Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-31
WRIGHT'S TRIAL BEGUN
UNDER INDICTMENT CHARGING
4 CRIMINAL ASSAULT.
Is Also Indicted on Three Other
Charges-Synopsis of Evidence
Taken Today.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. October 81. 1906.
Joseph Thomas. alias Wright. colored.
was placed on trial In the circuit court OF
Alexandria county this morning at 10
O'clock. Judge c. E. Nicol presiding. on
the charge Of having committed j Grim.
inal assault on Miss Mabel Risley now
Mrs. Forest Gooding of Washington. Two
witnesses were examined UP to the time
of adjournment this afternoon.
The examination Of witnesses was re-
sumed at 2:2O o'clock, when Deputy
Sheriff Howard Fields took the stand
About ten witnesses in all have been
summoned. and it is expected that the
case win be given to the jury at q late
hour tonight. Mrs. Gooding will be placed
on the stand late this evening. She did
not enter the court room this morning
during the trial.
The prosecution is being conducted by
Commonwealth Attorney Crandall Mackey,
and the prisoner is represented by Attorney
James e. Clements. assisted by Basil -.
Boteler.
After delay n about ten minutes a jury
composed OF the following citizens Of the
county was secured: Lucien c. Sanford,
L. R. Bail. Thomas r. Shipman, Henry
Lockwood Charles h. Harrison, Robert 8.
Walker, CALVIN s. Marcy w. H. Kendrick
John B. Henderson, jr., T. F. Rotchford,
Elmer e. Speer and Henry L. Croson.
OpSu1uS argument.
The opening argument was made by
Commonwealth Attorney Crandan Mackey.
who made plea for the conviction of
Wright. and he was followed by Attorney
James E. Clements. who represents the
prisoner. Attorney Clements made quite
a long argument, during which he asked
Wright to show the jury his teeth. which
the prisoner did, Wright was apparently
so amused that he laughed aloud. as did
every man on the jury. Attorney Clements
told the jury that he would prove before
the close OF the trial that Wright was not
the man who had committed the offense.
Wright was apparently the least con-
cerned person In the court room, although
he was apparently deeply interested in the
evidence submitted and at times appeared
to he trifle nervous.
The taking of testimony was begun at
1890 o'clock this afternoon, and the first
witness placed on the stand was Benjiman
Dye, who stated that the night of the al
legged assault he was employed as a special
policeman at Luna Park. and that Gooding
came to him and Informed him that lady
had been taken away from him outside the
grounds Gooding, he said, was in an ex
cited condition, and was hatless. and wit
ness accompanied him.
Witness continuing told the court that he
found Miss Risley lying on the ground
in highly nervous cond ton. She told
him, witness said, that she had been as
saulted and had been robbed of $16 and
tnree rings. Mr.. Dye tOlO the court Cnat
it was about o'clock at night when the
alleged offense occurred.
The witness was put through a long cross
examination by Attorney Clements. but
his evidence was apparently not shaken.
Before leaving the stand the witness was
examined by Judge Nicol. who asked him
several questions touching what Miss Ris-
ley told him when she met him.
Testimony Of Charles Price.
Charles Price, chief of police at Luna
Park. was next placed on the stand. He
said he was at the main entrance to the
park about o'clock. when Gooding came
to the gate, and witness asked him what
was the trouble. Cooling told witness that
a colored man had taken his girl away from
him. Witness and Mr.. Dye heard cry
emanatng from Miss Risley. and upon his
arrival she told witness that the negro had
assaulted her. Witness said she was crying.
Later witness accompanied Miss Risley
back to the park grounds, he said.
The witness also explained that the
young lady was about 800 feet from the
spring near Luna Park. He also stated
that there was considerable underbrush
where the assault occurred. After the ex-
animation of Mr.. Price. which was 30
O'Clock, court adjourned until 2:20 o'clock.
The offense for which Wright is being
tried occurred near Four-miie-run in close
proximity to Luna Park, Alexandria coun-
ty. the night of September 8 last Wright
has three other indictments pending against
Boney, colored, which occurred near Long
bridge the night Of October %. He also
stands indicted for criminal assault on
Annie Green. colored. which occurred the
night that Boney was murdered Wright
is also indicted for a felonious assault
with intent to kill Forest Gooding,
which occurred the night of the alleged
assault on Miss Risley now Mrs. Gooding.