Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-03-30
JURY FOUND TODD GUILTY
As Charged in the Indictment and
Fixed His Punishment at Three
Years in the Penitentiary--Se
tence Suspended.
WEDNESDAY.

tence Suspended.
WEDNESDAY.
The hustings court convene
promptly Wednesday moIningat $50
enter upon the second day OF the trl'
of j. Il. Todd. AS on the day prev
Gus there was large crowd preSeI
eager to hear every word of the ev
dence.
Meyers Fertig was the first witnes
called. He testified as to the 'phon
message received at the Highlan
House for Miss Rogers. Said it wa
from Todd, and that it was to th
effect that prise ner'S sister was l
and he wanted Miss Rogers to sta
with i.er. His evidence corroborate
the evidence of the unfortunate gill
John Peer, proprietor of the Higt
land House, next took the stand. Sal
he met prisoner there on the night Q
January 30 Heard prisoner tell Mis-
Rogers his sister was sick and wante
her to remain week or ten days wit
prisoners sister. Said Miss Roger
agreed to go and they left his hOus
together. Paper signed by Mis-
Rogers Withdrawing warrant, etc.
was handed witness. Said he recOg
nized it, that j. Todd left with him $12
to pay the girl to withdraw, etc. Dit
not know whether girl read paper be
fore signing the ;same or not, that b.
told her he thought 1t best for her tt
sign. Did not see Miss Rogers on hel
return on the night Todd took he
away. Said he still had 1925 Joe Tod(
gave him. Would hold money unit
ordered to give it, up by court. Money
| was given to him and not the girl
Here the witness became worried, anG
said that as so many second hand law
yers were around he believed he would
take out license. Laughter.
Policeman SimpsOn-Am a member
of Staunton police force. Acquainted
dersOn g, that Miss Rogers complained
to him as an officer of the trouble with
prisoner. Said Ida Scott lived in
StauntOn. Knew the house Ida lived
in was house of ill fame, that she had
been reported to police justice and
grand jury.
Captain Waters, chief of police OF
Staunton, followed Mr.. Simpson. He
said Ida ScOtt's house was one OF ill
fame and that that neighborhood had
bad reputation. Warrant for arrest
of prisoner was given him, but could
not find him. Miss Rogers complained
to him. Was with hey when she
swOre out warrant, 1t was ten days
after warrant was issued that prisoner
was arrested. Searched for him in
city and could not locate him. Sent
police to West Augusta and still failed
to locate him. e
M. n. Sutton = Acquainted with
prisoner. Saw him on Central av
enue on morning of January 81. Did
not know where prisoner was going.
Landes the Liveryman-Acq uainted
with prisoner. GANG to his stable on
of 31st January about 11:30
and left shortly afterwards. Only
spoke to him.
George Newham-Knows prisoner.
Saw him January 81 in morning.
Prisoner was going out Central av-
enue. 1t was either raining or snow
ing.
J. N. Kerr testified to the same facts
as told by Sutton, Landes and New,
ham.
TIA. Carroll-LiYe at West Augusta.
Saw prisoner near his home on Church
vile road. Witness was fox hunting.
Rode with prisoner a few miles. A
man named Specie was with the ac-
cused. Prisoner told witness if any
one asked him (CarrolD if he saw him
(Todd) to tell them no. This was
about o'clock p. m.
Mrs. Laura F. Cross-Resides at
w est Augusta. Known prisoner seven
or eight years. Known Joe Todd
shorter time. Would recognize their
voices. Heard conversation between
Joe Todd and prisoner over phone.
Heard voice say hello. Prisoner
was at Mountain House and called up
Joe in Stanton. Heard prisoner say
this is Jim; is that you, Joe? How is
things or tricks? Joe said: Goods not
saleable; can't do anything. Then pris-
oner asked: Has Barnes seen Landes?
Do you think / had better 60 on? Re
ply by Joe: Nothing can be done; do as
you think best. Witness positive
about voices. Then heard voice say:
Tell Mr.. Dore horses all right, I'll be
back tomorrow.
Said Miss Rogers had lived at her
house since End February. Witness
said she had nothing against prisoner,
and was not active in prosecution,
only taking the part CT protecting
poor innocent girl.
Mrs. Cross remained firm through
out and proved a bad witness for the
defense. All attempts to rattle her
were fruitIess. Here commonwealth
rested and recess for dinner taken.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
On convening after recess John L.
Todd. the accused, took the witness
stand. Said he was born in West Vlr-
ginia and came to Staunton in 1881
Saw Miss Rogers for first time on De
cember Is, 1898, at store OF Bishop q
Shumate. MIR. Bishop introduced nm
| to Miss Rogers. Only talked with hel
few minutes about Highland people
Next met her on evening 20th Decem
ber at his saloon in hall door. SIT
asked him about train to Stuarti
Draft. Then she went to G. " y. depo
and came back to his saloon. ASKED
him for place to wait for train. TOlt
ner saloon no place for a lady. Sh
then asked him who lived VI
lstails. He told her. including
his bed room. She asked TO occup.
his room. Told her she could not
Miss Rogers then left and next say
her en- her return from Stuarts Draft
lCame to his saloon about 5 p. m. o.
January 80 and asked him for So. H
ldeclined to give it to her. She in
lyited him to come to Highland Hous
that night at 10 o'clock. He declines
to accept invitation. Next saw her u
Main street near New street. Passes
lher on street and only spoke. Next say
lher on Central avenue In rear Y. M
IC. A. She called him across stree
and asked for money, and he gave he
SO. She said come up to Highlan'
House at 10 o'clock. Said he wa
afraid. She asked If could not g
ELSEWHERE. He said yes and promise
to phone her in lieu of writing note
She fixed up story for him to tell to dt
ceive Mr., Peer. He phoned. Then went u
7:3O. Rang door bell and Mr.. Peer me
him. Asked her if she was ready to
and told Mr.. Peer about taking Mis-
Rogers to his sisters home, that b
sister was sick. They left and wer
o,t Eraderick to COalter and dow