The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-18
supposition As to Miss Keister's Con-
dition Ruled Out.
TESTIMONY OF YOUNG WOMEN.
The Most Damaging Testimony
Against the Negro Is His Own DIFF
ferent ssatcments-The History
of the accident and Alleged
Crime. Arrest and In-
dictment of Wallace.
Especial Dispatch to The Times.}

tSpeeIaI blSQatcn TO Inc Times.
FINCASTLE. VA. September 1.-THE
trial of Paul Wallace tcoloredl. charged
with assauitins Misses keisser and LIN
genhooker. began to-day. The Indictment
read charges him with assaulting Miss
Keister. He pleaded not guilty. The
commorwealth's Attorney In his opening
address stated tlat the young woman
would not be able to tell how they were
injured, but the chain of circumstance,
evidence was complete.
MISS kEISTER ON STAND.
When Miss Keister was placed on t,e
witness stand this afternoon the Common
wealth endeavored to show by her test,-
mony tha, she is encient, Judge Breek-
enridge ruled the testimony as improper.
as u would be only a suspicion that she
was In that condition: expert testimony
alone could show she was. and then 1t had
not been shown that witness had as
Saulted her.
The ladies testified that they could not
recall anything that happened. Tr was
shown that the top of the buggy was up
and the curtain down. Witness testified
that wagons were very near tine scene,
and others saw the horse gailopng.
TOLD TOO MANY STORIES.
The most damaging evidence against the
negro are the different stories he told
The COMMONWEALTH will close to-nor-
row morning. So far its case is weak.
The mystery of the case Is whether the
women were attacked at all. and If 1t
was an accident, how did 1t happen?
THE OCCURRENCE.
On the 18th of August Misses Nellie
keister and Bessie Linhenhoker. the
former of Montgomery and the latter OF
Botetourt, cousins. who had been to
Roanoke in q buggy, were found lying In
the road near Cloverdale, unconscious
and injured. Miss Keisters skull was
fractured and Miss Linkerhoker had a
bad wound on her head.
The horse and buggy were nearly
quarter of a mile further on. On the
seat of the buggy were the mats and -, a
pocketbook, which were where they had
been .aid. and this was taken as eyt-
deuce that the horse did not run, and It
was not an accident.
THEY RAvED.
This and the rawlings of the young Wo-
men. and the further fact that some
claimed there was evidence or atIe.nPt-
ed criminal assault. caused common
wealths Attorney Allen TO engage De-
tective baldwin
A negro named Paul Wallace. who lived
near CloyerdaIe had walked home over
the same road on the afternoon when
the young women were injured HIS
movements, the time and circumstances
agreed with that of the movements or
the ladies', and he was arrested ana
shrought TO Roakoke. Ee admitted that
he was on the road that afternoon, snue
declared he was innocent
ADDED TO MYSTERY
The young women added to the mystery
bv protesting to have no knowledge how
they were injured. and yet reports were
in circulation that they re.ated that they
saw n negro strike them. The negro was
i-,dsctsd at the August term. and HON
f Jones was engaged to defend nim-
THE lawyer is firmly convinced OF the IN
norence OF the negro. He mas witness
whn saw the horse running away. ev..
dence that the young women had stopped
the buggy and also that their garments
mad NOT been disturbed by hand
He further argues that no one man
could have struck two women IN 9 oussy as,sy
While IL was IN motion. and no one Wouia
have made the attempt on public ROAD,
u,ith another vehicle close behind.