Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-12
TRIAL OF DR. PARSONS
HE TAKES THE STAND IN HIS OWN
BEHALF.
Denies Miss Bricker's Charges In
Every Particular-Other Evidence
Heard Today.

Heard Today.
| When the trial OF DR.. Randall Parsons, a
| well-known local dentist. indicted for al
legged criminal assault on Miss Bessie Brick
| er, the eghteen-year- daughter OF Mr..
| Samuel Bricker, was resumed this morning
| in Criminal Court No. l the room was
crowded with spectators. The deepest in
| terest was manifested in the proceedings.
Not only laymen, but many members of
the bar followed the testimony closely.
| The first witness called today by the de-
| Tense was Mrs. Rosa Saks, who was to
| testify regarding the condition of the win
| dows at DR.. Parsons office the morning of
\ the day of the alleged assault. Objection
\ was entered and Mrs. Saks was excused.
to be called later in the case.
Mr.. Eugene Oettinger, formerly a clerk
| in Ballantyne's store, told the jury that
the stairway passing by the Office Of DR..
Parsons was almost constantly in use Maj.
| Samuel H. Walker. Mr.. Goodwin Y. AT
\ Lee. Mr.. S. r. Bond and Mr.. E. 8. Holmes
| took the stand in the order named to tes-
| tlfy that the arrangements Of the dental
| chair and other tixings about the office were
| the same when the jury visited the building
yesterday as they were about the time OF
the commission of the alleged assault last
October.
| The defense next called Francis A. Sc
bring, deputy clerk Of the Police Court
| Henry johnson, United States deputy mar
| shall on duty at the Police Court. and Rob-
| ert c. Jones. a bicycle dealer. The substance
of their testimony was that In the course
OF her statement on the witness stand at the
| time of the preliminary hearing of the case
| in the Police Court, Miss Bricker gave a
| description of what was done to her gar
| ments while in the dental chair which was
| contrary to the account of the same reclt-
| ed by her in connection with the trial now
| in progress.
Dr.. Kirke's Testimony.
DIR. Edmund W. Kirke was called as an
| expert and testified to the various forms
of heart disease and the conditions that
| might be brought about by excitement. He
| said If one were so affected that one could
| not resist assault. the same person could
| not walk out of an Office in an unconcerned
| manner On cross-examnation the doctor
! said person might walk out after ten
or fifteen minutes for recuperaton.
Mrs. L. N. Forbes of %1 o street. who
called at DR.. Parsons office at the time OF
| the alleged assault upo4 Miss Bricker, her
errand being to pay bill. was also wit
ness this morning. Mrs. Forbes said when
| she approached the office the outer door
was ajar slightly. She raped DR.. Parsons
answered in person. He seemed excited
| and nervous and perspiring freely. He
| said he had suffered more from the heat
than he had any dag during the past sum
mer. Mrs. Forbes did not the colored
! boy who usually in attendance She
| saw lady's hat on the center table. but
| could not see the dental chair nor if any
| one was in it. She paid her bill and made
| some remark about it being excessive. The
doctor was so excited, however she did not
press her point. He insisted upon giving
| her u receipt, and she waited until he wrote
| Upon being cross examined Mrs. Forbes
| said if there had been any noise or outcry
| in the adjoining room she could have heard
| 1t, as oaly a screen separated it from the
reception room. She produced the doctor's
receipt, written at the time Of her visit
and it was exhibited by the defense to the
| jury.
Miss Bricker's Testimony In Police
| Court.
Joseph Harper, deputy clerk OF the Police
| Court, testified to having taken steno-
graphic report of Miss Bricker's testimony
| at the hearing before the lower tribunal.
| He identified the transcribed copy Of his
| notes and said it a verbatim report.
| Mr.. Worthington said he proposed to read
certain extracts from the testimony which
| he had asked Miss Bricker If she remcm-
| bered stating, the reply being in the mega
tive. The testimony was given to Mr..
Gould, the assistant district attorney for
examina ticn. Mr.. Harper said Miss Bricker
took her Police Court experience rather
| Cooily. She was on the stand two hours
and a half and at recess he heard she suf-
fered from heart trouble. A physician was
\ in attendance and was consulted once dur
Ing the trial, nut said tine examination
| might proceed.
| Dr. Jefferson Fl. Johnson. dentist. said
| he was in DR.. Parsons office at 3 o'clock
the afternoon the assault is alleged to have
| occurred. 1t was warm Indian summer
| October day The windows in the office
| were all open as well as the door. DIR. Par
| sons told the witness he had a patient in
| the chair.
| Charles B. Brooks. clerk, was also a
visitor at DIR. Parse rs Office the afternoon
| in question 1t warm day. and wit
| ness had been riding on the electric cars to
| keep cool The main windows We're up.
| but he could not see into the operating
| room In leaving witness closed the door
| but Dr. Parsons came and opened it before
| h" had reached the head of the steps.
| AT this point the noon recess was taken.
I In His Own Defense
| The defendant DIR. Parsons, took the
stand Immediately after recess and pro-
ceeded to relate his version of what oc-
| CURED the afternoon Miss Bricker alleges
| she was assaulted The doctor denied the
| charge in toto. He said by no word or act
| on his part could offense have been taken
| by the prosecuting witness. He suggested
| nothing improper to her. did not kiss her,
| nor did he disarrange or attempt to dis
| arrange her clothing.
She came to my office by appointment
| the day in question: said DIR. Parsons,
| 10 nave d lODtn Hlleu. l was a little late
| in arriving. Upon coming in l remarked
! that 1t was quite a warm day, and then
| took off my heavy coat for a light working
| jacket While filling Miss Brokers tooth
| l was interrupted several times-once by
| DR.. johnson, who said he stopped in to get
! cool; again by Mr.. Brooks. who stopped for
| a moment; by a man who wanted to sell
| matches and by Mrs. Forbes
| The defendant recied the details of his
| conversation with Mrs. Forbes regarding
| her work. When she came in he was wash
ing his hands in room adjoining the re-
| ception chamber having polishing powder
| on them Miss Bricker he had left with Il
| mouth mirror examining her teeth and the
| recently completed work.
| Pleased With the Filling
| when Mrs. Forbes had gone | returned
| to the operating room. Miss Bricker said
something about the filling looking very
| nice. 1 said. Now, Bessie, when can vol
| come for The balance of the work? She re-
! piled she could come at any time. and l
| suggested Friday afternoon. That was sat
| isfactory, and the engagement was made
| We walked out to the reception room