The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-09

drunk to know what he was doing; that
ne Numbered into the room, lay down
o ,et the two beds accidental ny IN ms ms
u .lr.en movements touched the#youln NJ
iaoy and then was discovered lying h al
way under the bed: He, when put c' =
the stand as the last witness. testlned
that he had taken anywhere from snt-
Teen to twenty-five drinks during Iu uts
day. and that after 10 O'Clock that nlgnes
does not remember anything
CURED Numerous witnesses were .pu el'l VI
by the defense during the aftrnoon
who testified to the effect that whiskey
made fool Of Pitts. and that when ne
was under its influence he was like
crazy man.
Possibly the most sensational and dam
aging testimony given was by Allie Hu HUI
band and Terrell Pulley, street car en-
ployes, who stated that on Wednesday, the
day following the alleged attempt at
assault, Pitts told them that he had
had trouble about Miss Willie Morris
and that there was a warrant out Tor
his arrest These men were not together.
but We're told the same story by Pitts at
different times.
MISS MORRIS TESTIFIES
Miss Willie Morris, the young lady
upon whom the assault is alleged TO
have been attempted, was the first wit
ness put on the stand Though confused
and embarras sed she madeta clear VII
ness. Her story to the court was that
she was awakened Tuesday night De
tween II and o'clock by some one plac-=
ing their hands upon her, which SO Ter
5ribly frightened her that she was unapie
to scream, but touched her mother- one
said she was sleeping with her mother
in, he In, which there
another bed, occupied by her sisters, Bes-
sic, and Leslie Morris.
Mrs. Morris, the mother was next call
ed. She said:
II was awakened by my daughter Les
lie calling me. The child was terribly
frightened, so much SO that she could
scarcely speak, and only pointed be-
meath the bed when I asked her what
the trouble was.
UNDER THE BED.
II looked where she pointed and saw
the feet of a, man sticking out from the
foot of the bed. I, with Leslie, ran out
of the room and to the room occupied by
Mr.. Morris and my son Charlie, and
awakened them, saying there was some
one in our room. MIR. Morris and Charlie
came quickly and dragged Pitts from be-
meath the bed
AS to the prisoners conduct since being
a boarder at their home for five months,
Mrs. Morris said it had been most gen.
tlemanly
She said her daughter did not tell her
the full particulars until the next day.
Witness said she saw Pitts after being
taken from under the bed. but that she
could not say. he was drunk.
the sisters and brother of Miss Morris
gave corroborative testimony, as did her
father. None of them thought young
Pitts drunk.
Miss Leslie Morris. the younger sister,
was next called, but was so nervous and
excited that she was allowed to stand
aside for a time. She started upon her
testimony, and said: II woke up and saw
a man standing at the foot of my bed,
and then woke mother" Here she broke
down. and was excused until later.
Miss Bessie Morris, a still younger sis
ter, testified that when she awoke Pitts
was under the bed. Witness did not hear
anything except her brother say, as he
pulled the man cut: why, it is Tom
Pitts!"
She did not think Pitts was drunk at
supper time.
Charles Morris. brother, took the stand.
He related having been awakened by his
sister, the pulling of Pitts from beneath the
bed and carrying him to his room towards
this front OF the hall. He said Pitts had
his arms folded when he was pulled out
and that he was apparently in stupor,
not a bic to speak. He and his father as
sisted Pitts to his own room and laid him
across the bed. At this time Mr.. Morris,
the father, was overcome by nervous eX-
element, and The attention of the whole
family was turned to him for a minute
or two. Witness stated that he re-entered
Pitss' room, and that as he did SO Pitts
raised from the bed and said: Charles,
if l have done any wrong to you or your
family, kill me on the spOt! Witness
said he had not said anything to Pitts
ahcut wronging him or his sister. and
that until that time he had thought him
dead drunk He said Pitts lay apparently
unconscious for eight minutes. He
ordered Pitts to put on his clothes. which
he did without assistance, dressing with
the precision Of a sober man, and that
when he had dressed he and his father ac-
cclrpanied him to the door. Witness said
Pitts did not stagger. When pulled
from under the bed Pitts had off
his shoes, collar and coat Pitts
had evidently, said witness. carried the
lamp left in the hall into his room upon
his arrival that night, as it was found in
there, turned up and burning brightly.
Upon cross-examinati ton young Morris
stated that at the time he pulled Pitts
from under the bed he had no other idea
but that he was drunk, but that his sub
sequent sober action caused him to be-
lieve now that he was pretending.
Miss Leslie Morris was recalled, but
added little to her former brief testimony
When the prisoner took the stand and
had been examined by his counsel, Mr.
Page. the Commemorative Attorney
asked him only one or two questions.
When asked if he denied the facts
charged against him, he replied that he
remembered nothing that took place after
he went to the house, and therefore
could not. Of course deny anything. He
stated that he had the highest regard
and respect for the Misses Morris, and
would no more have thought OF harming
one of them than if they had been his
own sisters.
Arguments were then heard and at
their conclusion Magistrate Jordan held
prisoner for the grand jury. Bail was
fixed at five hundred dollars. and the
prisoners mother went on his bond.