Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-11-17
Verdict May Be Reached in Davis
Murder Case Today.
THE TESTIMONY is ALL IN
The Defense Strengthe ems Its Case by In
PRODUCTION Of Many Witnesses. The
ms ructions. Other Hump
ton News.

the close IN the County Court and I'M
less some unforeseen thing happens Is
cause q delay, the prisoner, r. Hall
Davis, Jr., will very likely know his
fate tonight.
The hearing Of testimony for bot,
the commonwealth and defense has
been concluded. Argument in the case
was begun yesterday afternoon and
today it is thought Will bring the hear
ing to an end. In. case the jury are
able to agree upon L verdict it Will
very probably be late this afternoon.
The session of the court yesterday
was again marked by many legal dis
putes between the counsel who repre-
sent the prosecution and Mi Fay s.
Collier who is defending Davis with
telling effect, both upon the jury anu
the large crowd of spectators Who have
been in attendance upon the trial since
1t was begun three days ago. Howev-
er, more progress was made during the
nearing yesterday than any previous
day.
The commonwealth did not adduce
any evidence yesterday, but announced
when court opened that they rested
their case.
Eight witnesses testified for the de
Tense. and the case was then submitted
to the jury SO far us the evidence is
concerned.
Tho defens. by its course yesterday
cndcavored to make it appear that the
colored men. who testified in the case
in behalf of the commonwealth had
formed q conspiracy among themselves
in charging that young Davis had COM
mlttcd the deed which resulted in the
death Of Jettie johnson. claiming that
such a conspiracy was concocted in
der TO free one Of their number from
having to answer 70 the charge Of muir
der.
T. Hall Davis Jr the young man
who is indicted for the murder was
placed on the stand. ana made an *
cellent witness in many respects.
Yesterdays PROCEEDINGS.
Court convened promptly at 10 O'Clock
and rs soon as the customary preim-
lnar!es in opening such tribunals had
been dispensed With, the roll call Of the
jury was made each answering in the
affirmative in response TO his name
when recorded by County Clerk Holt.
AS soon as this had been complied
With commemorative Attorney Mon
taSue announced that the common
wealth had concluded its testimony
and would here rest their case This
was somewhat OF u surprise to the at
torne! for the prisoner, who had ex-
pected the commonwealth attorney
TO produce several more important
witnesses.
DAVIS ON THE STAND.
The evidence for the defense was
commenced and MI. Davis the prs-
orer, was called to the stand.
After being sworn young Davis, VINO
seemed TO be perfectly at ease about
the result Of mis- case. said that at the
time of the killing Of Jettie Johnson in
his saloon, he was the proprietor IF tn.
place. He strenuOuSy denied having
committed the murder. The witness
said Cardwell Johnson the Old sollie,
and several others We're in his place Of
business. and that Cart,wen and tha
soldier wanted to play game Of cards
He refused TO allow them the cards
q
started among the men. He Went on
attending to his business when he
heard something drop on the floor.
Turning around he saw Johnson lying
stretched out on the floor of his sa-
loon. He could not say who had done
the deed or With what kind Of an IN
strument the fatal blow had been
struck. Further than this. the prison
er said he knew nothing whateye;' Of
the crime. Davis was put through
quite q sharp ss-eXamina ton. but
all along held to his assertion that he
knew nothing about the deed further
than what he testified to during the
main examination. Davis gave his
testimony in clear distinct Voice. and
it was the opinion of many Of the spec
tators that he made an excellent i'm
preston on the minds of the jury.
When Davis left the witness stand
Sergeant Fred Cunningham was sworn
and testified as to the condition Of
things around the scene Of the murder.
when he arrived at Davis saloon
Sergeant Cunningham said upon reach
ing the place he Immediately began an
investigation to ascertain Who had
killed Johnson. He questioned many
of the witnesses who went on the
stand and said they saw Davis strike
the colored man, but a. that time not
one Of them knew who had commit
ted the murder. He wanted to place
the guilty person under arrest but as
no one seemed to know much about the
tragedy he was compelled to wal, until
the cornnerS jury met, when the col
ored men claimed Davis as the guilty
person
Mayor J. Barron Hope, in giving his
testimony, said he wen. to the saloon
Of Davis as soon as he was Informed
that a man had been Killed. He made
every effort to find out something
about the crime. but no one seemed 10
know who mad struck Johnson the fatal
blow. He went there in official capa-
city for the purpose Of assisting III
bringing the murder to a focus. The
only reference he heard connecting Da-
Wis with the murder was made by the
negro. Cardwel!, who 1T that time
claimed he had heard Mr.. Davis say
he hit Johnson to make him keep quiet,
with 4. Ratchet. His Honor then rclat-
ed what happened at the coroner's in
quest.
The Daily Press CORE spondent was
here called to the witness stand to les
tifyas to the knoW-nothing" disposition
Of the negroes gathered around and in
the saloon, when the reporter arrived
at the place Just after the murder had
been committed.
The hour for dinner having arrived,
court took a recess until 2:15 o'clock.
THE AtF,TE,RNCC,N SESSION.
When court convened afte:' the din