Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-18
4 HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF
The suit for Islander Now In Progress
at Winchester.

WINCHESTER, VA, March 17.-(Spe-
ciaI)-InterGst in the Islander suit Of Rev.
j.. II. Parlett against John b. Fries, which
has been in progress in the Circuit
Court here since last Saturday, does not
abate. and to-day the court officers were
compelled to crop of the space occupied
by the court TO prevent the encroachment
Of the crowd in attendance.
Abraham Parlett, brother Of the plain
tiff. testified for the defendant. In the
direct examination Mr.. Parlett stated
that he had heard Rev. J. II. PaTletts
wife accuse her own husband Of being a
thief while on the Berkely County CIV.
Nal Circuit. Upon CrOss-eXamination he
Identified two letters as having been writ
ten by him while in Ma%rtinsburg to his
father. i'm which he practically accused
his aged sire of improper relations with
his daughter-in-laW, the wife OF the plain
Ill.,. referring in very bitter terms To the
gossip that coupled their names, ana
begging him, as a minister of the Gospel,
t5 place himself above suspicion in this
regard. The letters also contained hints
10 the reports of Rev. j. II. Parletts
honestly. The witness further admitted
that ne entertained 81 feeling against
his brother. but denied that II was the
result of his apprehension that Key. j.
d. parIett would be named as administra-
Tor bv his father on the old gentleman >
estate and become the sole benehcldry.
lid. refused TO state his reasons Tor ms III
feelings. He admitted having stated 10
the father at a family fatherlns, thdt
If he would read the 3Sth chapter oil
gauisis. he Qhe father would ind a
r.rsuaj I'm that story of his motive in
Grjncing his daughter-in-law 10 live with
him. -
MRS. MALESTER'S TESTIMONY.
Airs Eta j. Malester, sister Of the
plaintiff was placed on the stand in be-
I.rf ,f the defendant, and testified that
while living at the home place with her
..rrar i'm fsl1. her s~isteT-in-ldW, Sarah
p8rIett. wife Of the plaintiff, had come
o.. the house at night and asked 10 see
her mother. who was sick at the tlme'
and when refused admittance, she tSaFdh
IT, parletD said hat she would stone the
house. burn It down. and pull the VIII
ugss's tongue out. she SAID that II was
This occurrence that had caused her 70
entertain such malice ana oDJScIlol 10
Mir parIett and wife occupying her
fathers house.
m. defendant John Il. Fries, was then
rr, ,, the stand. In his direct
lion he denied part Of the conversation
~ pc - : Sriple and ii. W. LlndInood
In r.card 10 his accusing Rev. ). II. Far
I.tf OF dishonesty. but admitted portions
vt fl as having axe place. On
examination. MIR. Fries SAID that rev D.
~ p"rIstt had been his guest in 1893 from
cartain Thursday 10 Sunday; that on
sunday morning early his horse was
l.d, but while the family were al break
fast. Rev. Mr.. Parlett shpPou ~ aytno
barn and stole six ears or corn BlNIls
Them to his horse. He admitted later,
49, that Mr.. Parlett had gone from
Ills house on Saturday evening and had
not returned until late SUNDAY hnornnl =;
Tnis is the foundation for the charge OF
I'm her rebuttal testimony MIS- Saraa
J.. Parlett. wife Of the plalhtii, uensJ
Che testimony Of Mrs. Maiester IN rsgS rru
TO threatening 10 burn the house uoWh
oy stn,tno n During her rigid cross-eH-
animation Mrs. Parlett broke completely
down and the examination was S'0pP'0
until che was better.