Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-11-01
The Trial of Wright.

in the Circuit Court OF Alexandra coun-
ty. Judge O. E. Nicol,t and positively
identified the defendant "a the man who
had assaulted her near Luna Park, Sep
TENDER 9. She described to the jury the
manner of the assault
Mrs Gooding was Miss Mabel Risley
at the time of the commission OF the
crime. She has since married Mr.. Good
ing. who was her companion when she
was assaulted.
In mis- opening statement Common
wealtb's Attorney Msckey said the State
would prove by its witnesses that Wright
was the man guilty of all of the crimes
for which he stands indicted. Mr..
Mackev Was follow d by Mr.. ] E. Glenn
ents. who claimed Wright is sober and
industrious negro, Incapable OF having
committed the crimes with which he is
charged. Mr.. Clements Informed the
iury that he would prove that Thomas
was not 10 the vicinity of Luna Park at
the time the attack was made. On
the witness stand Forrest Gooding
rave his age as twenty-five years,
and said 10 was employed at the
gas works in Washington. He told Of the
stroll with Miss Risley on the outside OF
the grounds and of the attack BY the ne
gro. He said that the man as he rose
from the grass threatend TO kill him, and
almost Immediately struck him over the
besd with a club Gooding declared that
he had a good look at the negro and was
positive of the Identification. He said be
and Miss Risley bad walked out OF the
park to Get a drink of water at a nearby
sprjpg. When about 200 feet west OF the
gate be noticed a dark object in the
grass. The witness said the man had
club in one hand and pistol in the
other and the negro used the former,
striking him on the head. Mr.. dooding
said he was dszed by the blow, bat tried
10 reach the park to summon assistance.
He testified he did not see the assault
upon Miss Risley.
Mrs. Mamie L Sullivan, sister OF Mrs.
GoodinR. was the next witness She told
of the return OF her sister the evening OF
the assault, and of her statement made at
the time. The witness said that Mrs.
Gooding bad been in i'll health ever since
che occurrence.
Mrs. Gooding was called to the stand
late in the afternoon, and the courtroom,
which since the trial opening at III
O'Clock in the morning had contained q
lsrxe gathering Of citizous. vas cleared
ofaud,lors by order of the Judge. When
tbe prisoner walked before her in order
that she might survey him critically, she
was yery dtlihersls and very positive 10
her Qualification,
o. taking the stand Mrs. GoOdng, In
rlaip language aud in short sentences,
rold Of The stack and the robbery, in
which she stated, he secured pocket
BOOK conlaiping $40 10 cash and some
Jewels She then gave the details of the
criminal assault commit ed on her. She
st ted lhat she and Mr.. Gooding were
near a spnnr, when Wright sprang out
from the undeTbtush, and with large
stick j. one band and a pistol IN the
other. Knocked Mr. G'odiUg in the head
and tbe0 brutality threw her to The
yfound. and, sitter choking her, assaulted
her and robbed her Of sixteen dollars and
three rings Witness also told the court
of how her husband ran for help after
the ass ,ult, bit when he returned the
negro hal made his escape
Commonwe Attorney Mackey
asked the witness if she saw her assailsnt
in the courtroom. There he is, she
replied, poi1tiDg at the prisoner
"Are YOU lsIlive that he is the man,
asked Mr.. Mackey.
i am positive. There is not the
slightest doubt about it in my mind"
she answ cred. This she re sserted after
Mr. Mackey had asked her if she fully
realized that upon her testimony the
man might be hanged.
After describing her movements just
previous to the assault, she said Mr..
Goodiug ran toward the park after he
was hit on the head by the man and that
she was then knocked down and abused.
PIT Harrington, proprietor of livery
stable in this city, then took the stand.
He testified that Thomas bad hired nix
ut The livery stable about 2 O'Clock the
afternoon of September 9. Mr.. Hsrring-
ton could not recall the tine when the
vehicle was returned.
Hannah Thomas, cOlOred, swore that
Thomas had taken her out tor drive
Sunday afternoon, September 9, aud had
returned ss the bells we're ringing tor
The evening services in the churches.
She throught he had returned the vehicle
to the livery stable between and .
o'clock.
D. Glen |. Jones, of The Emergency
Hospital, MAS the next witness. de
said that Goodiug and Miss Risley had
come to the hospital the night Of Septem-
Der 9. and that the former had severe
scale wound, apparently inflicted by a
blunt instrument, while the young wom-
an exhibited bruises on her throat.
After DIR. Jones's testimony had been
received. Attorney Clements Informed
the oourt that be hsd attempted to Sc
cure the attendance Ct important wit
nesses from Washington, but without
SUCCESS. He asked that the case be
continued until 10 o'clock this morning,
in order that he might make other ei-
forts to bring the witnesses into court,
and The request was granted.
When the case was called this morn
ing Warden Harris, of the Washington
city jail, testified that Commonwealth
Attorney Msckey told him that all he
wanted TO DO was 10 get Wright before q
Virginia jury, as he had been indicted