Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-17
THE TRIAL OF LESTER
rOR THE ALLEGED POISONING OF
j. w. T. DAVIS.
HENRY COUNTY'S SENSATION
A Jury Obtained and the Testimony
urguu-Coroncr william ii. Tny-
Tor on the stand-Points About the
Celebrated Case.

! MARTINsvILLE, VA, December 10
! (Speclal)-The case OF the Common
wealth vs. Wade w. Lester. on an In
dictment for the murder by poison OF
Young j. w. r. Davis, In this county,
| last February, Is the most noted IN the
criminal annals OF Henry county. the
accused belongs TO one OF the very promi-
nent families Of the county, and mas
many blood relations. who are people OF
wealth and good status, while the de-
ceased came from a family the greatest
| in numbers in Henry. and which has
played a prominent role in the affairs OF
| the county from It's earliest settlement
| The case was first on the docket i'm the
| County Court, and was called at noon
Monday. and. as was expected, a great
crowd OF interested spectators and more
deeply-concerned relatives thronged the
| COURTROOM Aside from some fine legal
fencing. the case made but little head
way until to-day.
The jury was completed this morning
and It's members are all from Henry
county, and come from parts OF the coun-
| tv most remote from the village OF
Henry. The examination Of witnesses
for the State began promptly. and con-
tinued throughout the day. The hrst
witness told the story Of young Daviss
/ death. and DESERVED the symptoms as
those of poison by strychnine. Davis
! died in few minutes after the first at
tack. and about dark. February "a. 1876.
witness saw the prisoner and several
| others ride away from the mill In a Few
moments before witness was called TO
the assistance Of the dying man. Ply
sicians who conducted the autopsy were
examined. but no special feature was
| developed
THE INSURANCE.
James L. Ford, agent OF the New York
| Life Insurance Company, testified that
! he wrote two policies for the deceased
one for $1,000, in May. and another for
5000. In June. 1S95-and Lester paid the
premiums; that the policies were duly
| assigned 70 Lester I'm February, 1895 and
| that Lester wrote to Ford for advice
about the policies two days after the
| death of Davis. This letter was read
as evidence, and IS regarded as a strong
point for the prosecution.
DIR. TAYLOR'S TESTIMONY.
The most striking feature of the day
was the evidence Of DIR. W. II. Taylor.
! of Richmond. who made the analysis Of
the contents of Davis's stomach. His
evidence was a graphic description Of
the processes necessary in such work.
He was subjected to n rigid cross-ex-
animation. and his replies TO the attor-
| neys caused much laughter on several
occasions, in which the prisoner Joined
| heartily
DR.. Taylor testified that he found one
eighth of a grain Of stryohnine I'm the con-
tents OF the stomach. He made only a
chemical and not a physiological test.
The State to-day seems to have estab-
lished conclusively that Davis died OF
poison by strychnine. and that Lester was
interested in the insurance on the life OF
the young man. but II remains yet 10 be
shown that Lester was connected with
the administration Of the poison. Davis s
mother and other important witnesses will
go on the stand tomorrow. Crowds pack
ed the courtroom ell cay. \ number OF
visiting attorneys are in attendance, and
interest in the trial grows.
The witnesses number fifty or more
and come from several counties and
cities. To offset the evidence Of DR.. Tay-
Tor the defence has sent out summons TOT
fine expert testimony in the person OF
DR.. Mallet OF the School of Chemistry OF
the University Of Virginia. Young DR.. y
d. Wood, of Henry. now taking n post
graduate course IN Baltimore. Is here
and also Dr. ]. VI. Williams. Of Rocky
Mount, the last two being the physicians
who conducted the autopsy. The state Is
represented by s-Attorney
George l. billiard. who Is assisted by
william and Wythe Peyton, OF this Bar
The defence Is conduced by Judge n. n
Hairston. W. II. Gravely, John w. Carter
Of Martinsville. and Peter billiard. o.
Rocky Mount. The presiding Judge Il
Henry G. Mullins. a man OF force, o.
fine legal acumen. and plenty Of common
sense and staying qualities.
POINTS ABOUT THE CASE.
The theory Of the Commonwealth is tina
Lester poisoned Davis to get the in
, surance on his life.
! II Is alleged that Davis told his mothe
! Just before hts death that Lester HAT
5 given him a drink Of whiskey from
flask, which had made him sick. 4 goo
/. deal OF popular interest was at One
: aroused. and people talked and wondered
at his sudden taking off. When, however
|, II was noised around that Davis's life wa
Insured and that the policy had beer
legally transferred to Lester for the lat
. ters part benefit, sentiment CRYSTALLINE
around this fact as a motive for IN
. crime. and suspicion rested heavily oil
! Lester He was arrested. a post-morten
examination deduced death from strych
q nine poisoning, and Lester was committee
without bail 10 await finding by gran
e jury.