Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-22
Witnesses Swear They Saw Indian
Beat Dora Hall and Heard
Him Threaten TO XIII Her.
Fourteen on STAND YESTERDAY
Commonwealth Still Has Much Tcsti.
mony to Introduce, and Case May
Not Get to Jurq Before Friday
Prosecutor gndcavorins to Keep
Records Clear of Exceptions.

Records Clear of Exceptions.
That Harrison Witchcwah beat and
threatened 10 kill Dora Hall only a
few minutes previous TO the time tnul
the woman received her death wouno
IN the rear OF Charles w. Whiting S
saloon at Warwick avenue and Twon.
ty-fourth street on the night of De
combcr I, 1907, was proven by no loss
ihan four witnesses in the Corpora
,icn Court yesterday. The testimony
OF these Witnesses was very damaging
to the prisoner md Try as they would
the attorneys for the Indian hais-
breed were unable TO shake ii on any
material point.
Another BIT of damaging evidence
was offered by ELLIS Morris, the bar
tender in Writings saloon at tn
time of the shooting. He declared
that IA few seconds before he hear1
The shot fired in the back room OF
the saloon. Witchcwah appeared at
the door of that room. which door
opens into The saloon, and, after
standing there a few seconds. again
disappeared into the room. Amos,
| immediately the shot rang out. Two
of the other witnesses ON the stand
during the day stated that they too
heard the shot and saw Witchewan
run out of the alley in the rear of the
saloon and up Twenty fourth street
TO the Chesapeake Ohio RAILWAY
4 yard. One of the witnesses. Nellie
Lewis, negro inmate of house Oh
Twenty-fourth street. saw the Indiin
leap the fence surrounding the railwa
yard
I! Present indications are that the
case will not go to the Jury before
Friday afternoon. Only 10 of the IL
WITNESSES for the commonwealth have
been examined ana. as several OF
these will be recalled TO the stand.
the commonwealth probably will not
lest its case before tomorrow
The attorneys for the defense ina, Q
about 1G witnesses summoned and
after they have been examined the
commonwealth may put on several
Witnesses in rebutlal. The argument
and the instruction TO the jury prop.
ably will consume the greater part
of one days sitting of the court.
Court Roem Packed.
The court room was packed 10 its
capacity at both sessions of the cou.
yesterday, the crowds being even
larger than on tbs opening day Of "a.
trial. Owing 10 the ludcrous answers
of some of the negro women witnesse.
Under cross examination. City Ser
Beant Milstead had considerable trud
Die i'll maintaining order and once OF
twice Judge Barliam threatened q
clear the court unless better order
was maintained by the spectators.
| Witchewah apparently was calmai
yesterday than on the opening day oi
the trial. He seemed to take more
notice OF the proceedings and follow.
Cd the testimony closely Sitting be
side him was Mr.. Blanton. of Kansas
who is the interpreter of The Pottawat
tonic tribe OF Indians. He has known
/ Witchcwah since he was . boy an,
probably will be put on the stand to
testify rs 10 The prisoners previous
character. The Indian frequently con
vcrsed with Mn Bianton during ih,
day. speaking at tines in English and
again in the language of his tribe. lie
had but little to say to his attorney.
! except when questioned on some
point of The case by them.
Fifteen Witnesees.
| Fifteen witnesses were put on ihC
stand by The commonwealth during III.
day and for the most part The testi-
mory offered by them was decidedly
against the accused. The attorneys
for Witchcwah had an uphill fight
throughout the day, being unable IL
shake the witcsscs or cross oxamln
alton. II is believed that the defenst
will cndcavor to prove that Witchc.
wah was twrling his gun on his fin
ger and that while doing so the wea-
pom was discharged The plea prob,
ably will he made that the India,