Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-19
THE TRIAL OF LESTER
THE FATHER OF THE DECEASED
PUT on THE STAND.
He BECOMES VERY MUCH CONFUSED.
Others Drank from the Alleged Fatal
Bottlc-Professor MaIleft, OF the
other Witnesses.
other Witnesses

specialize OF the witnesses for the
/ Commonwealth in the Lester case testi-
fed yesterday that Lester had said he
sent Davis OF Martinsville three days
prior to his death to deliver a letter TO
j. l.. Ford. an insurance agent. and 10
pay money TO Sheriff Davis. To-day that
officer testified that Lester had sent no
money and Ford said that he had re-
| ceived no letter at the time.
| ]. w. Davis, father OF the deceased,
was put on the stand this morning. He
had he said. helped his son haul cross
| ties on the fatal day. After the last load
had been hauled. and about an hour be-
fore sunset, young Davis drove the team
TO the stables at the mill. He did not
see his son again till he was called TO
where he lay in extremis. Next day he
had a talk with the prisoner about the
contemplated post-mortem. The prison
or said the boy ought TO be buried that
day IF you don't have the body ex-
amined." said Lester. 1--WE will get some
money in thirty days; but q you do, we
shall not get any at ALL" Witness adj
mtted that he and Lester drank whiskey
together that day. but was certain the
conversation occurred as related"
on cross-eNamination witness not only
became confused but practically broke
down. and was uncertain about many de-
tails narrated by him at the COroner's
Investigation. He denied all knowledge
% a civil suit growing out Of the insur-
ance policies. and admitted that he had
visited Lester IN his cell. lie was clear
~ dazed.
Josiah Turner, n justice OF the peace.
testified that he and q man named Holly
and the prisoner talked about the post
| norton. and the prisoner wanted 20
/ know what steps We're necessary to such
an examination. The prisoner said a
great fuss was being raised about n drink
/ he had given deceased but he did not
see why. for he gave the boy drink
nearly every day he worked In the
same conversation the prisoner named
Prilliman and others who drank out Of
the same bottle but did not say they al
drank Of the same liquor. The prisoner did
1 not oppose the pOst-mortem examina-
/ ton.
Commonwealth's-Att billiard an
nounced at this juncture that the state
would rest its case.
Attorneys for the defence asked that
| the jury be taken out. 80 that a motion
/ mirht be discussed. The motion was
/ that the Court order the jury TO disre-
gard all evidence on the part of Davis's
mother and others that related TO what
! Davis said at the time OF his sudden at
! tack. and when he was In eXtemis. Ar
/ gument followed 70 show that the Court
| had improperly admitted the testimony
| which was objected 10 at the time: but
/ now that the testimony for the State
was all in. II was contended that such
! testimony was not I'm the contemplation
/ OF law. dying statement. The motion
/ was overruled.
Dr. \. j.. Wood testified that J. ".
| Davis and the deceased appeared before
! him. as a notary and signed the transfer
| Of policies of Insurance.
DR.. MALLET on THE STAND.
After dinner Professor Mallet. Of the
! University Of Virginia. was examined.
| The utmost interest centered in the great
/ chemist, and his every word was eagerly
| caught. His evidence was limited to an
swers 10 hypothetical questions. He said
| that Or. Taylors analysis was scien-
tihcally correct. so far as IL went, and
1 that ne was right in his conclusions de-
duced from the tests made; but he
/ thought DR.. Taylor might with advantage
/ nave examined the stomach, "a well as
! its contents; and. further, that he should
/ have made n physiological test. as con-
| frming or controvertinG aluctions from
/ the chemical examinatiou md tests, not
/ as an absolute certainty. but as n pre-
caution against any possible result that
| might ensue from failure 10 try other
/ and approved tests. II was a deduction
| from Dr. Tayors premises that strych-
nine was probably present. Professor
/ Mallett described the symptoms and
! indications Of poison by strychnne. both
I'm a body while in life and after death.
He thought IT unfortunate that DR.. Tay-
/ Tor did not also search for alcohol. as II
was alleged the poison had been admins
| tered with whiskey. DR. Mallet's testi-
/ tlony was luminous and Of great interest
| throughout and entirely impartial. lie
made a fine impression as a man and a
scholar.
OTHER WITNESSES.
Dug. Priliman. the prisoners brother
/ in-lew. and business assistant at the mill
testified 70 riding from the mill home
| with Lester and others late on the after
/ noon Of Davis's death. From the time
| Lester and Davis came from the stable
lot till deceased left the mill for his
/ home fully twenty minutes elapsed
Jeff East testified that the father OF
| the deceased told him that Lester had
| offered nothing to prevent a post-morte;ni
and that he had nothing against Lester.
The Young wife of the prisoner with an
infant I'm her arms, was then put on the
etand but the attorneys for the prosecu-
zion objected 20 her testlfying, and the