Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-16
CROWD MADE HAPPY
Sensational Testimony in the
Ashby Case.
A NOTABLE DAY IN COURT
The Defendant on the Stand. How Messrs,
Holt and Jones Obtained Gammills
Statement. Marriage at the
Baptist Church.

Colonel Ta!bb and his able young as
sociate in the .Asbby case, Mr. Francis
f. Causey, left the ourt-soom last ev-
eninS appaI entity thoroughly satisfied
with the work OF the day. The cautious
manner I'm which these two gentlemen
have procev ded since the first witness
was placed on the stand, coupled with
their experience in important legal
transactions and their knowledge Of law.
has kept the cr.wd of spectators on tip
toe of anticipation. Time and again
has it been predicted that they would
spring something surfing before the
close of the trial, and rather than miss
the feast men have suffered themselves
to be bumped and thunlpsd and Smi ed
w:en thcEr cornS were trampled upon
Yesterday, after a day of serene pro-
ceilings, it came and the spectators
gulped it down in chunks to d. digest ed
at Leisure.
When court convened in the morning
number of witnesses We're called to
offset the ties timony of the previous day
concerning the question of vision. But
except in u few cases vein of doubt
IAN through the statements. Some werr
helpful to MIR. Ashby. however. and We're
uttered with a can3or which could leave
no, doubt as to their sincerity. But as
much may be said for those whose
words seemed to oe against him. All
this. however, was sui. 1t hail been
heard before, and no one, not even the
lawyers, perhaps, deemed it OF very
great va!ue, in view of the fact that
TIE jurors themselves had tosen on the
ground and looked up and down the
marrow lane
The announcement that Mr.. Ashby
would testify broke the monotony. All
day long his, had sat -at Colonel Tabb's
back and quietly listened While others
toli their stories. Now he was to tell
his. and as he stepped to the witr5 S.
chair the spel ia tors took a lcng breath
MIR. Ashlby admitted writing the letters
read with his deposition. h said, how
ever. that Mr.. Sridgeforth had written
to him first concerning the disposition
or his beat, horse, wagon and other
property. and the packing of his goods.
Colonel Tabb then ask Il him what he
meant by his advice to Bridgeforth not
to allow any one ito pull his leg" that
ne was al right, and that she wouldnr
harm him and other similar EXPIRES
SONS The Witness then replied that he
had learned that Captain Bonn@vell was
going to sue Mr.. Bridgeforth. and as
friend, he felt it his duty to. notify him
or tne tact. That was what he nlSant
by these utterances. Mr.. Ashby said
that he had no i!ea who the woman that
h saw enter the store With Mr.. Bridge
the circumstance. Mr.. Bridgeforth he
said. had right to so into the store
WHINE he pleased, as he was one of
its owners. He regarded him as an in
noceaf man up to the time he made his
deposition, wien his opinion underwent
a change. S~4Te time after the deposit
ton was taken MI Ashby says he met
Mr.. Bridgeforth in Newport News. In
FEBRUARY, 1886, the two men conversed
together on Twenty third street. Mr..
brldSeforth told him that he loved him
as he did chiN3l and a moment later
added that he had no money, not enough
to buy dinner. They went into
Mchecn.s saloon and BridsesoGth want
ed to drink. Next they visited Barton's
Theatre. from which they went to Ma
sees saloon. where Mr.. Bridgeforth said
that he desired to write and asksIi, for
pen and ink -Ashby' went out, but soon
returned and he and Bridgeforth drank
together They then walked over to
Mrs. Hudscn's house On Twenty-sixth
on the street and asked Mr. Ashby who
the MIN with him was. The next placs
they visited was the courthouse where
he was invited' by Bridgeforth to go
into the back yard. where Rridgstorth
produced paper and told him that he
would have to sign it. He declined and
they Went to hotel acr> dinner Mr.
Ashby MIR. BridgeTorth still with him.
then called on a man NAMED McCn.iom
who wanted a Ehsk. Mr.. Bridgeforth.
he said, wanted to drink and asked him
to so into back room. After return
ing to the hotel Bridgeforth wanted
him to go to the Jail yard again but
instead OF doing so he went to WASH
!ngton avenue. Again, he says, he was
asked to sign some paper, and again he
refused. Mr. Ashby then walked over
to Mr.. Lash's fucniture store. Mr..
BrI5geforth followed him and asked Mr..
Lash if he and Mr.. Ashby might go into
mis- private office. Mr.. Ashby, however
In order to escape from Mr.. Bridgefor,h
Went out by back door and walked
down to West avenue. But Mr.. Bridge
forth founf HIM, he says. and again told
him that he would have to sign the pa
per. He succeeded in getting away and
Went into the house Of NV. Edwards and
later Wrc'te q note to Mr.. Birmingham
telling him about the days events. Mr..
Ashby dismissed the testimony of Off
Ger Giddinss, of Newport News, by say
ing that he did not have the converse
ton sworn to by that gentleman He
mad talked 10 him once, but that was all.
HE had been with Mr.. Bridgesorth for
several years in the furniture store and
knSw him we'll enough to recognize him
that night.
When Mr. Ashby steppAA from the
stand a recess was ordered and it was
nearly 3 o'c,Ock before court reconVened
Meantime word had gone forth that the
ionged for sensation was near at ban1
And so it was. i was c1everly' planned
and nicely timed, and Mr.. TaNbb-the
colone. surrendered his commission sew
eial days agO-and Mr. Causay, having
to all dntents and purposes appropria ted
for the occasion Mr.. Golfers famous
smile, called Detective James, OF Nor
folk, to the stand. The witness said
that some time ago Mr.. Bridgeforth
employed him to secure evidence agains,
people who had testified In the divorce
suit Tor undertaking this ne was tc
receive $50, and' in the event of his sue
ceeding he was to have 500. Mr.. James
addressed himself to the task with al
the ingenuity OF the craft But the de
tective failed to detect and finally thew