying that
she had not said anything about Mrs.
Hatcher. She said positively that she
didn't give the statement voluntarily. as
Mrs. Todd claimed She was waiting on
customer when Mrs. Todd approached
ner. She first declined 10 sign the paper
Just then. but Mrs. Todd insisted and
threatened to take her before Messrs.
Miller q Rhoads II she did not. She then
attached her signature. The young lady
go, very much excited on the stand. and
asserted that she had been very badly
l. treated by Mrs. Todd. MIR. Carter de-
clined to cross-examine her saying that
he was afraid OF her temper
NOT PROUD OF 1T.
The next witness called was Mrs. A. 4.
Apperson. She was apparently very in
dignant when she took her seat. and her
first remark proved that in her case. at
least appearances are not decertful MIR.
Meredith asked her II she was a relative
of the defendants. She replied:
Il believe | am Mr.. Todd's niece-at
least. l was"
She was asked as TO IA conversation
she had with Mrs. Todd, but Mr. Garter
objected to II. and Mr. Meredith preferred
not to press the question, and told her
u stand aside