Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-02-15
JURORS MAKE TESTS
Try Their Eyesight on Hope
Street.
FIGHTING THE RAILROADS
The Ingalls, Charter offered in the Interest
OF Mr. Darling, But Hampton
People Want 1t. Other
items of Interest.

pe1piS LIE iISt witness OF the day in
tire Ash'by case was called to the stand.
AT that hour the beaming face of Judge
Mann. whose journey from his home in
NOttoway county to Hampton had been
delayed by events which We're not oi,lig-
ing enough to cast their shadows before
entered the chambers and than impa-
tient attorneys, jurors and speStat ors
straightway began to smile upon them
S@Res and everybody else. But that
was perfectly natural, for there is some
thing in the able ,Nottoway attorney
that charms men. Bright, active, ert
when one would suppose that his mind
IS far away, he meets his opponents at
every point, but meets them openly
fairly, and always With radiant feat
ureS. His courteous manner OF dealing
With witnesses wins him their conf
dsnce at once and the friendly feeling
Thus inspired makes for him friends OF
all! Hence his popularity in Hampton
is easily acdountedi for,
Th1 testimony taken yesterday was in
many respects repetition of that taken
Saturday. 1t began with that of Mr.
Skid Hudgins, who related a converse
ton with Mr.. Ashpy in December 1896
when he said that he was sorry the
tntns had happened; that 1T had
never been proven, that he did it, and
that he, Mr.. Ashby, was afraiit that
somebody would have this thing to pay
Tor yet Others testified to conversa-
tons Oh like character. THIN came Wit
nesses who had looked from the Hope
street crossing down the marrow lane
toward the lower door of the furniture
store withiout being able TO distinguish
oTle man from another when two or
more Were Standing at this latter point
Among those who testified Were officers.
This lasted long time. Some of the
witnesses became angry and gave the
attorneys for the defense sharp replies
to questions which they though were in
tended to mix thsm up. At times it
seemeI that there would be repetition
OF some of the scenes that have already
marked this famous trial But the day
passed withour a notable osItbreaa1 and
the crowd went nome to give their
mouths rest and take q reef in their
outStr+tched ears.
Mr.. Bridgeforth'S testimony was the
most interesting. Judge Mann asked
him to say whether the charge of Mr.
Asllby that he had entered the store in
company with woman, at night, was
true or not.
That's faise!" said he. He had never,
he said, gone into the store with wo-
man after it had b@en closed. His ac-
quaintance wita tie lady involved in the
case, whom he gave a good name, began
about tlre 10th of May, 1884. He had
been in her society but q few times.
Frequently he saw her at the Baptist
OF which they Were both mem
beers. a note, written by him to the
lady, saying that he desired to, see her
and requesting her to fix the: time and
place at which an interview could he
had. was read and Mr.. Briijgeforth was
asked to explain it. He said that the
young woman had been traduced and
he wished to warns her against the man
who had done it. The note was handed
TO her at church, end subs: qlently-he
Gid net know how long afterwaId-,he
saw her in the store, but the converse
ttrn that took place there was absolute
ly free from improprieties OF any kind
After this he went to Blackstone in the
hope of contracting for the sale of fur
niture to two large schools. He left on
the 18th of July, 1894, and his business
required him to remain away until the
nth of August. Colonel Tabb subjected
Mr.. Bridgeforth to rigid cross-exam-
ination, but without shaking his testi-
mony in amy particular.
Captain Bonnevell next took the stand
He had known Mr.. Bridgeforth some
six or eight years and had Introduced
HIM to Miss Birch Judge Mann asked
Captain Ronnsvel IL he and Mr.. Bridge
FORTH We're on friendly terms, but before
witness could answer the question Col
onel Tabb objected. It was finally
withdrawn. Captain 3,onnevell then
said that the introduction took place
aotut the 10Th or May and that toward
'the last of june the lady left Hampton.
He did not knew whether Bridgefortn
visited her or not, as he was away from
home. The witness was then turned
over to Colonsl Taibb, but he declined to
ask any questions. He excepted. how
syer to all that Captain Bonnevell had
said.
AT this point Judge Mann moved that
the jury be instructed to visit Hope
street and make test for themselves as
to WhSther it is possible to distinguish
man from the crossing to the door of
the furniture store which Bridgeforth
is alleged ito have entered. At 1870
O'Clock the jurors, in charge of Sheriff
Curtis. Went to Hope street ana spent
nearly an hour.
What this result of their experiment
was could not be ascertained. as they
were instructe11 to hold no conversation
with anyone. This morning the first
witness for the defense wifi take the
stand, and 1T is probable that by tomor-
row moon the testimony will have been
concluded. Then. win begin the argsl-
meEt upon the instructions, which Will
consume the rest of the day.
FICEIITTN(S TyFJE IRA M N2OtAD