The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-21
{ DANCEY's STATEMENT.


He met DR., Bass as he came out Of the
postofiice. lie was then standing about
the middle Of the sidewalk with Dr. Bass,
at window near the door, talking about
his wife and little boy, who had been sick,
when Dr. Baker passed between them and
went into the postofflce AS DR.. Baker
came out and reached the door DR.. Bass
seized him and began to strike They
went back into the postofiice and then
out, DR.. Baker first and DR.. Bass follow
Ing and striking Stepping to the side
walk, Bass held on to Baker. Baker
ran across the sidewalk, pursued by Bass
AS Baker ran, witness saw him reach
Ing to his pocket, where a pistol protrud-
ed. Bass was grabbing at him, trying to
seize the pistol. t5@
About the middle Of the street Bass
caught Baker by the coat in the back.
Baker stepped out, and still reaching for
his pistol, retreated to the sidewalk. On
the crossing at Cooks drug store Bass
caught up with him. Baker by this time
had his pistol out. He turned and adj
vanced towards Bass about three steps.
Bass held by those attempting to part
them, 1unged forward and caught the piss
toll, which was almost instantly after
wards discharged, 1.-The powder burning
Bass hand Baker advanced. about two
steps and fired a second shot the fatal
one NJ At THE time the last shot was fired
Bass arms were held at his back. The
witness, when he saw Bakers pistol. has
tened to seize him. He seized II aker, but
did not get his hand on the hand inSwhch
the pistol was grasped until the second
shot had been fired. The witness men
toned Colonel John L. Brldgers, Her
bert jenkins and Martin sarstarphen
ianong thcAe attempting to ,:part tho
two, and as the men. who at one time or
another had hold OF Dr. Bass.
Colonel Bridgers only saw Bass have
Baker by the coat In the street, and be-
fore the shooting, which took place af-s
ter the sidewalk was reached.
s4 ANTI MORTENI STATEMENT.
DR.. Bass anti-mortem statement was
then offered as evidence. The dcscrip-
ton OF the encounter, as given by Dr.
Bass. states that no words We're used by
either. The very sight Of Baker made
his blood boil. but he promised his
friends he would not kill, unless forced
to do So The fight began at the post
office. Baker broke away from him.
He pursued sBaker to prevent him using
his pistol He had the pistol in his
hand. When discharged, he was pulled
back. He did not know that but one
shot was fired. He thought this was
done when against the front of Cooks
drugstore. F
b OTHER WITNESSES.
Will spraggins testified that he, hear
Ing shots. ran from the stables near the
Town Hall. When he reached the corner,
he heard Baker ask:
ibid hit him?'' 5
Witness replied he did not know. Some
one, the witness was not positive who,
but thinks 1t was J. r. Moore, said:
You know you put 1t in his stomach.
and fred"
r. II. Moore was introduced Fla saw
the fight after the sidewalk was reach
- III 49,
from that Of Mr.. Dancey. DR.. Bass. when
he took hold OF the pistol, had been shot,
He did not hear Baker say anything af-
ter the shooting was over, nor had lo
any recollection Of having said u word
to him.
"A, B. Cosby did not see the fight. He
was In the bank. He came out when he |
Bakers coat to the office. He heard
DR.. Baker say that he had put two into
him, He could not swear whether he
used the word "durn" or damn" pre-
ceding the him"
4 DIT Station testified as to tho wound
and the course of HE bullet.
]5i DEFENDANTS STATEN EMIT,
The testimony OF the defendant did not
differ materially from that offered by the
State. This fact was stated by counsel
for the defense. Tho case was sub
mitted to the Judge without argument,
the State announcing that It did not ask
that the defendant be held without bail,
The defense added that OF course, 1t was
understood the case had not been fully,
gone into, but only so much as to enable
the Judge to determine the matter before
1im-the question Of ball.
Judge Brown said there was no evil
dence Of murder In the first degree, and
the plea of self-defense having been In
terposed. without expressing an opinion
as to the lower degree, IT. was his duty
to require the defendant to give bail for
his appearance at the next term OF Grim
inaI Court, when 1t would he lncumhent
upon him to satisfy jury of the sum
cheney of his plea, A Justified bond Of
$4,000 before the clerk was the order.
This was promptly given.