Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-02-25
FIRST ;tvl0EAcE IN
TIE DAVENPORT Al nj CAsE.
ass 80 --- -.
Attorneys for defence Fighting
Against Introduction Of Note
JODGE RESERVES HIS DECISION
Important Qucstion viii &c rssaed
Upon Tomorrow Mornins-Wit.
nesseo Say Thomas Started for Pris.
oher's House on Night Of Murder.
'nourancs Policy in Evidence,


was heard in the Corporation Court
yesterday. Court adjourned at 5
o'clock in the afternoon. Just after
the attorneys finished arguing upon
an objection by the defense TO the adj.
mission of a note written by Daycn.
port to j. !. .Ncwsomc. the colorcd
attorney who is assisting in the pros.
ecutloh, on the morning after the
murder.
Judge Barhanl said that he would
look over the authorities submitted
and give his decision when court re-
conveneu tomorrow morning al 10
o'clock.
The jury was delivered into the
custody of City Sergeant Milstead.
whose duty it is to keep the jurors
together and to see that they talk
with no one concerning the case and
do not read the newspaper accounts
OF the trial. The sergeant and his
charges spent last night at the Lex
ington Hotel
with the attorneys for the defense
hehting strenuouslv against the ad.
mission OF testimony and rigidly
cross examining The witnesses. the
proceedings in court yesterday we're
SLOW and firing. A lively contest ovcr
the most important point raised, &c.
suited in Il victory for the prosecu.
ton. Numerous exceptions were
noted by the defense.
Panel Completed.
-Four jurors we're needed when court
convened yesterday morning and it
was after II O'clock before the panel
was completed. Ten venircmen we're
examined before the four Qualified.
Then the attorneys for the
defense struck The following
names from the list: f.. o. Adam,
L. V. Gray, w. v Green and T.. T.
Shewmake. This left the personnel
of the which is trying Davenport for
his life as follows:
Frederick Shawen, James Mortimer,
r. Benthal, L. n. Forbes. Fl. w.
Daughtrey. Harry Weaver, John Wi.
ley ). j. Baker NJ. w. Daily, w A..
Spruell, Il c. Gay and II. NJ. Bigger
First Witness Examined
Police Officer w w. Morrison. the
hrst witness to take the stand, testi.
he'd concerning the finding OF the
body OF Willie Thomas on the night
of January 80 near the corner of
E"enty-ninth street and circuit ave
nue.. He described the position of the
corpse, which lay upon its back with
derby hat on and one hand in over.
coat pocket. The man evidently had
fallen dead without struggle There
were great gunshot wounds i'm the
back and face. The officer then pro
duced two notes, which lie said had
been found upon the breast of the
dead negro in an envelope addressed
Special to the Police, Newport News
Va"
Noted in Evidence.
These notes we're offered In evil
dence and admitted.
One note, written in ink with an
apparent attempt to disguise the
hand, read as follows:
Special to the police This man
will not bother my woman no more. =
On the back of this was written
'Jany. 1906 your Doom Willie Thoma,
You can take a mother man Woman
So die"
The SECOND note, scrawIed with a
pencil upon a different kind of paper
than the first. read
Yes I ment to Kill him and his
Lord a. l.. Davenport and Johr
Brooks also and Booker and the hole
dam company Of them if they don't
stop"
Freohiy Fired She'll.
Before leaving the stand Office,
Morrison said that he picked up q
freshly fired 12-bore shot gun shell!
within Ave feet OF Thomas body. lie
had given the shell to Chief Reynold
and therefore could not produce IL
Chief Reynolds and all other wit
nesses in the case had previously
been excluded upon Mr.. Golfers mo
ton
Sergeant Mitchell.
Police Sergeant Mitchell who wept
10 the scene Of the killing With. DR.