Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-23
on cRoss-EXEMINATIoN.

Being cross-examined by Mr.. Frournoy
the witness said that he lived about two
miles from MIR. Pollards. On the Friday
evening OF the murder he went from his
home 10 Mr.. David Jennings Thompson 5,
reaching there about a quarter of an hour
before sundown, md remaining there
three quarters OF an hour. He had no
timepiece with him. Mr. White stated
that he did not hear of the murder untl
Saturday morning.
WAS Mr. Thompson at homer
"No sir"
where was he?"
up in his tobacco-grounds."
Gould you see him from the house?
eyes"
'Dld you see anybody else there?"
'Yes. his cook. There was no one eise
there"
Replying further TO questions the Wit
ness said: "On Monday went TO solomon
Marable's house TO search the woods
around it for the stolen goods. getting
back TO Mr.. Pollard's about u O'clock
Dump and Robert Thompson, White.
and James Gregory and Albert Thompson
were with me-"
'Dld you find anyshng?'
eyes. we found his old clothes. where
he had redressed 100 yards west OF MS
house. on the spring branch about 100
What else did you find?'
81 found his coat at old Meherrin bridge,
in the tool-house."
Did you find any blood on these
ciothes?'
mo. sir; examined the overalls. His
coat was also examined, but. we could
find no blood at all. We brought the
clothes In an old bag over TO Mr.. Pol
lards. l couldn't Fwear TO the over
ais, but / identified the hat and coat as
Solomon's. When Mary and | had this
conversation we were at Pollard's corn
house door"
Have you ever testified in this case
befoGe?'
mo. sir; never testified in court before
I'm my life / left Mr.. Pollard's while the
magistrates hearing was going on, and l
was at Lunenburg Courthouse when the
women were tried, and up TO that time
hadn't told anyone anything about the
conversation between Aunt Mary and
myself. / was there two days and heard
most Of Aunt Mary's case. Joe Watson
was the first person 1 told anything
about the conversation"
"When you searched those woods what
did you fnd?'
Il found his (Solomon's) overalls and
his hat, shoes and socks down by the
spring branch"
Wasn't this after the news Of the
murder was spread throughout that land,
and after a company of cavalry was
securing the country for Solomon Mara
BILE. and hadn't he been seen at Chase
City?"
Eyes, sir"
"Then when you and Mary Abernathy
had that talk by the courthouse this in
formation about Solomon was broad
cast?"
Eyes, sir"
Didn't you hear that woman had
stated that she saw Solomon hide those
articles of clothing?"
IL did not until afterward."
''What became of those clothes?"
81 don't know"
LULA ABERNATIiY.
Lula Abernathy, daughter-in-law of the
prisoner at the bar. was called and sworn,
but before she went upon the stand Cap
tain Wise stated that the defence would
object to the testimony which the Com
mOnwealth would seek TO introduce
through this witness. and the jury was
taken out
Judge Crute asked counsel for the
prosecution what they proposed TO prove
by Lula Alternately. Mr.. Mann stated
that he proposed TO prove that a little
Il
when Mary returned home from Mr. Pol
lard's house on the afternoon of the mur-
ded, ran out and said: Here comes
mammie; she looks like she has been
fighting"
1--WE expect to show by this witness"
he added, that Mary Abernathy made
no response, to this exclamation from this
little child"
Mr.. F1ourney said that the Common
wealth proposed to put witness upon
the stand to tell what she had heard a
little child say. That child was living,
and capable of being brought TO this
court and put upon that stand. if she
was of sufficient intelligence TO testify.
II she did make a statement which would
form a link in the chain of testimony
around the life Of her mother, 1t was
only fair that that child should be here,
that she might be cross-examined.
MIR. Flournoy asked If that was the sort
OF loop-rope that the Commonwealth pro-
posed TO put around the necks of the
women to take their lives away-if that
was the sort Of evidence the Common
wealth proposed to convict them upon?'
IF that was not hearsay testimony"
said Mr. Flournoy, 81 do not know what
hearsay testimony IS. These gentlemen
try to make this little child the accuser
of her own mother"
The matter was further argued by
other counsel, and the Court adjourned
until $3.50 O'Clock tomorrow morning
Judge Crute reserved his decision.
c. Il. w.