Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-03-23
First Day of the Todd Trial.

0 First Day of the Todd Trial.
At 10 O. clock Tuesday morning the
hustings court convened for the pur-
" pose of proceeding wi h the trial of
u tie wealth vs. j. I. Todd,
the particulars of which are still
I fresh in the minds of our readers. The
% inst business was the securing of a
jury. The regular list was exhausted
before the jury WAS secured and the
e court sent out after additional citi-
t zens. Finally jury was found and
Y the following gent 'emen We're accept
s ed: N. G. Kester, Morgan Byrnes, L.
a w. Hager, J. II. Bryan, W. j. Swink,
r g. D. Higginbottom, H. E. Loving,
/, j. w. Lovegrove, George Bowers,
. George Bosserman, Joseph Valentine,
B B. Buchanan, James F. Bowman,
j. b. Lickliter, A. M. Howison and
l.. W. Foster. The defense after con-
sultation struck off G. D. Higginbot-
tom, N. G. Kester, A. M. Howison and
George Bowers, leaving a jury of
twelve men. The jury was then sworn
and the prisoner, J. L. Todd, was or.
dered to stand up and the indictment
was read by Clerk Argenoright. Wit
nesses for the commonw ealth were
called by Mr.. Braxton and sworn and
sent from the court house.
} One of the witnesses bore the name
Of Sam Jones ard the calling Ct his
name created no little amusement.
, w illnesses for defence were called by
Mr.. Tim berlake of counsel for defence
and likewise sworn and sent from the
room. Stenographer Henderson, who
was present to take down the evidence, |
was also sworn.
Commonwealth Attorney Braxton |
then made the opening statement to
the jury setting forth what the Com
monwealth expected to prove. Mr.. J
Braxton acquitted himself handsome
ly and received many compliments for
the clear manner in which he stated
his side of the case.
G. w. G. Barnes. of the defense, per-
formed a like duty for the prisoner
and while poetical to a certain ex-
tent, talked to the point. When MIR.
Barnes concluded recess for dinner
was taken, but before so doing, the {
court gave Instructions to the jury not
to speak to any one concerning the
case on trial.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On converting after recess Miss Jes- +
sic Rogers. of Highland county, was r
the first witness called. She is the
person who sWOre out the warrant +
against Todd and Is one OF the princi-
piles in this celebrated case. Witness
stated that she lived in Highland
county had known the prisoner since
December 81, 1898, met him on that
date in the store of Bishop & Shuinate
in Staunton. where she went to en-
quire about schedule of trains going ,
to Stuarts Draft. Defendant came in
there and introduced himself. She 6
next met the prisoner on the 30th of +
January, 1899, on Main street in $
StauntOn, passed him Oh Main street
near National Valley Bank about 5
O'Clock, spoke to him but had no con-
versation with him. Witness said :
she was in service at Stuarts Draft, but
left On account of the work being too
hard and came to StauntOn in search
of work, applied at Western State
Hospital and Blind Institution, re-
turned to Highland House between 5
and 6 O'Clock, prisoner teiephoned her
that his sister Was i'll and asked if she
could not remain over and stay with
her; said she wonid, but did not
know exactly where his sister lived.
Prisoner then agreed to come after c
her and escort her. He came and
they left Highland House, going out 9
East Frederick street. Turned down
and crossed Main. Said she told pris-
oner that she thought sister lived on
Sears Hill. Prisoner piled that she
did at one time, but had moved to this
end of town. Entered house in Gas
House alley. Woman met them at
door and asked them to walk up
stairs. On reaching room prisoner :
took off his hat and overcoat aid
asked witness to take seat and take {
off her wraps. Prisoner then said that q
this was not his sisters house, but his
own, and wanted witness to stay with I
him, prisoner would give her money !
and board her at Porter House. |
Forced himself on her lap. Witness
cried and asked him to remember his
own sisters. Got off her lap and she
got up still crying for prisoner to re-
lease her and take her to Highland
House. He.fnaily consented and took
her near Mary Baldwin Seminary and
left her. She went to Highland House
and from there to Mr.. Henderson's.
Told Mrs. Henderson what occurred.
Next day swore out warrant and left
for West Augusta.
On cross examination witness did
not change her statement, and counsel
for the defense found her a hard wit
ness to handle. She denied emphat.
ically having agreed to accept OF hav-
ing received money. Said she signed
paper to withdraw warrant to keep
out of court and not for money.
Counsel for defense attempted to
get in question as to witness char
acter, and after lengthy argument it
was ruled out.
At few minutes to O'Clock wit
ness left the stand, having been held
there for more than three hours.
Ida Scott, cOlored, was the next
witness. She occupied house in Gas -,
uouco alIav and testified that Todd