The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-30
EVIDENCE CLOSED
In MURDER TRIAL
1trong Case Made Against the
Negro Ernest Davis.
NO IlDlNGs OF GUS BOTTOMS
Neither. Mother Nor Wife Have Heard
One Word from the Man and They
Arc Uneasy About Hin-News
from the Southside.
Manchester Bureau. Richmond Times.


death John Stokes, another negro, points
to q verdict of murder in the first de-
gree Should this verdict be rendered
by the jury and the negro pay for the
crime with his life, it will be the first
hanging ever held in Manchester.
The Commonwealth rested its case yes
tcrday afternoon shortly after s o'clock
having consumed about five hours with
the exception of dinner time. The de-
dcnse was comparatively brief only con-
Stunning about an hour and half
Davis WIS placed On the stand by his
counsel and kept there for good While.
lie was subjected to a rigid cross exam1-
nation by Commonwealth Attorney c.
l.. Page, and weak points in his tesn-
mony were numerous.
He denied having said that he struck
Stokes with his left hand while holding
the knife in his right he also denied
having made statement while IN a cell
in ths Police Station to Officer Wright
and a reporter. Then he denied most posi-
lively having admitted that the knife
found by Hilton and shown to him was
the one he had borrowed. AT the tine
this knife was found 1t was taken by
Officer Wright to the city jail, where
Davis was confined and shown to him.
Yesterday he denied having said this,
though three witnesses for the Common
wealth testified that he had acknowledged
the weapon as the one he borrowed.
From the time the court opened yes
terday morning at 10 O'Clock until last
night at Z, when 1t adjourned to this
morning, there was a crowd that filed
the room from the railing to the door,
spread seated around the windows and
extended out on the green. Fully two
nd in the
court-rooma
J. r. Pollard (colored). of Richmond.
Is representing Davis. and he made
good impression. The argument will be-
gin this morning as soon as the instruc-
lions are submitted.
NO NEWS OF BOTTOMS.
No tidings have as yet been received by
the grieved mother or Frustrated wife
from their son and husband, Gus Bot
toms. who left his home Friday morn
ing. the day after the suicide of Miss
Farmer. until it should all blow over.
as he told his mother at the time.
Mrs Newly, his mother, was seen
again last night by a Times writer, and
expressed the deepest anxiety for her
son, having heard nothing from him since
he left His wife and child are in Ches-
terrified with her father. Mr.. Brown, and
She is in bed with sickness. which coupled
with the fears for her husbands safety,
has nearly driven her mad.
The aged mother now goes about her
work with bowed head and heavy heart
The trouble is telling on her. Gus Bot
toms is her only son. the only child. The
srnothered cry for revenge. the uncertain
ly felt for her sons safety and IFS alb
sence without word from him, has left
its mark upon her brow.
On sick bed. with her little two-Eear-
old child playing around the floor, family
lsping the name Of father. the young
wife OF Bottoms mutters silent prayer
that he may soon be allowed to return In
absolute safety.
The scene shifts. and alone in an hum
bic cottage farm house. two aged people
sit by a large open hearth and mourn
the loss OF their only child, their only
daughter, the pride of the household,
and the joy of their existence In the
little orchard in the rear of the house.
there is a newly made grave. Wild
flowers strewn across 1t. give forth their
sweet fragrance. while above in the little
apple tree little bird sits and sings.
IT'S the grave of Eva Farmer. Thu two
persons by the fireside with bowed heads.
are her parents. They are thinking of
Che day she sent bullet crashing
through her heart They ere thinking
OF the cruel and serpent like rumor
which blasted the happiness Of their
daughter and sent her to her grave.
To- MoRRow LAST CHANCE.
Tomorrow night promptly at 8 o'clock
the registration books for Manchester
will close. Though a small percentage
OF voters have been registered SO far. it
Is. hoped that a large number will come
forward within the two days remaining
and attend TO the important matter. One
thing not to be overlooked by those
wishing to register. is that the polls
will close promptly ct 8 O'Clock.
There will be no waiting.
TWO ACCIDENTS.
little girl and little son OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Hawks. of Chesterfield
county. have both met with rather pain
full accidents within the past TWO days.
The little boy while playing on "a bench
day before yesterday fell Off and hurt
himself Very seriously Yesterday the
little girl swallowed a tap from the
wheel Of q play wagon.
Both are under treatment of DIR. Law
renee Ingram. at this time. and doing
very well.
KNOWN HERE.
Edward Is. Watkins. the negro who
shot Motorman Baber. OF the Clay-Street
line. anu WHO NOW Hes AT tTe lily Hos
pitaI IN a prccarouS condition as a re-
suit of wounds inflicted by the angry
1ciiow-workmen OF tie motorman, Is
known to the police OF Manchester as
bad character. In 1876 he shot a negro
named James Boyd and seriously cut
MIR. Herman Fisher IN fight over here.
This was on Christmas day. and the
shooting occurred at the corner OF
Seventh and Hull Streets. Officer Wright
Went over 10 Richmond yesterday morn
Ing. but being in i hurry 10 come back
TO court, he Was unable to see the negro
Accompanied by the groom's brother
and sister Mr.. ]. Paul Jones and Miss
irene BASS lett Richmond tins morning
Tor Washington. where they will be mar
Iled. In the nature OF surprise comes
this announcement only privileged
Jew knew OF the intentions OF the couple,
II being the wish OF the BRIDE ina, IL
be kept secret.
MISS Bass 10 a beautiful young lady OF
Swansboro, and numbers her admirers
by the score. She Is a usetui member
IN the churcn to which she belongs Mr.
Jones is a FURNITURE dealer OF Richmond,