The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-15
STATE FINISHES
CASE IN CHIEF
Twenty-Five, Witnesses Examined
During Day in Harris
Trial.
RAPID PROGRESS is MADE
General Opinion Is That Defend
ant Will Be Ac-
Quilted.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.

< Manassas, Va. Juno 1.-THE trial
Of Professor j. d. Harris, for the kill
ing of w A. Thompson, associate
editor of the Warrenton virginian, in
the town OF Warren.on. April 81, 1909,
was delayed for two hours this morn
ing, owing to some important wit
! nesses for the Commonwealth having
taken a through train at Cdlverton,
| with the result that they were carried
! past Manassas 20 Alexandria, court
having TO adjourn at II o'clock to
! await their return to Manassas. Rapid
1 progress was made with the case to-
| day, in all, twenty-five witnesses be-
| ing examined. Nine of these were for
| the commonwealth, and thirteen for
| the defense.
AT o'clock this afternoon, after
having examined its witnesses of the
day, with a view TO showing that
Thompson was very much intoxicated
at the time ne was shot By Professor
Harris, the Commonwealth announced
that ii had finished its case in chief,
except that 1t reserved the right to
call the widow of the dead man to-
morrow
Witnesses Wide Apnrt.
state in the prosecution admit that
Thompson's conduct towards Harris
at and for some time, prior to the
shooting was not at all that II should
have been. yet They do not admit that
this conduct was such as to cause a
prorocation for the shooting. and in
>crder TO repel the defendants plea
OF self-defeEse, the commonwealth is
Undertaking 10 show that Thompson
was so drunk on the evening of April
"a 1909. that he was not physically
capable of inflicting any bodily injury
on Professor Harris.
The witnesses for the prosecution
and defense are wide apart in their
testimony as to Thompsons condition.
the former swearing that Thompson
was drunk, some of them say very
drunk, While the latter say that
Thompson was drinking. but that he
full possession and control of himself
1t is IA significant fact that thus far
only one exception has been taken to
the ruling OF the court In the case
One Exception Taken.
This exception was noted by Mar
shall Mccormick. when John ~ Coons.
a witness for the state. was allowed
to state that short time after the
shooting, the wounded man said TO the
witness: John, | am shot all to
pieces
It appeared in evidence to-day that
Thompson had had a personal difficulty
with q man, whose name was uOl CdIl-
ed, in Fishers barroom shortly before
he assaulted Harris on the street. and
that he had knocked this man down.
DIR. Shirley Carter, ir describing the
nature of Harris's wounds. said that
the defendant had severe confusion
on the right cheek. from the appar-
ance the wound showing that he had
been struck with considerable force.
the evidence of DR. Garter in large
measure supporting the theory of the
prosecution that Thompson was too
drunk to put up night.
Tells of Fight.
Newton Brook related the personal
difficulty that took place between
September, 1905, The witness stated
thta he saw the parties lighting and
separated them. Harris. the witness
said, got very much the worst yr,a ,s os the
black eye. and a cut lip. When the
two men had been separated. Harris
said to Thompson, You can't treat me
thai way" to which Thompson replied,
II consider that threat, and VIII be
ready for you at all tines
Thompson later met witness on the
street and. applying a vile epithet to
Harris. said Brook. you ought to
have let me alone and let me beat
him to death"
Dr.. Paul ". Green, in describing The
nature of Harriss wound received IN
this encounter. testified that Harris
said the witness, was Hercules as
with Harris, and was capable
of doing him great bodily harm With
his fist
prosecution to speak as to Thompson'si
condition with reference to sobrietS |
on the day of shooting. Mr. Glasscock
said that he met Th9mP $50 at on ,ne
and went with him and man by, the
name of Gibbs to Fishers saloon,
where they had several drinks. sach
Of the party treati Irae After leayins
Holiness bar, where they had several
more drinks. all three finally becoming |
drunk. The witness became so intoNl,
be aas X kaa n nnt ths S
Witness WITH IS Vas Was biased biased and had strons
personal feelings against Harris. he
was asked this question by Mr., Nc
Cormick:
ibid you not on the third day Ct
the fornNr trial of Harris at War
renton.. with, a big stick in your hand,
Harris, and say. 4 ought to kill him?'
Hostile to Harris.
Mr.. GlaSscock made a vigorous de-
NAL Of having been guilty Of Of any ny
was hostile to Harris, and that he
lad stopped speaking to A, L. Strother,
Of the revenue for his
Harris at the former trial. A. r.
deputy clerk of Fauquier
Circuit Court, was called to identity
he clothing worn. by Thompson on
he night he was shot. and also a as
,alibre liver Johnson revolver, which
Harris admits is the pistol with which
he shooting was done.
While on the witness stand Sester-
lay Irvine Maxheimer, brother-in- law
II Thompson, and one of the principal
witnesses for the prosecution, testified
hat he saw Thompson when he over
ook Harris. and Mason Strother on
he street. and saw Harris step OFF
II the pavement and draw a revolver
nd that he did not testify before tho{
Grand jury that indicted Harris that
lie did not see pistol in Harrls's II
land. as it was too dark for him tul