The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-08
THOMAS PITTS PLEA
is DRUNKENNESS
Nr. Harry Smith Will Represent
Him in Police Court To-Day.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTS RUDD
Or. Bsgby Elected Moderator of Middle
District Baptist Association-Lamb
and Wallace May Speak in
Manchester Monday.
SCHOOL BOARD ELECTS RUDD
Manchester Bureau, Richmond Times,
No l1o2 Hull Street.

The Southern Railway, who was arrested
Wednesday night in Richmond on a war
rant charging him with attempting Grim
tnal assault upon Miss Willie Morris, the
seventeen-year-old daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs S. NJ, Morris. of No. 1873 Porter
Street is held in Manchester Jail awaiting
q hearing in the Police Court this morn
trE The case was called in the Police
Court yesterday morning. but upon mo
ton OF Mr.. D. l. Pulliam. counsel for
Fits. was continued until this morning.
Squire Jordan, who is presiding over
the court in the absence Of Mayor Mai
rice, has entered an order to the eject
that the courtroom will be cleared during
the trial of the curious crowd ana only
tho officers of the court, witnesses ana
newspaper representatives Will be allowed
TO be present
Pitts was refused bail and com1nit'eo
to Jail.
Yesterday afternoon Pitts retained Mr.
Harry Smith. Of Richmond. to appear
with Mr. Pulliam as his counsel in the
trial.
The accused was arrested Wednesday
night at 1920 o'clock by Officers Clark
son and Bradley, of the Richmond force,
and officer Wright, Of Manchester. at
the Office Of the Southern Express Com
psny. He was brought to Manchester
and spent the night at the police station.
Miss Willie Morris. the young lady upon
whom the assault is alleged TO nave been
attempted. is only seventeen years OIL
age and very pretty. She is the daughter
OF Mr. S. NJ. Morris, one of the most
prominent business men in the city, and
whose family is most highly respected.
Mr.. Pitts had for several months
boarded in the Morris home and had
the confidence and respect of the mousse
hold. Being thirty years old he had
never been thought Of as paying atten-
tons to Miss Morris.
Pitts defense is drunkenness lie does
not deny being found in the young lady's
room, but explains his presence there by
the fact that he was drunk and missed
his way to his own apartment in the
same house
The alleged attempt Of assault was
made last Tuesday night. the delay in
swearing out the warrant being due to the
fact that Miss Willie Morris was not
able to make Il statement of the case
until Wednesday afternoon.
THE GIRLS SCREAMED
On Tuesday night after all the MEM
bers of the Morris family had retired,
loud screams awakened MIR. Morris and
his son. and carried them directly to the
young lady's room.
Here. after some investigation, they
found Pitts under the bed. He was evil
IDENTIFY intoxicated. so further than to
him against ever entering again. there
action the part of Mr.. Norris
The young ladies were alarmed and ter
l'ibly nervous as the result of the affair.
and il was not until Wednesday afternoon
that Miss Willie Morris confided in her
mother the details Of the affair She
stated that Pitts awakened her by being
on the side of the bed and handling
her SO roughly that she was frightened
terribly.
The details of her story Infatuated
father and son. and at once young Morris
armed himself and set out on the hunt
for Pitts.
WARRANT ISSUED.
That trouble was brewing was evident.
and to prevent more serious results, Of
.icer Smith swore out warrant for Pitts,
upon which he was arrested.
qha calling of the case ir the Police
Court attracted a large crowd OF
curious citizens who packed the
small quarters almost to suifocation
Among the witnesses summoned IN the
case are: Talmage Crosby. s. NJ. Morris,
c. T. Morris. Mrs. Z. A Morris. Miss Les
tie Morris, Miss Bessie Morris. Allie HUI
hand and Ferleii Pulley Mr.. Charles l..
Tage represents the plaintiff. The case
was not gone into at all yesterday and
while there is q curious interest taken
In the trial there is not the slightest dis
causing trouble or violence. Thomas
Pitts home is at Twenty-first ana Broad
Streets Richmond.
MIR. RJDD ELECTED
Mr.. w. F. Rudd, of Chesterfield coun-
ty, was elected assistant principal of the
Manchester public schools by the School
Board in regular session at the BAN
bridge schoolhouse last night Mr.
Rudd received six out of the nine votes
cast He is elected TO succeed Professor
4. b. Smith. who recently retired. Mr.
gaadd is a graduate of Richmond College
having completed his course there in 1898
and afterwards attended the University
College of Medicine, where he has recent
ly been elected assistant instructor in
chemistry.
He states that he has had six years
experience as q teacher having taught
in the county schools and at the acad-
envy at Brookneal. Va. Mr.. Rudd was
an applicant for the position a year ago
and lacked only few votes Of being
chosen then.
He submitted to the board testimonials
from his Instructors al Richmond Col
lege anu a personal letter from Professor
c. S. Mitchell, at that institution, in
which he spoke in the highest terms of
MIR. Rudd The board was also referred
TO the faculty of the University College
of Medicine by Mr.. Rudd.
county and is known quite well in Man
chester A letter was addressed to him
last night informing him of his election.
There was full attendance at the
meeting. Mr. ]. ]. Bayley, president,
presiding. and Mr. /. NJ. Nunnaly, acting
secretary. Superintendent Pulliam
was present and called the attention of
the board the plan on foot by the De-
partment of Public Instruction looking
towards the Introduction of mechanical
training in the schools.
The beard decided to postpone its con-
siderauon until the next meeting.
LAMB AND WALLACE.
il is probable that Captain John Lamb
and Mr.. Jefferson Wailac. the two can
didates for Congress in the Third Dis
trict. will speak in Manchester on Mon
day night.
An effort is being made by the officers
of the two clubs uLamb and Wallace). |
To have a joint meeting on that night,
when a general invitation TO the voters