The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-18
THE THOS. PRICE
MURDER TRIAL.
The Evidence Very Damaging to
the Accused.
MAGIC SCENE IN COURT ROOM
The Father Of the Murdered Man Es-
b,bits the Bloody Garment OF HIS
BEAD Son 20 the Jury-No Excep-
tions Noted by tho Defence.

r:RNVILLE. VA. August iI-Spe-
.s.l-The Price murder case. after having
been adjourned over from last MONDAY
owing 70 the absence Of Mrs. PRICE, Wiie
of tho prisoner. and an important wit
nese FOR the defence. was called IN the
County Court OF Prince Edward az 10
o'clock this morning Judge j. VI. Crute
presided. with Judge ". H. Mann, oil
Nottoway. representing the defence. and
Commonwealth Attorney A. D. Wat
klns conducting the prosecution.
The jury was composed Of the follow
ing-all from the upper part OF the
county: J. j. Owen &. A. Morton, J.
l. Weaver. W. " Gillian. w. y. Drum
eller. S A. Bondurant. J. +. CLANCY. j.
]. Gillian. T. II. Bruce, r. II. Redo
J. ". Foster and y. ". Scott
Judge Mann demurred to the indict-
Ynent and requested that witnesses be
separated. which was ordered by the
court.
The trial was begun With the examination
BY the Commonwealth Of Mr.. Theodore
Carter. the father Of the young man be-
lleved 20 have been wifully and bru'
tally murdered.
THE PRISONER.
Mr. Tom Price. the prisoner. Is man
Of about sixty-eight years of age. ana
his head IS siiveTed by the frosis or time.
while the enects Of prison life IS plainly
showing itself upon him
The evidence OF the prosecution was
very strong and damaging. but during u
all the prisoner sat without qulNeI'
watching the witnesses whose testimony
may send him 70 the galows rom
which Solomon Marable expatiaied ms
crime.
Oftentines the prlsoner would bend
over ana whisper suggestions In the ear
OF his counsel.
The following testimony has been taken
a. this writing II is thought 'he trial
VIII be completed this week.
THE FATHERS TESTIMONY.
The first witness called was Mr.
Theodore Carter father Of the murdered
man. BENZ examined by the prosecution
he made the following statement.
II was at home feeding hogs on the
morning OF July 10Th last about an hoar
% sun. when Spencer HI rode up ana
said Mr. Price has shot Han ana ne
(HalD says you must come. l got on
Spencers horse and went at once. When
got 70 Jim Mortons. his wife. Francis
told me Hall was dead. (Here witness
showed great emotion which he tried 10
and ran through a near way 10 MI.
Prices house When ] got there found
my boy lying dead. Mr. Price came IN
the room and said. Thee. ! have shot
Hall. | have killed him. I said; Tom.
had rather II had been me you killed.
Next I found myself standing by MI.
Prices wagon in the yard. The thought
struck me then 10 call Mr. Woodalls peo-
pie they being the nearest white people
J started out from the place following
FOR Mr.. Woodall | had got, | Nckon, nifty
Yards from the house when Dir. Price
remarked. there is no use Of following
and carrying on that way-I have killed
him. MY reply was Tom, ] expected
something but nothing like this. II Hal
had listened 10 me he would never have
come here His reply was I was tired
Of the d-n Carriers bulldozng me. and
n YOU cut up I will Kill you. G-d---r
you went on UP the road still calling
for Mr.. Woodall's people until exhausted
! sat on a log ! then waited for Mr.
Shorter TO come up, and went back with
him 10 Mr.. Prices"
o What was the condition Of the body
when you found It?
A. The boy was lying with his head
az near as ] can come 10 II. one or two
feet from the door. his loft arm somewhat
under him. right side OF his face up. and
blood had run clear across the room. II
was the dining-room. The witness here
gave a description of the premises from
n photograph handed him by the Com
monwealth Attorney.
Q Did You take hold Of the body?
a J caught hold OF his left arm. but
did not move II as I found he was dead
@ What seemed TO be the temperature
% his body?
A. His flesh was warm. Didn't seem &c
be cold at all
The prosecution announced that he was
through with this witness and Judge
Mann. for the defense. began the cross
examination. satisfying himself with ask
Ing only one question which was
When YOU started 70 Mr.. Woodalrs. diC
Mr. Price follow you? The reply was
yes. about dfty Yards Here the witnes.
was told 10 stand aside.
AN IMPORTANT WITNESS
Spencer Hili. a colored witness claim
ing TO be Tie only person present whor
the shooting occurred. was the next anC
most important witness for the prosecu
tion. He testified as follows When
came I'm the house Mr.. Price was on hi.
bed fusslng after Mr.. Hall Carter
When went out TO the spring Mr.. Pric,
had got up and come into the cook room
and was stnl fussing with Mr.. Carter
Mr. Carter was getting breakfast. III
cussed Mr. Carter. and Mr.. Carter tol,
him not 10 cuss HIM. Price told Carte
that ne would not only cuss MIN, bu
would cut his d-n CUTS out. Thel
Price jeTked up a butcher knife and start
ed for Carter. The latter ierked up
chair and made Price put the knit
down. Then he stood in the room til
Carter put breakfast on the table an
then Carter sat down a. the table an,
lJYfnA want hogN n his cha rf1hpr Newt
heard was Miss Kitty prices wife) ask
I'd what he was going 70 do with tn
gun" Mr. Garter Jumped up and stsrte,
for the door Next ] heard was the &c
port OF the gun Then Mr. Price cam
down into the cook room again ant
caught hold OF the arm OF Carter an,
asked Il he was hurt Miss Kitty sske
me II Price had shot Han and ! returne,
no answer. but Price replied. yes. I hav
killed him Mr.. Carter. who was no
quite dead asked me 10 so for his father
Q. Did Mr.. Price say anything 20 you
A. He told me not 10 so.
Q. When did Mr.. Carter say to g
for his father?
A. After Mr. Price came down from
mis- room.
@. What did Carter do after the sho
was fred?
4. He fell on his hands and knees
@. Have you been living there or no
this year?
A. Yes. sir: 7 started work with hir
on the 18th OF May.
Q. Have YOU been there ever since?
A. Yes, sir.
The witness was here turned over Z
the defence FOR cross-eNamination. Judg
Mann asked:
O. what day did the killing occur
know "a. l4N hut not tho date