Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-10-28
TRIAL OF TWITCHELL
mn u Acquitted ON THE CHARGE
or rELoxrous SHOOTING.
SENSATIONAL HEERICO CASE ENDS
p~s..u.x says He Was Craxed with
Anger over His Daughters Wrongs
when He Fired mt Paul Davis
proceedings I'm the Case.

with intent TO kill Paul Davis. negro
youth. who has been sentenced 70 the
penItentsary for nine years for assaultins
the 14-year-oid daughter Of Twitcheli,
Who Is a Henrico farmer. The jury was
given the case at 1857 o'clock, and at 2
p. M. returned n verdict Of not guilty.
The accused thanked the Judge and the
fury as he was again given his liberty.
and departed from the courtroom In the
compsny OF his wife and children and a
number OF friends.
A remarkable fact is that the conclu-
sion of this trial wipes the last case on
the docket OF the Hastings Court OF this
city. This is the first time in the history
of that tribunal that the criminal docket
has been clear.
When the court convened yesterday
morning. the accused, accompanied by
his wife and two children, entered and
took their seats. Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr.,
appeared as counsel for Twitchell, and
Commonwealth's-Atto Richardson
was on hand TO look after the interests
of the Commonwealth. IL was decided to
proceed without the presence OF Paul
Davis. and the first witness called was
DIR. w. V. Croxton, the physician TO the
Henrico Jail. He testified that he saw
Davis a few months after the shooting
and that the wound was serious one.
Commonwealth's-Attor Richardson
was examining the witness with view
of showing that the shooting was done
with pistol and by Twitchell. when Mr.
Smith remarked: For the sake or
time, we admit that the shot was fired
from q pistol by Mr.. Twitchell." Dr.
Croxton told Of the condition OF the
girl at the time Of the shooting.
Deputy-Sheriff voegler testified as to
how Twitchell shot the negro. while the
latter was being led TO the courtroom
20 answer the charge Of assaulting Cora
Twitchen His testimony brought out
nothing new.
TESTIMONY AS TO THE SHOOTING.
Deputy-Sheriff RUSSELL stated that he
had gone TO the assistance OF his brother
officer. who was struggling with Twitchell
10 get hold OF the revolver with
which the shooting was done. He did
no. see Twitchell until after the shot
was fired. Mr. Russell said that the
negro was brought to the jail by Twitch-
ell. and charged with attempting
assault. but that 1t was afterwards dis
covered that the assault was successful
Twitcheli did not see Davis from the
time he was locked up until he was
brought out the day he was shot
The Commonwealth here rested It's
case. Clerk Waddill. of the Henrico
County Court, was dispatched to his
Office for certain papers in the case, and
court took a recess.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.
While waiting for Mr.. waddill, Mr..
Smith went on with the case. j. W.
Taylor was called and testified that
Twitchell was a man of good reputation
and OF department. He had never heard
anything against the prisoner.
J. NJ. Tilie- had known the prisoner
six or eight months as peaceful. honest,
hard -woi king man.
MI. Samuel Stern gave Twitchell a
nrst-rate reputation for honesty and up
RICHNESS. He had known him. he said
for seven years. and had done a great
deal OF business with him.
you do business with almost anybody,
don't your asked Mr.. Richardson.
Mr.. Stern admitted that he did but
said that In this instance he was speak
ing of Twitchell. He and his family
had often visited Twitchell. and found
him all right. socially and financially.
rested Twitchell after the Court OF APP
poals had decided that his case came
within the jurisdiction OF the Hastings
Court. was then examined. He said that
while he was carrying Twitchell to the
station-house they had held some con-
versation together. He was asked to
repeat the purport of the conversation.
but objection was raised, and the wit
ness was told to stand aside.
TwITCHELL'S TESTIMONY.
rwitchell. the prisoner. was put on the
stand and told of how he had heard
from his wife that Davis had insulted
his daughter and attempted to assault
hor He Immediately took the negro to
jail and swore out a warrant, charging
attempted assault. Later on" said
Twitchell. II discovered that the crime
committed was much worse than at
tempted assault. and / swore out an
other warrant, charging that IL 1 had
known ut first what l knew later
Davis would never gotten to the court
house alive
Twitchell then related how ne shot the
negro. saying that at that time he was
crazed with anger. In explanation OF
how he came to have a pistol that day,
Twitcheil said that he was obliged to be
out a good deal at night. and had al
ways carried the weapon.
Under cross-examination, Twitchell
said that. Davis had been In his employ
for some time. and had slept, while
working for him. in an upper ROOM
"How did he get in and out of his
room?" asked Mr.. Richardson.
HE passed through the large room,
which was occupied by myself, wife,
6on, and daughter"
"Where did he eat?"
'He took his meals In the same room
with us. but at different table," said
Twitchell.
LETTERS FROM THE GIRL.
Don't you know that your daughter,
before anything occurred. had written a
great many loving. affect;onate letters
TO this negroY' asked Mr.. Richardson.
Il don't know anything of the kind"
replied the witness. with some anger.
Counsel for the prisoner protested that
X was improper to introduce these let
tiers as evidence.
Mr.. Richardson said that his purpose
in asking the questions concerning the
letters was TO prove that violent as
sault upon the girl had not been commit
ted. and that Twitchell knew II. Judge
Witt refused to admit the evidence. ana
Twitchell. after testifying that his daugh-
ter was IA years of age on the 18th OF
last April. left the stand.
THE WARRANTS ISSUED.
Mr.' waddin. having returned. testi-
fed that an indictment was found
against Davis on December IA. 1896. He
said that Davis had been tried and found
guilty OF assault. and given nine years
Ia the penitcntiary. There was mo-
ton FOR b new trial. on the ground or
after-discoyered evidence.