Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-11-08
PRISONER ON STAND.
TESTIMONY IN THE WILLIAMS
vnpER TRIAL CLOSED.
offers 10 submit the Case
nonwcaIth Objects-Argument
vm BcsIn To-n"y-r"biic SYM
IN, with tho Accused.

csTJ'nA, VA. NVNe"i"ci = PNN''
.,,..s wider lcolorcD was the FIRST
- who took the chair to-day In
v.riiams murder trial. He began his
...,ony Yesterday afternoon. and was
49, Illumination when court adj
.,,l last night Nothing new was
,,.sb, out from him to-day
r..lrla Cottrell a colored woman. fol
- wilder. and testified that she
ND for Mrs. Williams on the Monday
,.. ,gilliams's death. Among the arti.
~. we're pair OF pants. a shirt and
which contained blood-stains. Was
y, che inquest. and heard the prisoner
=, nr Tankard when he told her their
-. Thank the Lord. Thank you,
,.,..,r. 1 shall never forget you. for
- rof know a bit more about It than
fl" Never saw Wethermeyer at
ier house twice.
tner the testimony Of Thomas Lewis,
-..t WAS unimpOrtant. the attorneys for
l-rroouWeaith announced that they
',.fl rest their case for the present.
r.c erfence announced that they had
..,-ronel Mr.. Hudgins. who was light
f... keeper al the time Williams WAS
-...f4nt. but that he was not present
tr.- "a consultation between counsel II
a.. AGREED that statement as TO what
,. li.geins would testify should be read
..,ta igry va order not 10 delay the case
a.r ~ A. Jones then read the follow
dol. statement. lie was on the light.
l.,.. vlth r. +. Williams just before
-.r ~ the time OF its abandonment
,,rr4ms's manner was 50 peculiar and
,....r ss 20 attract his attention and
a.. evrite hls suspicions as 20 his sanity.
v.ttn they lcft the lighthouse Williams
made no EFFORT 10 assist IN the manage
mont of the boat. but. on the contrary
.,t FIN Che stern and was by himself
r.icIr. wrapped him up to protect him
t,o,, fhe intense cold on reaching VII
uam.'. house Willams's conduct was
,er,. queer. and he at once commenced 10
COMPLAIN Of hl. supper and other things.
When he went Williams accompanied
him "a UuIf distance. cried, and told him
Do never expected TO zee him again.
counsel for defence introduced a human
.tuu and an almanac Of 1895 as evil
dencc
A. J. Hatton was placed on he stand
an behalf Of the defence. and proved
90 be "a valuable witness. His testimony
was that on a Sunday about a year
before Wnliams's death ne had a CONVEX.
ssfon with him. and the deceased spoke
NJ iis bad health. and said, among other
things that he would rather be out OF
ihe world than in IT, and during the CON
ylrsation said he thought that "A man
who was always In misery had a right TO
on anything that would relieve that
misery. Saw him again on the day OF the
shooting on his way 10 DR.. Tankard's to
e. some medicine.
MRS WILLIAMS.
when the defence had Mrs. Williams.
the prisoner. sworn. every eye was turned
towards the witness-chair. Quiet reign
~ supreme in the courtroom. while in a
,csr and distinct manner the prisoner
gave her statement. She said that on
Wednesday evening, February Goth, last.
Mr. Williams was feeling badly. She
o1ered to attend TO the shutting up Of the
fowls for him While he was going out
she heard her husband tell her little son
Frank who was getting his lesson, 10 so
along with her she was shutting w the
fowls when she heard .he report Of a
ristol Turning to her little son. Frank,
che said What Is THAR Frank said
boz thought 20 was some one going along
the road shooting She heard "a second re-
port. and ran 90 the house. Saw her h's-
band lying ON the sofa; was too badly
scared 90 examine him. but ran into
house near by. then ran to the Methodist
church where she gave the alarm.
Witness proceeded 10 tell what hap
penel afterwards. she was uninterrupted
while tceufyng. except that now and
then clio broke down and went She de-
r'ed carving note 10 Albert Wilder's
house Cunday before the fatal day.
Denied that she had ever been TO the
house of William Williams. and also de
MED ever Offering James Burton money
II ho would XIII her husband
Tho prisoner made a very favorable i'm
preston upon those who heard her testi
mony and the prevailing opinion Is that
she made "a true statement.
George Lawson corrobOrated a portion
% The statement OF Mrs. Williams, and
then tho Hon w 4. Jones. for the de-
fence. stated that he did not care to ex-
anime any more witnesses.
The Commonwealth then called Edward
Parker Ool0red) In rebuttaL lie stated
that Boo saw Mrs Williams at the house
n Alfred Wilder on the Sunday before
W'lHamss death.
This closed the testimony In the famous
VILLAINS murder trial. The counsel for
tle defence then offered to submit the
'as' to the jury without instruction and
Without argument But this the attor-
0f' f1r The commonwealth refused 10 do.
Argument will begin tomorrow. and II
vc-i.ct n guilty Is rendered IL will be
great surprise.