The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-01
Old Man Pollard Tells Again The CHASTITY
Story Of lhe Murder.
DIFFICULTY In SECURING 4 JURY.
A Story of a Difficulty Between the Prisoner
and the Murdered Woman In
which the Former Threatened
the Iatter's Life.
lStnff Corresnonaent.N

j. Pollard, on June 18th last in Lunen-
burg county. began at 10 o'clock this
morning in the presence OF a small but
deeply-interested audience.
The prisoner came into court neatly
dressed, and with "A manner as composed
and cheerful as though she were attend
ing a merrymaking and not on trial for
her life. Outside the rain was iaihns
steadily from u leaden sky, and an air OF
gloom surrounded and overhung the court
house.
All Of the lawyers on either side were
present and anxious TO proceed, ana IA
soon as the preliminaries of opening coui
had been disposed OF the WORK OF lnpah
cling a jury was begun.
A Venire Of substantial, honeSt-iooklnk
farmers had been summoned. ana, as
usual they were called forward four az
a time. and questioned first by the judge
and then 10y counsel.
only thirteen being secured qualified 10
serve, and the law requiring sixteen. free
from exceptions a Venire facias was Is
sued, and Sheriff Dickinson was force
To 10 out in the country TO secure the
additional jurors. Court then took re-
cess 10 enable him TO execute his com
mission.
THE JURY.
About 4:30 O'Clock the Sheriff returned
with a yeniFe OF twelve men, and the Jury
was completed as follows: X. 7. Carter,
6. +. BinfOrd T.. y. Binford, j. X. Al
len, j. l.. Gillian, George 4, Butcher
J. J. Overton, ii. l.. Womack, II. ".
Fuqua, j. NJ. WOmack. w. NJ. McNutt,
c. l.. Oyerton. and w NJ. Atkinson.
Although the hour was late when the
impaneiing Of the jury was completed.
the tfial Of the case was at once gone
into, Mr.. =. $. Pollard being the first
fFtra-r n
stand
Mr.. Pollard began at o'clock on the
day Of the murder and narrated tho
story Of the murder practically as told by
him during the trial of Mary Abenathy.
In simple language he described alr OF
his movements on the fatal evening from
z o'clock until the hour when he discoV-
cred his wife lying dead I'm pool OF her
own blood I'm the back yard.
He told Of his frantic cries for help ana
Wild ringing OF the bell. at the same time
shrieking at the pitch Of his voice. ana
then the discovery that all OF his money
had been stolen, as well as clothes ana
garments belonging to his wife.
He again narrated the oft-told tale of
the CHASTITY. bruised, crushed. and hackeq
body OF his aged helpmate: the pools OF
blood surrounding her. and the ground be-
meath her mutilated head drenched with
her gore. Around her a little distance
off were the sticky fragments Of broken
eggs.
THE JURY SENT OUT.
Mr.. Pollard said that Mary Barnes was
the first to reach the scene of the murder.
She was followed by clyde Fore, am
then came Pokey Barnes.
"Pokey took the liberty of coming there,
although she had been objected 10. and"
Captain Wise objected TO this, and
stopped Mr.. Pollard.
The prosecution started 10 ask Mr. Pol
lard another question along the same line.
from
at Captain Wisesl request.
The question was. had Mr.. Pollard ever
had any difficulty with Pokey Barnes
prior 10 the murder? To this he replied
that he had told his wife 70 tell her 10
keep off the place, as she had previously 70
that time threatened Mrs. Pollard's life.
Mr.. Pollard said. however, that he did
not know this OF his own knowledge, ana
the prosecution withdrew the question.
The jury was brought back and the eX-
animation resumed.
Mr. Pollard said ne did not know when
Pokey Barnes had been Oh his place pre-
yi0us 10 the murder.
Il did not see her. he said, but
heard Of her"
Pokey Barnes. he said. lived about 24o
yards from his house, and was the third
person 10 arrive on the night Of the muir
der, and sat out on the wood Win Mary
Alternately an night
where did you stay that night, Mr..
POllard2' asked Mr.. Southall.
Il lay all night by the side Of my wife
on couple Of sheepskins," replied the old
man In "a husky voice.
Captain Wise rigidly cross-examined Mr.
Pollard but he adhered strictly 10 his
former testimony using nearly the same
language.
Al 7:15 court took a recess until $3.50
o'clock, with Mr.. Pollard still on the
stand.
MR.. PoLLARD's MONEY.
Court recOnvened at $50 o'clock. and
Captain Wise continued Mr.. Poliard's
0ss-eXaminatiOn.
before the robbery he had loaned out 800:
who did you lend that money TOP
asked captain Wise.
81 don't know whether II Is right Tor
me 10 tell you that, said Mr.. Pollard.
1T has not got anything 10 do with this
case"
Ills Honor will determine that" re-
piled Captain Wise. and there are three
gentlemen on the other side TO stop me
III / 20 too far"
TO whom did you lend that money!"
Mr. Pollard hesltated a moment and
then replied: Il lent 1t to j. II. II.
"Who?" asked Captain Wise.
Herbert Thompson replied Mr.. Pol
lard.
Did he see the rest OF your money!"
He only saw that he got"
MIR Pollard explained that he always
loaned money ont In the porch.
II a man came TO borrow money, he
said he told him 10 come back next day,
when he would meet him In the porch with
the exact amount and transact all the
business there.
did you ever show your money to any
BODY. Mr.. Pollard?' asked Mr.. Southan.
Not to my recollection"
A THOUSAND IN ONE PILE.
did You ever ask Mr. White II he
would like to see Il thousand dollars In
one pile?'
NO. sir He told me that this morning,
ana / told him 1t wasn't SO. i don't think
/ would have been as big a fool as that"
IL was generally known that he had
money. MIR. Pollard said he was accused
OF handling a great deal Of money, but
never had shown II 10 any one.
II always was poor, and am now" he
said.
This concluded Mr.. Pollard's examina-
ton, and Emma Harding (colored) was
put on the stand. There was a lively
dispute over the first question asked by
the Commonwealth, and the jury was
taken from the room. The question was:
"Do you know Of any difficulty which
occurred between Mrs. Pollard and Pokey
Barnes at any time previous to the muir
The witness replied that she was pass
ing through the Pollard place with Pokey
in the August before the murder. Mrs.
Pollard had met them and asked Pokey
Barnes whether she was the Pokey Barnes
she had heard OF so much; 10 which Pokey
had replied: Eyes. d-n you, it's me-
The witness then went on to relate how
Pokey with many profane explosives,
had told Mrs. Pollard that she would
90 where she pleased In spite OF Mr.. Pol
iard's order that she should not come
upon his place. and concluded by feeling
Ga her bosom as though for a pistol, and