Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-29
LITTLE ONES TESTIFY
Haskell Children Give Evidence
Against DR.. Tibbs.
HEARING AT FORESTVILLE
Magistrate Adjourns Court Until
Next Monday.
COMPROMISE NOT REACHED
Room Cleared Of All Persons Except
Those Directly Connected
With the Case.
HEARING AT FORESTVILLE
COMPROMISE NOT REACHED

At the hearing at Forestville, Fairfax
county, Va, yesterday afternoon. in the
case of DR.. A. S. Tibbs. who was placed
on trial on a charge of improper conduct
toward Mrs Mary Louisa Haskell and her
young daughters. the audience was sur
prised when the magistrate ordered the
room cleared of all persons except those
directly connected with the case.
It was after . o'clock when the con-
clusion was reached that no compromise
would be considered by Mrs. Haskell and
Acting Commemorative Attorney John
w. Rust announced that he was ready
to proceed. Attorneys Walter T. Oliver,
S. II. McCandish and r. w. Stump ap-
peared for the defendant. Mrs. Haskell
and her children testified and the hearing
was adjourned until next Monday MORN
ing at 10 o'clock.
Effort to Effect Compromise.
The delay in starting the hearing was
occasioned, it is said. because of efforts
being made to effect a compromise. but
at the last moment the mother OF the
little girls directed:
"Leet the case go to trial. I don't be-
lieve any jury in Virginia will ever con-
vict my SON.
John ]. Haskell. the son. disappointed
the curious spectators by failing to at
tend the magistrates court.
The testimony given by Mrs. Haskell
that her son knew nothing of the alleged
improper conduct on the part of the ply
sician prior to the day before the shoot
ing bore out the statement made by young
Haskell shortly after he used his pistol.
between the time I heard of what DR..
Tibbs had done and the time I did the
shooting my mind was made up to kill
him."
1t was about $50 o'clock Saturday night
when the shooting occurred. DR.. Tibbs
was seated in front of his house when the
young man appeared and fired the five
shots. Believing he had sent all the bull
lets into the body of his victim. Haskell
went to Constable Floyd F. Reid and sur
to the home of Justice Of the Peace John
T. Follin and aroused the magistrate.
Haskell explained he had done the shoot
Ing and frankly admitted that the only
he had not succeeded In taking the life
of DR.. Tibbs.
He even went so far as to joke about
the revolver. pointing to the weapon on
the table, saying he had paid So for it
tag off.
I'm suffering from a severe pain in
my head" Haskell complained, land
would like to take a smoke If you have
no objection.
IT don't want you to think I am plead
ing insanity" Haskell added, realizing
it might be an easy matter for his re-
mark to be misconstrued. Il am not
insane. and never have been. I knew
what I was doing"
Reasons for the Shooting.
The prisoner related to the magistrate
the reasons for the shooting. and said
he was willing to take any punishment
that might be inflicted. 1t is stated that
in event Of an indictment being returned
against DIR. Ttbbs at the September term
Of the court, r. Walton Moore and John
G.. Keith, who participated In the Stroth-
er-Bywaters case at Culpeper, will take
part in the defense.
Louise Haskell seven years Of age, was
the first witness. Attorney oliver entered
an objection to the witness giving testi-
mony on account of her tenuer age and
one Of the magistrates inquired Of wit
ness: what is an Oath?"
THE truth only" was the response.
"a very good answer" Magistrate Fol-
lin commented.
The child stated her charge against the
physician. She told her sister Edith Of
what had taken place.
Dr. Tibbs?'
Yes sir The witness added she went
with him before the alleged assault was
committed. but did not go with him after
ward. although she lived in the country
about month longer.
Helen Haskell. sister of the preceding
witness, was next called. She is five
years of age and her idea of the mean
ing of an oath was similar to that ex-
pressed by her sister. Witness told the
magistrates that she saw practically what
her sister charged against the defendant.
She thought her sister had nothing in her
hand. The little child said she had gone
riding in DR.. Tfbbs' buggy prior to the
time of the alleged assault.
Dorothy Haskell, nine years Of age, tes-
tilted that she lived in the country during
the past summer. Witness, who was
named as victim of the defendant
charged that his treatment of her was
similar to that charged by her sister
Louise. The time she charged he as
saulted here she was in his house. across
the road from the house her mother and
sisters occupied.
She said she had gone with DR.. Tibbs
in his buggy previous to the experience in
away from his buggy and had nothing to
say to him. The day she charged the
assault was committed her mother was
cleaning DR.. Tibbs' house.
cussed the affair with her mother and
the latter had told her what to say.
Mrs. Haskell Testifies.
Mrs. Mary Louisa Haskell, mother OF
the children. testified that she recalled the
day she sent her daughter. Dorothy. across
the road from the house Of the physician
to the house in which she and her FAM
lily lived. She went to DR.. Tibbs' farm,
she said. at the solicitation of the de-
PENDANT. thinking the trip to the country
would do her husband good.
When her youngest child told her OF
what DR.. Ttbbs is alleged to have done.
the witness said. the doctor was in the
city. She said the children were afraid
of him and would not tell about him until
he went away. When the second COM
plant was made she Immediately made
efforts to return to the city 1t was not
until last Friday, witness said. that her
son. the one who shot at DIR. Tibbs. knew
of the trouble. Witness said she con-
suited Justice of the Peace Follin and
Commemorative Attorney Ford about her
troubles. She also charged that DR.
Tibbs had made an alleged insulting
fo bor tall IN