The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-19
ALBERT GUNTLEY
NOW BEING TRIED
Alleged Slayer of Officer
r. D. Austin.
WITNESSES H E AR D
Arthur Thomas, a Colored Barkee,er'
Declares Prisoner the Man.
THE ACCUSED IS UECoNCERNED
Er;dencc SO Far Given is Not Entirely
Convincins-A Number of Wit
nesscs Testify III Rcbuttai Fay-
orabic TO the Dcfencc-noro
Testimony to BE
Given To-day.
Arthur Thomas, a Colored Barkeeoer'
Declares Prisoner the Man.
THE ACCUSED is URCONCERNED

iHe frequently postponed case OF ALBERT
Guntles, alias Albert Coleman. the negro
who is alleged to have been implicated in
the killing Of Policeman Robert d. Aus
Tin. on Easter Monday, April 11th, 1895,
was begun before Judge Witt in the Hus-
tinEs Court yesterday morning, and VIII
probably be concluded to-day.
The case has been pending for some
time. in order that witnesses, both in
Hachmond and in Danviile might be
secured, and about twenty-five witnesses
white and colored, were sworn yesterday.
The evidence in the main. that has been
so. far introduced. Is practically repeti-
fion OF what has been gone into upon seve-
raj occasions, and the main point in >the
present trial is the question of identitica-
ton.
The evidence offered yesterday, with the
exception of tina; given by Arthur Thomas,
a negro bar-keeper who at the time Of
the murder kept at the corner of Marshall
and Fifth Streets. was hardly strong
enough 10 impress the jury.
To-day the Danviiie witnesses will be
given the opportunity to testify.
one significant fact in the. trial is that
none OF the detectives OF Police Head
quarters have identified themselves with
brother-in-iaw o: Sergeant Tomlinson
Officer Foster, Will lie assistance of out
side parties, has worked the case up to
the present status
Guntley was arrested by officer Foster
on November 18th. while q; work on a
gravel train on the Southern Ra!iroad in
Manchester. Officer FCs;er has been IN
RENTING IN his se1rch for the nurderers
OF Officer Austin. for not only did he be-
lieve II his duty, but he feels that great
deal devolves upon him because he was
the first one to reach the scene on the
morning of the killing. before the nlur-
derers had hardly disappeared in the early
morning light.
A reward of $500 is now standing for the
arrest or fer information leading to the
arrest of the rlurdere-s
Dennis Rove, negro. who alleges that
he is detective. has also been active in
hunting up tbs murd.rers, and it was
instnir tor9'r~'' his efforts that Guntley
was apprehended
4he -.,l.-.;i45ii,. ealth's Attorney was as
sisted by Captain George D. Wise. The
prisoner was represented by Mr.. George
L. Wise and Mr.. George N Skipwith.
NOT GUILTY" HE SAID.
Before the indictment was read, Com
monweal:h's Attorney richardson stated
that two witnesses for the Commonwealth.
living IN Danviile. were not present, al
lUbutl i1el Ndu Dten previously JtCpS-
nized for their appearance He had wired
for thsm. but though that the case might
go on, and it might transpire that the Two
Witnesses might not be needed.
When the question was put to the prso-
ner as he stood in his place at the bar. by
Clerk Christian, he said, in a distinct.
clear voice: Not guilty, sir; the Lord in
Heaven knows j amt" He was neatly
dressed and Wore the latest style collar
ana cravat, and did not look in the least
concerned.
some little time was consumed in cali
ing the Jury. Sixteen men were chosen,
and the names submitted to the counsel
for the defence. The sixteen We're ". j.
1arow1I. Jr. L. D. Hagan, NJ. L. oIoell,
u. w. witte, L. Z. Meade, John Rein
hardt, W. Boschen. ]. y. Mosby. ]. w.
Ruftin, Harrison Noting. II. DuYal, 7. j.
Todd, b. L. Purcell, e. p. Lyon, .Adolphus
Blair, Jr-, 4. NJ. Angle. The counsel for
defence struck of Messrs. Boschen, Nolt-
ir~ Todd and Angle.
The Indictment was then read by Clerk
Christian, charging Guntley With the
shooting of Officer Austin, and the Wit
resses sworn The witnesses We're then
sent TO the witness-room on motion OF
counsel.
The first witness was Coroner Taylor.
for the Commonwealth. He described the
nature OF the wounds as he found them
at the post-mortem examination shortly
after the shooting, and he exhibited the
fou. Calls tha; were taken from the body,
which were of different sizes and weights.
leaving The Inference that two pistols
were used.
The next witness was the lad, w. r..
Evans, the market boy who saw the shoot
ing as he was on his way TO the Second
Market. He saw Officer Austin standing
on the southeast corner of Broad Street.
a H. -g,,,fl N,
corner He saw two colored men pass on
the opposite side of the street, one of them
with a wooden leg. and bsilinds them
about a block and haif-were two young
negroes, one yellow and the other black,
and he noticed that Officer Austin Was
watching the latter. When they were
near the corner of Broad and Fifth the
Officer went across and aceosted them,
and the yellow man began 10 fire upon
him. while the black che ran TO the corner
and turned and. fired back once. In the
meantime the yellow man and the officer
we're seuff.inS, the negro finally breaking
away and following the other out Fifth
Street and he lost sight of them. lie saw
the yellow mans face, sbu. did not see the
black mans.
When asked IL the prisoner was the
Slack man, he said, after looking at him
closeiy,..IJe looks like him. but ! could not
swear to IL
OFFICER FOSTERS S STATEMENT.
Officer W. II. Foster WAS the next wit
ness. die had been on duty with Mr.. Aus
Tin on the morning of the shooting, and
was at the corner of Sixth and Broad
Streets when he heard the shooting. He
ran 10 the scene and found his brother
officer on Fifth Street. just off Broad. lie
was attempting to pick up hat and coat
Belonging 10 one Of the negroes, but could
MOI speak because OF severe hsmorrhages
from the mouth. Mr. Foster asked him
several times who shot him. cut could get
no answer. and finally, In reply to a cues
tios- as 10 (which way he went. Austin
pointed on. Fifth Street. and then. In a
0nist voice. asked that he be placed IN a
warss that chanoed TO come up at that