Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-03
THE TRIAL OF DAVIS
ron SHOOTING Ex-CONGnEssnAN
JAMES 4. WALKER.
SEVERAL WITNESSES EXAMINED.
The Defendant Admits tho CHARGE
INT Claims Sclf-DCfcncc-icsi
mony of Hhca and HAMILTON"
Lively spat i'm Court.

Lively spat i'm Court.
pRIsTOI. TENN, May 2.-(special)--
,-,o trial Of GEORGE +. Davis. Tor shoot
,.e General James \. Walker, was re-
s,r,ed promptly az o'clock this morn
ina
r.. commonwealth introduced \. r.
rf,.kn,an who testified that he was pres
49,. ,,s night OF the shooting; that walk
md Hamilton had some words: that
,,..,rtou used abusive language; that
v..H,r shot Hamilton. and that Davis
.... walker He said that Hamilton had
ST.. hand on his hip pocket when Walker
,t.. him. and was standing UP. Witness
,..s r,. mcd. lie tried TO arrest Da-
,. and Was put out OF the clerks Office.
General walker was then recalled and
identified the Dcrringer with which he
slot Hamilton. It being handed to him by
the police. lie said that Davis had said
that hc should not shoot Rhea.
D F Bailey testified that he warned
walker 10 carry firearms, as ne was IN
Danger
a. j. Wood testified that Davis had
sad that he did not know who shot
walker.
Drs Vance and Pearson, Walkers ply
s.cians, were introduced. and Walkers
coat and vest were removed and the pO-
sIuons OF the wounds shown. The doc
tors said the wounds would eventually be
well. and that no serious trouble was OK
pected. The shots were just three inches
apart one being in the right arm and the
other in the shoulder.
JUDGE RHEAS TESTIMONY.
The Commonwealth here rested, ana
the defence called Judge William J.. khea
10 the stand. Judge Rlea said he was
present at the shooting, ana gave lhc
positions OF tho parties lie stated that
Steiner had been asked 300 qucsuuIa Oh
examination before supper anu tiiaI
number OF questions hdd petn "ahcu
after supper, when walker asked Steiner
where Walker Mountain was. ana Stcit-
ner replied that he knew Of tWo-one was
two miles from town ana the oihef IN
this contested case walker saIg any
body could act the damned fool. Homil-
ton who was acting as his (khCds)
counsel. asked If he applied the remark
10 him Walker said he would proceed
with sober counsel but would not go
further with a id drunken sOt as
lawyer. Hamilton said. IF you mean
10 say / am drunk. you are damn lar
Walker az once arose and shot Hamilton.
Nd.
act Of rising. with his hands on his knees.
'rho cOmmOtiOn here became SO great,
continued the witness. that the smoke
from Walkers pistol kept him from see
ing who shot Walker He did not know
Walker was shot Till some time after
wards. Davis held Walkers hand during
the first racket Walker threw him off,
and said: Cd id you. don't hold me;
YOU are no friend Of mine; go and hold
your own friends" Davis apolOgized TO
Walker for holding him, and Walker
again cursed him. Hamilton was drink
ing. bu, was not drunk. Walker was eX-
cited and witness thought he was drink
ing. All pHl-es left The room When the
shooting took place. Walker ana taltee
won't out hurredlv. leaving witness and
Hamilton standing. Witness went 10
Hamilton and asked him il he was shot
stone and Price then returned TO the
CLERK STONE
J. A. stone was then called 10 the
stand h, testimony being about the
Same a- Judge khea's. He said that he
saw tWo Shes from "a pistol. but could
not say 81 was DaVis's pistol. lie was un-
armed. ID. examined Hamilton immedi-
at.E after the shooting. Hamilton did
r. hY. any arms on lis person. Nncn
Walker shot Hamilton he had his hand
Ol HimltOn's shoulder Hamilton, after
it.uc shot. got up and said, Il am shot
ID ls "a coid-hlOOded murder. Boys, l am
done for" Then turning 10 him Ohe wit
nesl he said: Jim, take care OF my wife
and children"
George L. Steiner was next called. and
his testimony was the same I'm all essen
tial points as that of Judge Rhea's. lie
said that Hamilton did not seem mad,
and that his remark which brought on
the shooting was made as a joke. The
shooting was very unexpected TO him.
c. J. Kidd and NJ. Il. owen We're intro
duced. and their testimony corroborated
the other testimony.
HAMILTON'S STORY.
w S Hamilton took the stand for the
defence. lie said ne had had one or two
drinks the night of the shooting but was
not drunk. lie told Walker II me sald ne
was drunk ne was a DIN liar Walker AT
once shot him. lie had his hands ON his
knees and was I'm the act of rising when
Walker shot him. He did not know VINO
shot Walker
George H. Davis. the defendant. was
tbrn Introduced, and said that he was
holding Walker and trying TO prevent him
from Shooting and that Walker had MS
ristol i'm his hand. Walker threw nun
off and cursed him. and he returned 10
ris machine and leaned over the table
Ia -roio~izod 10 him. Walker again
cursed him. Walker shot Hamilton ana
Immediately turned toward nun. WIN
Ills arm raised and his pistol SMOKING.
IIa Thought Walker was going 10 Suoot
lin, and he drew his 32-calihre smith X
1Vcesou and shot Walker twice. paws
,,ae corrObOratcd regarding W dlhcl
uosltion By Kidd and stone.
A lively spat was INDUCED in by me eX-
Conercssman and Lawyer John W. Price.
The ComWonwealth was asking Davis
regarding Walkers reputation as dam
rerous man. and was desiring % cOntlne
Inc testimony TO Walkers home. i'm
NVvtheviuc Mr.. Price in bis speech re-
ferred 20 Walkers reputation i'm New
born. Va. This brought Che cN-Congrcss-
man 10 his feet with the remark that
Il hope You win make % reputation
Price replied: 81 hope t0 God l viii
never make such reputation as YOU
have" The Court accepted the apologies
Of the parties for this break and add
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