The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-15
THE ELLIS CASE
GOES ON TODAY
A Full Jury Was Secured With Little
Trouble.
MAY ENTER A PLEA OF INSANITY.
Expert Testimony TO BE Given by PLY
sicians Regarding the Mental
Condition OF the Accused.
GroundIcss Publication.

a jury has been secured In tho case OF
the Commonwealth against Mrs. Lizzie
NJ. Bills who Is charged with infanu-
cioe. and az 10 O'Clock this morning the
trial viii begin.
one special panel Of twenty names was
exhausted yesterday in securing one
man. and an extra panel of thirty was
summoned. From the panel another
,uryman was secured thus completing
tho list Of sixteen. This list will be re-
ouced 10 twelve this morning the defense
having tho privilege OF striking OFF four
names. The proceedings in the Hastings
Court yesterday were Of interest
A large. interested crowd was In attend
ance. Counsel L. O. Wendcnburg intro
dIced 20 the court his associate counsel
Judge A. d. Watkins. who. I'm conJunc-
ton with Judge J. NJ. Crute ana MT X
q. Southall will assist Mr.. Wendenburg
IN the defense and upon the bench
side by side with Judge Witt sat Judge
w r. Barksdale OF Amelia county. as
"A guest.
MR.. HARMON ACCEPTED.
Fourteen names were called and as
many gentlemen responded before any
thing was accomplished
Then the name Of Mr.. A. G. Harmon
was called. He said that he had formed
an opinion, from having read the accounts
IN the papers and from conversations.
and he was excused by Judge Witt.
Mr.. Wendenburg took Mr.. Harmon in
hand. however. and by questioning him.
Il was found that he was competent 10
give the accused fair and impartial
trial. according to the law and evidence.
Mr.. Harmon was. therefore accepted
But the panel was exhausted without
further result. and a recess Of an hour
'sas taken in order that another veniro
could be summoned.
The gentlemen who answered 10 their
names and declared that they had fixed
opinions in the case were Messrs. d. Nit
teldorfer. l. A. Bailey, =. J. Flippen. r.
II. Cloves w j. King. S. II Cottrel. A.
l.. Jacobs. w. o. Priddy. C.. J. Shuman,
a. Hartung. J. +. Kohler. H. +. Grin
nell. ". n. Tatum r. C.. Ebel J. G..
Tlgnor. G.. D. Pearman. and $. w.
Fleischmann.
Throughout the proceedings the accused.
hecomngly and modestly attired IN black
skirt and light shirt-waist. with straw hat
and veil. sat by the side Of her counsel.
with her mother and father near At
times tears came into her eyes. which she
bravely tried 20 hold back, and an express
sion Of eagerness took possession of her
face. Her mother wept bitterly when
recess was taken. and her daughter was
carried back into the Sergeants office.
A COMPLETE JURY.
AZ l2:2O the court reconvened- The
accused. i'm company with her par
cnis and counsel re-entered the court
room. me crowd of interested spectators
had increased I'm size. and a number Of
lawyers were present. while Judge Minor
sat upon the bench beside Judge witt.
The panel secured doing recess by
Sergeant Epps was called. and the third
man on the list. Mr.. Il. s Crump. de-
clared that while ne had formed an opin-
ION ne could give fair trial upon the
evidence.
ne MAS accepted. and the other gen
tlemen on the panel were discharged.
The jury as completed embraced Messrs.
Richard Cauthorn. J.. a. Meddeu g. f.
Williams. Il. Folk. J. ID. Lyle. J. NJ.
Macon George +. Reed. w. r. Creekmuir,
robert Henningg Jr., A. Y. Stokes. Jr,
J. &. VIM. W. G. Tinsley. r. 4. r.
Dabney. J. d. Tenser. \. @. Harmon and
X. s. Crump.
When the jury had been secured. the
counsel consulted with Judge Witt and
Commonwealth Attorney Richardson and |
IL was decided TO adjourn the case over |
to 10 o'clock this morning The |
Jury was not sworn. because as Judge /
M4tt stated. they would have TO be .
locked up over night. They were eau |
toned not TO read about the case or dis |
cuss 81, however.
WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
In reference to publication In a morn
Ing paper 10 the effect that counsel on /
both sides had reached an understanding |
whereby the accused would be adjudged /
insane and committed 10 one Of the state
hospitals the Commonwealth Attorney I
and counsel for Mrs. Ellis stated That
here was absolutely no foundation for
such a report.
1t Is believed, however. that n plea OF |
insanity will be made by the defense. i
and In view Of this expected plea. expert
testimony will be offered by the Common
wealth In the case. The accused will
be examined as TO her sanity. and the
evidence in this report will be introduced
" hen the case goes on this morning
After the adjournment Of court Mrs |
Ellis in company with Deputy Weisieer.
went through the City Han and viewed
The city from the tower. She had dinner
Il Fords Hotel. and was treated as con
'iderately as possible under the existing ,