The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-11
THE POLLARD MURDER TRIAL
Richmond Lawyers State Their POSI-
ton and ASK for Changs Of Venue.
THEY YAET ABSOLUTE JUSTICE DONE.
Opsnion of Witnesses : hat IL WIN he h"rd
70 secure "a Jury Statement That
There H. More Feeling Against
military Than Prisoners IN
tppiaudcd.

began TO gather IN dh'iNif"'i"" "
ing argument IN The celebrated Pollard
murder trials
They came IN bucsios. ia wagons. horse
back. muie-back and on foot. Nmte
and colorod. they came. unul al inc
hour for opening court the crowd mum
bered not lar from TWO thousand sous
IL was "a goOd-natured crowd, too, pui
all except q few negroes positive thdl me
accused ,groes should meet the doom
pronounce against them at the hIHt
trial. II sufged back and ior'h tlil inc
hour arrived for court 90 open.
The scene az the former trial was d'-
ciaedly difercnt from that Of this morn
ing. Instead Of "a military guard. '1eic
appeared for their protection TWO men,
peers of any of the bar Of the StAt.
Hon. George II. Wise and Judge H. W.
FlournOy .>.....
Tn state too. had able men 10 aid COM
monweaiths Attorney Ncbieti. 1hey
were MIR. r.. G.. Southan. OF Amelia. ana
.Iudgs "a. u. Mann. Of Notioway 1heie
was no doubt that every point Mouic re
well fought over by these iegih Elaaia-
tors. At 1920 court adjourned Tor an
ner.
PRISONERS BROUGHT IN.
Immediately after the recess hour. Judge
Mann, ia The absence OF Mr.. Nebleti' VINO
Is III. suggested that the counsel Tor the
defence wished TO introduce mouVn
which would necessitate he presence OF
the prisoners. and Judge organ issued
orders that they be brought IN
Tho prisoners. under ncaVy guard
soon made their appearance. Aside from
a natural degree OF curiosity. thtif pres
ence excited no remark.
Judge Flournoy then addressed Inc
Court briefly and commanded close at
tenfion. lie said that MIR. Wise ana nm
self had never represented Maraple' lhat
they were employed to obtain new ul~lS
for the women only lie stated "liS u'
caused many people. hoth IN L"henpu'e
and other places. thought they fepItS'''
ed n self-confessed murderer. NothIs'
said he. could induce him - plead Tor
such a man. lie wanted 10 correct an
other false impression, that the co"hsoi
for the women are undertaking 10 'h-
yolve others in tho case. 1hey receive
not one silver from the women. n'F
are employed TO see that absolute JUS
is done n at any time. they sh""lo %.
convinced of the guilt OF th'i chti'S' '",'
would withdraw from the case. So much'
he said because a. citizens, they hau
right 10 b. understood. ,...,.,.
MR.. SOTTHALL BRINGS THE lSS' IT,
With this point MI. Southal rose 10
ask what was before the court anu ''
cav that the people understood me posi-
ton OF the gentlemen Of the defence.
Judge Flournoy thus pressed sei' I'
would ask for change of venue. iN'
sneaker then repeated ttut his colleague
and himself had been misunderstood "'"
insisted upon being heard
lie reiterated his statement that ne was
there only 10 see Justice 0onc. Tie saln
he had heard that Richmond lawyers m""
no business I'm Lunenburg county hu,
that since the crime was commute"
against the Commonwealth II was PiVpti
for any lawyer TO appear. i"IVl''' "'''
he had no reason 90 believe the rumoiS
AGAINST the l,urtrbufg people nor had ne
rcason ia entertain any different feeling
toward them than toward any o'n''
mart az the state. only that IN TINS case
The people had preiudeed.
They asked no more than the law OF
tho land allowed They asked a chahse
of venue. he said because the ialI anu
impartial trial given in All cases 'ou't
not be had in a county whose people H""
prejudged this one. 49,
lie disclaimcd any ill-intcnt toward the
GOOD neople Of the county. but that now
thev would virtually have TO prove the
prisoners innocent before they would Sc
sure an acquttai.
WITNESSES BROUGHT IN.
After Judge FlOurnov had conciuden
,,s snoech witnesses were introduced for
the defence for the purpose of proving
fair trial impossible under the cicuh-
stances. Sheriff Cardoza was hrst call'u
and questioned by Mr. Wise. as 10 Why
he called for troops last summer tie
said he asked for enough men TO overawe
any mob.
The questioning was close and search-
ing. and brought out the fact mat MT.
Cardoza had. at the time he called TOT
troops. reason to believe the prisoners
would be lynched unless troops were
sent.
MIR southall then took the witness ,nd
asked whether the prisoners could get
fair trials at this time Mr.. Cardoza re-
nlied that he thought they could get a
perfectly fair trial. and that he dldn
believe the good people of lUncnhurS
wanted 10 see anybody punished unless
proven guilty. Certainly troops are not
needed now.
After questions 10y Judge Mann. Mr..
Wise asked witness if he knew one repu-
table citizen who had not made up his
mind. lie replied that he knew one-Nr.
7 u. Bell He said nine out OF ten had
made up their minds. and had eNpress,~-t
the opinion that the prisoners were guilty.
He could name no one who ever express
ed the opinion that they were innocent
PIT YOURSELF IN THEIR PLACE.
Mr.. Jos. Price was next put on the
stand and questioned along the same
line. lie said most people thought the
prisoners guilty. and that II would be
difficult TO secure a good jury. all the
whites and many colored thought the
prisoners guilty.
When asked by Judge FlOurnoy what
sort OF Jury he thought could be secured
In adjoining counties. Mr.. Southall OBJ
tected and "A discussion took place he
tween him and the attorneys for the de
fence Witness said he would not like 10
be tried before a jury II the people made
demonstrations before them. otherwise
he Thought a fair trial could be had
Finally. witness said N the sentiment
was against him as u is against the ac-
cused. he would not like 10 bo tried here.
Following Mr.. Price several gentlemen
testified along the same liue-that the
sentiment of the county was generally
against the women. some however. said
they thought a jury could be impannelled
without leaving the county. Nothing OF
interest was brought out for some time.
Mr.. /. y. Bell said a jury could he got
ten. but IL would be a very difficult mat
ter.
A SKlLLFUL WITNESS
Later G. w. Mclaughlin was called TO
the stand. and proved himself skiiifui IN
evading direct answers.
lie was of the opinion that a jury could
be found ia the county who would give
fair trial. lie himself had formed
10 o,iuton Mr. Wise put this witness