Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-25
A DOUBTFUL DENIAL
Did Sarah Curtis See Mr..
Cunningham?
STORY SAID TO BE HERS
The Girl Was Employed ut the Residence
of Mr.. Elliott Hudsins, Near MIR.
Kichardsons House.
Other Items.

There seems to be no doubt that long
before Mr.. r. v. Richardson is placed
on trial for the shooting of Mr.. Joseph
]. Cunningham, many interesting facts
bearing upon the causes which led to
the tragedy viii be laid before the pub
lie. No event has occurred here for
years with which gossip so persistently
busted itself as 1t has with the unfor-
tunate affair of last Monday This is
due, Of course, to the standing Of the
families and the fact that both men
are we'll known and have many friends.
The latest rumors afioat relate to the
circumstances Immediately preceding
the shooting. One which was going
about yesterday is to the effect that a
colored girl named Sarah Curtis, who
was employed at the home of Mr.. Ell
lott Hudgins, saw Mr.. Cunningham in
Mr.. Richardson's back yaru. This she
might easily have done, If the alleged
intruder was there, as the rear of Mr..
Richardson's lot adjoins that occupied
on Monday by Mr.. Elliott, the distance
between the two houses being perhaps
not more than fifty feet. AS the story
runs, Mr. Cunningham when seen by
the girl was engaged in conversation
with a colored man. Sarah, it is said.
paid but slight attention to the two
men until she saw them suddenly sep
arate one of them running rapidly to
the lot in which Richardson and Gun
ningham were seen by Ennis Lee and
Mr.. Day.
Yesterday afternoon the correspond
emit of the Daily Press called at the
girls home In the East End and sue
ceeded in obtaining an interview with
her. When asked to say whether she
had seen MT. Cunningham at MIR.
Richardson's on Monday she threw up
her hands and declared with a flourish
that she doesn't even know him. How
could she say, therefore, that she had
seen him. She was at work at Mr..
Hudgins; but was too busy to pay any
attention to what was going on around
her. Then she was asked if she had
seen any man in Mr.. Richardson's back
yard. To this question she returned
an evasive reply, simply saying that
she doesn't know anything about the
trouble and doesn't want to know any
thing. Although Sarah's mother and
sister, who were present during the in
teryiew, We're not near the Hudg1ns
residence. they strongly Il corroborated
the girls statement But when told
that the statement attributed to Sarah
came from persons of high standing
the faces Of the three women took on
confused appearance.
Whether Sarah Curtis really saw Joe
Cunningham at Mr.. Richardson's on
mined. But the doubtful manner in
which her denial was made affords
room for the belief that she knows
more than she is willing to tell. The
girl and her mother are tortured by the
fear that if the authorities hear that
she knows anything about the shooting
she will be arrested and locked up.
Mr. Cunningham passed another
quiet day and when heard from last
evening was resting comfortably. DR..
Picker, his physician, stated plainly
that the chances are now favorable to
his recovery. He will lose an eye, how
ever, and will wear an ugly scar on his
head. The fear that some OF the shot
had failed to pass out and would soon
cause serious and perhaps fatal compli-
cations appears to have been practically
abandoned. DR.. Picker says that his
patient would probably have shown
symptoms of an alarming character by
yesterday had his wound been of ia
tai nature.