Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-15


in New York State, and was fS years OF
age on the 10Th of April. 1896 The fam
ily Bible, In very dilapidated condi-
tion, was introduced and sheet on
which the birth record had been trans
cribed was submitted, showing that the
girl was born April Ia. 1883. Mrs. Twitchell
was questioned concerning her daugh-
ter's confession. and reluctantly testified
along this line. She was 10th to believe
that her daughter had been assaulted by
Davis, even after the little child had
told her of the occurrence, but upon her
return from the North she questioned
Cora. and received information that such
was the case.
DR.. Harmon was the next witness
called. He attended Miss Cora when her
child was born. Mr.. Justis objected 10
any testimony regarding the child. but
the objection was overruled. and the
physicians testimony was admitted.
THE DEFENCE BEGINS.
The prosecution recalled Miss Twit-
chell and asked her an unim-
portant question, after which, they rested
their case, and the defence put on its
witnesses. Mrs Whiteside. a neighbor
of the Twitchells, was first called, and
Mr.. Thomas asked II she had not told
him that she had talked with Mrs.
Twitchel concerning the intimacy OF
Cora and Davis. She denied absolutely
having told the lawyer anything about
the case, and said she knew nothing,
whatever of the matter. She non
plussed the lawyers for the defence, ana
was told to stand aside.
Mr.. George w. White, Of Highland
Springs, testified that about year and
half or two years ago, or. rather, in
August of year before last, Miss Cora
Twitchell was at his home, and COM
pairing ages with his daughter, who viii
be Is this August. She said, In witnesses
presence that she was the same age as
his daughter. Witness, when cross-ex-
amined. was not sure that the girls were
of the same age his testimony being
based simply on an impression gathered
from the conversation of the children,
none of which he could repeat.
Constable T. J. (Cyclone) Samuei, VINO
arrested Paul Davis, testified that
Twitchell told him when he reported the
case to him that his daughter was IL
years Of age. The defence objected TO
the introduction of eX-parte testimony,
and the Court ruled in their favor The
question of the admissibility of the war
rant on which Davis was originally ar
rested was raised, and the point was
argued at length by both sides, the jury
being excluded from the courtroom. NO
ruling was made on the point.
Carlos A. Twitchell, the girls father,
who swore out the warrant for Davis
arrest. and subsequently shot Davis on
the threshold of the court, was called
by the Court, neither side being Wiling
TO call him. He was questioned con-
cerning the age of his daughter, out
couldn't say positively how old she was,
depending on the framed recoru
Transcribed by him from the record In
the Bible. He. of course. had general
knowledge of the age Of his daughter.
but couldn't say precisely how old she
was because he had seven children, and
thor ages got mixed somewhat in his
memory. The record, however, he knew
TO be correct. AT o'clock a recess
was taken until $3.50 o'clock, and the
Jury went TO supper.
THE NIGHT SESSION.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the court re-
convened, and Magistrate j. 7. Lewis
before whom the warrant for Davis
arrest was sworn out, was examined,
He testified that the father Of the girl
had made affidavit before him that the
girl was IA years OF age. He questioned
the child's mother next day, and swore
out another warrant on which Davis
was examined and sent on to the grand
jury.
Fitzhugh Hill (coloreD, who occupies
the adjoining farm to the Twitchells,
testified that he had received several
letters from Cora Twitchell, who, in per-
son. left them for Davis. HilPs wife
succeeded him on the stand. and testi-
fed substantially as he had done.
Magistrate G.. c. Vincent was
called next, but did not respond, and it
being stated that he was absent without
permission, a rule was issued for him,
and he will have TO answer for con-
tempt of court. The case could not be
concluded i'm his absence, and 1t was
adjourned over until 10 o'clock this
morning.