Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-17
Farmer Policeman Tells Jury Ne
Had No Thought Of WFanelng
Esther bdck.
LITTLE GIRL REPEATS HER STORY
cav. Prisoner Treated Her improp-
e.y When She Went to His Home
to See His Sick Wife--Accused on
Stand When Court Adjourned for
the Day.

Taking the stand in his cwn l"haN
late Yesterday afternoon. Il. 1. Jonen'
the former police officer who is chark
ed with having ate mpied 10 criminal
" Assault, little Esther Blick. the ~
year-old daughter of Mr., and Mrs. u
w Bl,ck. of East End. told the jury
in the Corporation Court that at the
time of the alleged crime he had no
more intention of wr0nging the htt'e
girl than he had OF wronging an an
gel in Heaven. Why | had rather
be hanged or shot than to harm III.
tie crippled girl like her. exclaimed
the accused.
The witness emphatically denied
that he had the girl on his knee ana
declared that an evil tholsht ABOUT
her never entered his head. He sara
that al the time he was sitting IN
chair In the Kitchen OF his home ana
that the child was standing beside
him. In response to a question from
his attorney. Mr.. r. NJ. Lett as to
whether or not he put his hand on
the child the accused said he put
one hand on her crippled knee and
asked her about il.
AeeuseSs Testimony Unfinished.
When Judge Barham adjourned
court at o'clock yesterday evening.
Jones testimony was far from COM
pleted and he will be recalled to the
stand when court convenes at 10
O'Clock this morning After placing
little Miss Blick. Mrs. Blick and De-
tectiye Sergeant Henry Bridgers on
the stand, Commonwealth Attorney
Charles c. Berkeley rested the Gaze
shortly after 5 O'Clock yesterday az
tefnoOn. When the defense rests
Captain Berkeley will put on evidence
OF the statements made by Jones yes
terday afternoon. Present indica-
tions are that the case will not get
to the jury before late this afternoon.
The Jury.
Jones was placed on trial on the
indictment charging criminal assault
at 10, o'clock yesterday morning. Lit
tie dificulty was experienced in en-
panelling jury. the twelve men Sc
lected to try the case being as fol-
lows:
E. v. Jones. craftsman, 3l7 Forty
ninth street
d. E. Phillips. carpenter. ZIG
Twenty-th'rd street.
R. E. Maddox. clerk. 22l Twenty
sixth street
o. G. Thomas. driver. 2503 circuit
avenue.
J. ]. Baker. grocer. 23ll Roanoke
avenue.
A. B. Giraud. clerk. 1877 Twenty
sixth street.
J. T. Marston. clerk. 1870 Thirty
fourth street
Malvin c. Weaver. bookkeeper. 2009
Chestnut avenue
w. H. Rohrbach, machinis:, 31S
Forty-ninth street.
Court Room Cleared.
After the jury was empanelled.
Judge Barham ordered the court
room cleared and Captain Berkeley
then placed little Miss Bick on the
stand as the first witness for the
commonwealth. During the recital Of
her story. counsel for the accused OBJ
jected TO part Of her evidence being
admitted. The jury retired from the
court room and the point was argued
by the ATTORNEYS until court adjourn
ed for the midday recess. When
court recopvened in the afternoon.
Judge Barham announced that he
would allow one Of the questions oh,
jected to by the defense. and that he
would sustain the objection on the
second question.
Then the jury was brought hack
into the court room and the little
girl continued her story. She told
practically the same story as related
by her at the hearing t"fore Justice
Brown In the police court She vas
croes-examined at some length by the
attorneys for the defense. hut her ies-
timony was not shaken on any ma
feriaS point.
-. Little Girls story.
The little girl told the jury that on
July is. the date OF the alleged
crime. the accused asked her TO 20
to his home to wait on his wife. who
vas 81 In bed At the time She went
with him and while they were in the
Kitchen she said ne took her on his
lap and made improper advances to
ward her.
Mrs. Biick. mother Of the girl. was
The next witness. She related what
her daughter had told her Of the az
fair.
Detective Sergeant Henry Briig"rs
Who arrested Jones On the warran;