Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-01
Manchester
and
hesterfield.

Never before in the history of the staid
old town of Manchester has g. murder
trial attarcted so much interest among
the negroes as that of Ernest Davis (col-
ored), who is charged with stabbing john
Henry Stokes. colored companion, IN
the back to the heart.
Every available space in the Corpora
ton Court has been crowded since the
trial began Monday. Negro women, with
their children. are also keeping up with
the proceedings with unabating interest.
All the spectators on the outside of the
railing OF the courtroom. Each one
maintained the silence which is exacted
by Judge Ingram. Not one of them was
heard to predict the fate of the ac-
cused. whose eyes seemed to appeal to
the court for mercy while the fnstruc-
tons were being argued. Davis was
brought into the courtroom by Sergeant
Saunders.
J. R. Pollard, the colored lawyer, who
is representing the accused free of cost,
objected to certain portions of the in
structions offered by Commemorative At
torney c. L. Page. The entire day was
spent in arguing instructions, and the
case will probably be given to the jury
at an early hour this morning.
Commemorative Attorney Page con-
tended that to find person guilty OF
murder in the first degree it must be
proved beyond doubt that there was
a. former design to kill. The hypothesis
is that if the victim came to his death
through the improper treatment of the
wound inflicted by the accused, YER
dict for murder in the first degree may
be returned
Marcellus Hatcher, Sidney Hilton, and
Wyatt Calls, all co1ored, who are
charged with being accessories to the
crime, will probably be tried tomorrow.
Manchester is one of the few cities in
the State which bears the distinction Of
never having a hanging to record In its
history Some of the oldest citizens say
that if Davis is sentenced to death his
will be the first hanging ever witnessed
in the town.
WIFE ILL; HUSBAND MISSING.
INQUIRIES were made a the home Of
Mrs. Newly II Everett street. last night
concerning the whereabouts OF her son,
Gus Bottoms, who is alleged to have
slandered the fair name of Miss Eva
Farmer and caused her to commit sui
eide Mrs. Newly said that she has not
heard from her son since his mysterious
departure after he learned that Miss
Farmer had killed herself. She does not
know where he went and has not heard
from him at all.
Mrs. Bottoms, wife of the missing man,
is critically i'll at the home of her father.
in Chesterfield county, where she went
INN ediately after the suicide, with her
child.
DENIES KITTEN STORY.
Mr.. Charles H. Sharp. superintendent
of the Manchester Water-Works. denies
the story given to a Dispatch reporter to
the effect that several kittens had been
taken from the water tower. The story
emanated from rumors circulated by boys
who had seen a dead cow and several
dead cats near the water tower. Mr..
Sharp was seen last night by the Dis
patch reporter. He declared that moth
ing could be found in the water tower
which would appear obnoxious or objec-
tionable, except the James river mud. :"
The tower was recently cleaned out and
is now in good condition.
The Prairie En- Route for Norfolk
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, September 30
The United States auxiliary cruiser Prai-
RE. which arrived at the League Island
navy-yard from Boston on Sunday night.
left the navy-yard to-day, and passed out
to sea en- route for Norfolk. She has on
board 400 landsmen taken from the
cruiser Minneapolis. which is being used
as receiving ship at League Island.
One hundred and two marines will leave
the navy-yard tomorrow, and go to Nor
folk by rail.
FINE cow STOI FIN