Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-02-09

| house an insurance policy for $1,000
upon the wife Of Willie Thomas, pay
able 10 the uncle" of Thomas. An
drew l.. Davenport The policy was al
so put in evidence
w. A. s. Adams. agent for the Me.
tropolitan Life Insurance company,
testified concerning the insuring of
Thomas life He said that he saw
Thomas only once; that Davenport
made the arrangements for the writ
ing of the policy and paid all of the
first premium except one dollar, which
was paid by Thomas on the night the
application was made al Dayenport's
house.
Wimbush Brought into Case.
Cross questioning Mr. Adams, Mr..
Collier attempted 10 have the witness
identify William Wimbush. negro
who occupied seat directly in front
of the witness stand. as the man who
had been insured in the name of vii.
liam Thomas. The witness said that
Wimbush looked something like the
man, but that he could not say that
he was.
Matte Sanford, the woman who
lived with Davenport, repeated the
testimony size gave before The cOro-
ners inquest. When asked by Mr.
Collier whether or not Willie Thomas
was in the court room. the witness re-
piled that she did not see him.
Didn't Look Like Him"
Having Wimbush pointed out to
her. the woman said very emphatical
~ that he did not look like the man
she knew as Willie Thomas.
DIR. r. j. Simms, who examined
Thomas when the latter applied for
life insurance, stated that Wimbush
resembled the man he examined, but
that he could not swear that he was
the same one
Wimbush's Story.
Wimbush was put on the stand by
the commonwealth. He denied that he
had ever imperSonatei Thomas and
declared that he only knew Thomas
and Davenport casually because he
had worked at the shipyard with
| them. The witness told of his arrest
by Sergeant OIIara. who took him to
the jail and confronted him with
Davenport in The presence of the Ser.
geant, had said that Wimbush imper-
sonated Thomas, had his life insured
and made Davenport the beneficiary
in order to prevent Wimbush's wife
from getting the money
Wimbush told his story in a straight
forward way and certainly convinced
most of his hearers that he was Tell
| liz the truth
Attorney Collier cross-examined the
witness rigidly, but could not shake
his testimony.
Lawyer on Stand.
The last witness was Attorney New.
some. who testified concerning the
ic'N "iiSH III Itttl'tt Oh Tie luOTI-
! ing after the murder in which Daven.
port asked him to prosecute and hang
Sam Johnson for the murder of his
nephew. He said that he did not con-
slider the note privileged communi.
cation and, believing Davenport to he
| guilty of the murder, he turned the
note over 10 Chief Reynolds.
Certain Of having the case sent To
the grand jury upon the evidence
| which had been introduced, the prose.
cution did not put on all Of the wit.
! nesscs.
No Evidence for Defense.
| The defense put on no testimony
and the case was sent to the grand
jury without argument.
There will be grand jury next
| Tuesday. The second day of the Jan.
nary term of the Corporation Court
1t is probable that Davenport will be
tried during the January term.
| Chief Reynolds thinks that the
chain of circnmstantial evidence is as
strong now as ii appeared to be- al
the inquest.
Mr.. Collier declines to have any.
| thing to say about the case.