The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-09
HARRIS MURDER TRIAL
Attracting Large Crowds to The Court as the
Beginning Of the End Approaches.
HARRIS SHOWS EFFECT OF HIS ORDEAL
Els Wife and Mother Constant At.
tendants AT the TrinI-The Session
Mostly Taken Up by Squabbles
"nd Contentious OF Opposing Coun.
sel-FayornbIe Testimony.


sel-FayornbIe Testimony.
~, Petersburg. Va. Feb. s.-(special)-
Inc Harris murder trial, which has oc-
cupied the attention OF the CORPORATION
Court oil this city, Judge J. NJ. Mullen
presiding, since last Tuesday morning
ana which has attracted to the court
room each day Il crowd which has filed
the room To It's utmost limit. is nearing
an end. The prisoner was brought into
court this morning by Sheriff Watson,
ana ne there found his mother and wife
III theif accustomed seats. He first kiss
ed MS mother and then his wife. When
Harris kissed his mother she was very
| NislDly affected and placed her handk er-
chief to her eyes. Harris is beginning
10 SHOW that the trying ordeal through
which he is passing is telling on him
After the court had been opened and
the record of yesterdays session read
by Clerk Gillinm, Mr.. VIM II. Jones
the attorney for the Commonwealth.
was called to the stand to testify as to a
AHatemcnt made before the jury by
Thomas Gillick. Mr.. Jones said that
while he was willing to do anything that
the Court wished him. he would not
testify unless compelled to do so by the
Court. The Court thought that he
should testify. and he went on the
..''''lS' ~ hl'S"tI W IA question DIV M L.
Ncllwaine, Mr. Jones stated that he was
commemorative Attorney of Peters
burg. MIR. Mcllwaine then stated to tho
witness that Thomas Gillick had sworn
before the jury that he heard r. III. Har
ris say, I am going to kill some -
tonight"
Did not Gillick come to you and, say
/ that he had not heard Harris make any
such Statcment?"
Mr.. Jones: Yes SIR
MI. Jones then added that he would
like to state that this statement was
nrst brought to his attention by seeing
| 1t in the paper. "Gillick told me tbat
Harris had made no such statement and
| that he tGillick) was drunk when he
made the statement"
Mr.. Jones said that he went down TO
sec Mr. Clements, in whose paper the
statement of Gillick's appeared, and ask
ed him If Gillici was drunk when he
made the statement to him, and MIR.
Clements said he was not and that he
was in the possession Of all his facul-
ties.
After the examination of Mr.. Jones
Mr. Hamilton asked that John w.
FRIEND be called as their witness MIR
Friend was called, but did not answer.
MI. Hamilton then said. 1--WE will take
Captain Thomas r. Dunn. City Engi-
ncer."
Sheriff Watson: Captain Dunn will
De mere In n few moments"
In short time Captain Dunn came
INTO the COURTROOM and took the wit
ness stand and In reply to a Quest ion
by Mr., Hamilton said he was CITY En-
gincer
Mr.. Hamilton: Captain Dunn. have
you not, at my request. made n map or
drawing, showing the location of the
eiectric lights on the south side of Boil
ltngbrook street ?"
Witness. ''Tps ci /XV;t,a,,
exhibited to the jury the drawing which
MI. Hamilton said they would put In
evidence.)
The witness was taken I'm hand by MIR.
Jones and Judge Hinton. and examined
as to the location OF the lights. In re-
ply to question by Judge Hinton the
witness said the electric light poles
range from thirty to forty feet
After the examination of this witness
Mr.. Hamilton said the defense wouId
rest Its case.
TESTIMONY IN REBUTrAL.
The first witness called by the Com
monwealth in rcbut,al was Police Officer
Reuben +. Ragland. but he failed TO
answer. Judge Mullen here said. Cen
tiemen we are getting along very
slowly this morning. Have a phone
message sent for Mr.. Rasland." Inst
at this junction Officer Ragland came
mo the courtroom and took the viii
ness stand. In answer to questions by
Mr.. Jones witness said he knew Mr.
Robert Davis, and saw him on the 24lh
OF October betweer and $50 o'clock
ana Davis made q statement to him
about the charge against the prisoner,
The witness answered the various aues-
tions asked him by Mr.. Jones to i'm
peach the testimoy of Davis Mr. Jones
asked the witness If Davis did not re-
mark TO him. This is d-n black
case. This question was objected TO
by counsel for the defense. inasrnuch as
II was mere matter of opinion. Judge
Mullen sustained the objection, AID said
the Court would prefer to err on the
side of mercy
Judge Hinton-"It is mercy"
MIR. McIllwaine to Judge Hinton
Suppose you say that to the jury
again
Just before taking his seat Mr.. Nc
lllwaine said: u am getting tired OF
Judge Hintons action In this case"
Judge Mullen-"This personal dis
cussion must be stopped, and the Court
Will not permit it,
Judge Ginton-"If the gentlemen on
the other side will just Let me alone
will let them alone"
Mr.. Hamilton to Judge HInton--"If
you keep on we will not let you alone"
Judge Mullen-"This discussion must
be stopped"
There being some difference Of opin-
ion between counsel for the prosccu.
tt,FN md tlnaf 1nfa,