Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-07
FOR CRIMINAL ASSAULT
Randall Parsons, Local Dentist, on Trial
in Police Court.
Testimony of Miss Bessie Bricker, His
Alleged Nictim-Is Closely
Cross-EN amined.

| assault Miss Bessie +. Bricllcr, october
| IS, mention of which has already been
| made in The Star, was today arraigned be-
| fore Judge Scott. Parsons was represented
| by Messrs. Campbell Darlington and Albert
| Sillers, and Mr., \. Il. Mullowuy prosecuted
| the case for the government. Parsons was
accompanied by his wife and another lady,
Who sat near him while the examination
| was in progress
Miss Bricker, who appeared TO be very
| i'll, entered the court room leaning upon
the arm of her father. She was also ac-
companiod by her mother and sister
After being sworn, Miss Bricker said she
had been acquainted with DR.. Parsons for
about six years. He was a friend of the
family, and had often done dental work
for them. On the 18th of October she went,
In pursuance of an engagement, to DR..
| Parsons office to have two teeth filled,
After the work was completed, and before
she could leave the office, she said, Parsons
kissed her. She resented this, she de-
clared, and Parsons then assaulted her as
charged. She resisted by every means in
her power, but Parsons, she declared, over
powered her The reason he gave for his
conduct, Miss Brcker said. was that he
wanted to make her love him. Soon after
Parsons had accomplished his purpose, she
said, lady came to the door and was ad-
mItted to the room. Parsons escorted the
witness from the room and told her not to
say anything about what had transpired.
, She became very ILL., she said, but took a
car and went directly home. She was so
sick upon arriving home that she went i'm
mediateiy to bed. She did not tell her
/ mother of the occurrence. she said. until
the next morning, when she related the de-
tails to both her parents.
The Observation-Disclosures.
Miss Broker was cross-examined at
length by Mr.. Darlington, but her testi-
mOny was not shaken When asked why
she did not scream more than twice, as she
had stated, she replied that she was unable
to do so. She was also afraid, she said,
that If she made any more outcry Parsons
might kill her.
When asked by Mr. Darlington why she
did not tell her mother Of the assault the
evening it was ALE Sed TO have been COM
mitted, Miss Bricker broke down, and IN
an agonizing tone Of voice replied:
1T was an awful thing to tell my
mother
Mr.. Darlington said it had been his ear
nest desire to avoid such a scene as the
present, and he deeply deplored 1t.
Judge Scott suggested that the time had
arrived to take a recess, ard all persons
hastily left the room, leaving Miss Bricker
with relatives and near friends, and she
gradually regained her composure.
Witness Has Heart Trouble.
The court reassembled at 1:15 pm, and
Miss Bricker, the complainant, again took
the stand. Mr.. MuIowny stated to the
court that he had been informed by Miss
Brokers physician that she was suffering
greatly with her heart, and he feared that
a too lengthy CroSs-eXaminatiOn would
prove a serious matter for the complainant.
Mr.. MulOwny added that he could not limit
Mr.. tarrnStOn IN the number of his queS-
tons but he had, by request, called atten-
ton to the condition of affairs as they now
exist.
Mr.. Darlington. after stating that he had
used every means in his power to prevent
the case being heard in the Police Court.
preferring to take the question of Parsons
guilt or innocence to the higher court, de-
Clared he was unwilling, it would be I'M
fair tc the young lady, to further cross-eX-
anime her at this time. In concluding, MI.
Darlington said:
In view Of the facts stated, I earnestly
appeal to the court to postpone further
nearing Of the case until a future day
Physician sworn.
Prosecutor Mullowny said 1t was desirable
to have the cr0ss-eXaminatiOn concluded to-
day if possible, it was preferable to
spare the witnesses from again coming to
the Police Court. Mr.. Mullowny asked that
DR.. W. H Atkinson be called to testify as
to Miss Brokers condition at the present
time, and the physician was called.
DIR. Atkinson took the stand and said in
his opinion Miss Bricker was able to endure
further cr0ss-eXamnation this afternoon,
but not prolonged Questioning. Mr.. Car
rington asked Or. Atkinson if he had not
said Miss Bricker in such "a condition
that q prolonged strain might result seri-
ously, and the physician replied that he
had
Mr.. Carrrgton then resumed the cross
examination. He asked The witness a great
many questions. To one of these Miss
Bricter answered that after she told her
parents about the alleged assault her elder
sister called on Dr. Parsons and charged
him with the commission of heinous
crime.