The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-02
SESSION IN DETAIL.
Commemorative Witnesses Tell
of Mothers Treatment Of Child.

OF M others Treatment of Child.
Promptly ut 10 o'clock Judge Clop-
ton'ascended the bench and the nfthlday
OF the trial OF Mrs. TIstele Townsend
4 Smith, for the alleged murder OF her
small son. Ralph Smith, began. The
Z Jurors. quiet ana earnest looking men,
who seem to realize the burden and re-
sponsibility that rests in their hands.
were carly on the court green. where
\ they stretched Themselves under the trees
and filed their lungs with fresh air. pre-.
IL paratory TO the long and trying hours
Z they were compelled to spend in the jury
I box. M
H Everyone Is looking tired for the hard
work of the week has told on all those
{ who have been in attendance OIL the
h trial. Judge Copton Is the freshest
looking man in all the crowd. although
( he has shown by the questions he has
i now and then asked. that he Is follow
ing the case infinitely. Mrs Smith, the
prisoner. walked down from the jail
with Sergeant Saunders. and entered tho
+ court room promptly with Mrs. Town
send her mother, and DR.. Townsend.
her brother. MIR. n. NJ. Smith and
Messrs. Wells and cogbill. her counsel
also entered at the same time. Mr. Cog
bill had not. up to this time taken any
part in the case. He was introduced TO
4 Mrs. Smith. and her relatives. with whom
Y he shook hands. Mrs. Smith raised her
veil.
2 The jury was called, and Bertha Turner
]. was called TO continue giving her testi-
;nony.
Cross-cxamination by Mr.. Smith:
You never saw her hit him on the
head?"
mo, sir"
you've seen her make him run up
and down the yard?''
Several tines
Were other children therc?"
mo. sir"
't.she made him nlay?''
Yves, sir"
ibid youGtell Mrs. Smith that Ralph
had taken Carroll's brcad?''
Eyes, SIR
she whipped him for IT,
Eyes, sir
Was that on the Sunday before Eas-
terri
Eyes. SIR
when was IT that she gneraliy whip.
Z ped him?"
AT different times
DO you think he was thin because he
couldn't get enough to eat ~
~ know It. SliestMrs. SMITH wouldn't
give him things to eat"
Ibid he not eat more than his father
and his 1nother?'
o.. nc Fulu no IL, y. 500
'You are sure ~
II don't know know she would not
give him enough"
30 you know what made him thin y
mo. sir
This stick Ground stick Was. not this
stick used to prop up tho Kitchen win
dow"
81 don't know. 1 do know that she
y beat him with It"
Here the cour. allowed Juror r. NJ.
4 Moore TO retire to take medicine for
which the court had sent.
!. You say Mrs. Smith kicked Ralph
from door TO door?''
Eyes. sir She would take her foot and
kick him from door to door saw 1t
and 1.inwood saw 1t, too.
ibid yon hear her whip him on the,
morning OF his death
Eyes. went to the fence, but she
made him shut the door"
How do you know she made him r."
II heard her." ss
WAS not the door being shut when
YOU rea ched the fenceg"
He was shutting the door when I
got to the fence
x determination.
Re-eyamined by Mr.. Page:
'.Why did YOU say Mrs. Smith whipped
Ralph as hard as sh ccould 2 "
Because she seemed to try as hard
rs she could"
When did you first see me?"
.'At my mothers house,
did ! ask you questions?''
Yes, about Mrs Smith killing the.