Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-16
THE PRINCE EDWARD TRAGEDY.
Postponement OF the Case Until
Next Wednesday.


for number OF years was in attendance
to-day upon the County Court. Men were
here from every quarter OF the county,
the attraction being the case OF the Com
monwealth against Thomas w. Price for
the killing OF Mr.. Hall Carter, on the
morning Of July 18th last, near Darlington
Court opened little after 10 O'Clock, with
Judge ]. NJ. Crute on the bench. The
grand jury very soon afterwards brought
in an indictment against the prisoner.
Counsel for the defence not being present
until after the arrival OF the half-past IL
O'Clock train. the prisoner was not brought
into the courtroom until that hour.
Judge w. III. Mann, of Nottoway, will
conduct the defence alone. AS soon as he
arrived the prisoner was conducted from
tho jail 10 the courtroom and shown a
seat within the bar railing between his
counsel Judge Mann, and his brother,
Mr.. A. j. Price. of Worsham. The
prisoner looked little the worse from his
confinement. and when asked how he
felt replied that he was as well az could
be expected under the circumstances.
Judge Mann moved for continuance
OF the case to the next term of the court.
prisoner. was a material witness. and he
did not feel that he could go on with the
trial without her testimony. 1t was i'm
possible he said. for Mrs. Price to be
here at this term of the court. She is 81
years Of age. and the strain upon her in
cident to a proper cross examination TO
which she would be put would be 100
great for her shattered nerves so soon
after the tragedy. which occurred at her
home and in her presence only seventeen
DAYS having elapsed since she witnessed
the terrible scene Judge Mann said he
had seen Mrs. Price last Saturday, and
she told him she thought she might be
able TO get here at the September term.
Usually he preferred that cases of this
character be postponed for trial, but in
this one his preference was to enter at
! once into il because of the extreme age
of a material witness-the prisoners in
valid wife.
COMMONWEALTH OBJECTED.
Judge Watkins. for the Commonwealth,
replied to Judge Mann. He did not think
that the defence had brought itself with
in the rule which required that testimony
! be given to satisfy the court that the wit
ness in question is in such a condition
! that she cannot come to court. 1t must
/ also be shown TO the court that there are
probably mot possibly circumstances sur
rounding the witness now TO make 1t rea-
sonable to believe she will be able to at
| tend the next term Of court. Continuing
| Judge Watkins said: This is serious
| case and the people are wrought up over
| il in the county Delays in the law is the
main reason for the severe criticisms and
harsh measures sometimes melted out 10
prisoners. He then suggested that a ply
= he Of r,riCn
er along with the Sheriff TO ascertain by
making an examination of Mrs. Prices
| physical condition II she is able to at
| tend upon the trial at this term, and II
she is not. whether or not the physician
| thinks she will be any more able physical
~ at the September term than she now Is.
DR.. II. A. Watkins, a neighboring ply
stefan TO the home of the Prices, was
sworn and examined as to the present
condition Of Mrs. Price. He testified that
he saw Mrs. Price last Friday. She has
been an invalid for years, and her condi-
ton now was very bad He didn't know
that she had been out Of her room for
years. He thought that the killing of
Carter at her home had very much I'M
nerved her.
Judge Watkins: DO you think, Doctor,
it would probably cause death TO move
her to Farmville to testify in this case?
Witness: No; l don't know that it would
Judge Watkins: Is she Frustrated?
WAS SITTING UP
Witness: Yes; more so than usual. Con-
tinuing, the Doctor said She does not
keep abed, and to be plain with you, on
last Friday she was sitting up. and moved
10 the door where the murder was com
mitted. yet l believe she is unable TO at
tend this term of the court.
Mr. Franklin. of the prosecution. stated
TO the court that he saw Mrs. Price last
Thursday, and she told him that she was
in better health, and was less nervous
than she had been before for many years.
One other unimportant witness was ex-
amined as 10 the present condition OF the
witness. and the Court decided that the
case should not be pressed into trial, but
that he would send a physician to the
\ Price home. and if Mrs. Price is able to
be brought to Farmville, the trial would
be commenced next Wednesday the 18th
instant. All the witnesses for both sides
present to-day were ordered to be on hand
promptly at 10 o'clock next "Wednesday
morning. 1t is the intention of the
Court TO have the trial OF the prisoner
at this term. If possible ~ do so. This
is thought to be to the best interests OF
all concerned as there is considerable
feeling on the part of many citizens living
in the Darlington Heights neighborhood
and il is said that there has been no Ettlt
talk regarding a probable delay in The
prisoners trial.
Following is the venire of sixteen mer
from which the twelve are expected TO be
chosen for the trial: W. A. Price, j. j
owen. L. A. owen. j. l.. Weaver. y. w
Scott. w. NJ Gillian, w. k. Drumeller
5. A. Bondurant. J. f. CLANCY, G. r
Bruce. j. p. McCraw ]. j. Gillian, N. 5
Morton T. H. Bruce, +. H. Redd, anc
j. V. Foster.