The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-14
RAPID PROGRESS
IN HARRIS TRIAL
Jury Secured and Opening State
ments Made by
Lawyers.
o EFENsE is CONFIDENT
Three Witnesses Examined and
Evidence Is Favorable to
Accused Man.
Especial to rhe Tlmea -plspatch.1

Especial to the Times Dispatch
Manassas, Va. June i3-The trial
of Professor j. D. Harris for the kill
ing of Editor W. a. Thompson on
Main Street in the town of Warren
ton on April "a, 1909, was begun In
the Circuit Court of Prince William
county to-day. Good progress was
made with the case to-day, and IL the
same progress is made throughout the
trial not nearly as much time will be
consumed in this hearing OF the case
as was taken up ut the first trial in
Warrenton.
A jury was soon secured, only nine
teen out of the thirty summoned be-
ing called into the jury box. Two oil
the panel were excused. owing to
sickness, ana the third because he ha..
expressed an opinion in regard To the
case. The jury Is composed OF tine
following mon. W. +. Lee, Jonn Il.
Adams. Benz. Arnold, y. W. Lowe.
Walter opp. c. Nj. Copen, 5. q. san
uers, Il. :, Lynn, ". a. speake, Jonn
5. Russell, ". II. Ligntener and JOS
Mayhush, All oil the jurors are farm
ers, with the exception OF MIR. Speake.
VIZ 10 IL lIElIlS
Statements BY Counsel.
The morning session OF the court
was taken up in securing the jury,
and with the opening statements of j.
"A. Q. keith. Commemorative attorney
for FanQuler county, one of the attor-
neys engaged in the prosecution, and
II on Marshall Mccormick. the leading,
attorney TOR the defense.
Prosecuting Attorney Keith declar-
ed that he would show by the evidence
that Harris's movements and language
upon various occasions showed bad
feeling towards Thompson, and that
ne armed himself upon that afternoon
in April year ago for the purpose OF
taking the editors life. He also de-
clared that the fatal shot was fired
| by Harris in the tussle which ensued
| between Harris and Thompson.s
| brother-inlaw for the possession OF
the pistol which Harris hourished.
In defending the prisoner Mr. Nc
| Cormick assured the jury that when
| the evidence was presented TO them
! II would show an entirely different
state of facts from those presented by
the State. He added: IF what Mr.
Keith has said he true, the thought
Why was not Harris found guilty OF
murder III the first degree in the mi
! tial trial of the case?H Mr.. Mccormick
| said he would show by the evidence
that Harris endeavored to avoid an
alteration with Thompson, even in
| the face of repeated insults, and that
1t was extremely in doubt as TO
! whether Harris fred the fatal shot in
tentionally. He closed with strong
| appeal for cool Judgment of the evil
/ dence adduced and a fair verdict in
/ accordance Herewith.
He added that with the record of
Prince William county fer Its fair
/ turies he had no fear of a conviction of
| his client.
Three witnesses Examined,
/ The Commonwealth examined three
| witnesses--Irvine MaXheimer
brother-in-law of Thompson: Mason
i Strother and Richard Hailstorm. Mr..
II Maxheimer testified that Harris ap-
i preached him Just short while prior
to the shooting, and told him Of the
i difficulty that he had had with Thomp =
son at the depot during the afternoon,
and of the request that Harris maze
/ of him to see Thompson and endeavor
/ to get him to leave the accused alone.
After this conversation, Harris pro-
ceeded down Main Street in the direc-
i ton of his boarding place. and was
overtaken by Thompson, when the
i tragedy took place The witness tes-
4 tilted that he saw the two men In an
/ aItercation and he saw Thompson
Il holding Harris with his ,fi hard, IN
i striking him with his right fist. Two
4 shots had been fired before the witness
/ reached the men. AS soon as he reach
ed Harris and Thompson. Maxheimer
j caught Harris's pistol hand and en-
deavored to take the revolver away
4 from him. In this scuffle the pistol
il was again fired, the ball penetrating
\ Thompson's abdomen. inflicting a
1 mortal wound The witness could not
4 say whether Harris fred the shot al
i Thompson, or whether the weapon was
accidentally discharged
! Mason Strother, who was with Har-
ris when nc was overtaken by Thomp
son. testified to about the same facts,
Upon the evidence submitted to-day
bv the Commonwealth, a strong case
has not been made out, the entire evil
dcnce tending TO show that Iiarrs was
4 acting on the defensive,
Pcllusra Victim Dies.