The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-06-14
WITNESSES DELAY
THE HARRIS TRIAL
Train Carries Them by and
Court ReceSSes Until
They Arrive.

MANASSAS, Va, June 14-Because
important state witnesses took a
through train at Calverton today and
were carried past Manassas to Alexan-
driar the case of Prof. r B. Harris,
who is being tried by the circuit court
of Prince William county for the shoot
ing of W. A. Thompson. in the streets
OF WarrentOn on the night Of April "a.
1909. received a check. and the court
took a recess.
Or. Napbis. a State witness. testified
today that ne had examined the body
Of Thompson after the shooting and had
found three bullet wounds. one in the
thigh and two in the abdomen, either of
which would have proved fatal
Henry Glasscock, a warm personal
friend Of the dead man. testified that he
! mad been drinking with Thompson. and
That both had consumed many drinks
when the shooting took place He said
ne was too intoxicated TO remember in
cldents OF the fatal occurrence. He adj
united being hostile TO the defendant.
Maxheimer on Stand.
The chief witness for the Cornn,on-
wealth, Irvine W. Maxheimer. was the
hrst to take the stand yesterday after
noon Commonwealth Attorney Keith
shot questions at him rapidly MAY
heimer. brother-in-law OF Edith Tbor,-,-
son. told OF the circumstances which
! led Up to the fatal quarrel on ApriI "a
OF last year. His testimony in general
agreed with what he had said duri11
the trial before a Fauquier county Jury
last summer, although he was extreme
~ nervous and repeatedly told the at
he,
After Attorney Keith excused hin,
Marshall Mccormick chief COUNSEL sor
the defense, subjected the nervous man
70 vigorous cross fire. seeking 10
impeach his testimony. In answer N
questions, MaXheimer said that Tbon,T,
son was drunk the night Of the shoot
/ ing and had followed Harris down Main
street IN Warrenton. He said that he
seeing Harris pursued bv TboD7nsor
mad followed and had come up with
the men just as the shots that ended
Ihompson.s life were fired
nat did you then dO2" was the next
question Mccormick asked
i grabbed Harris right hand. the
one IN which the pistol was grasped
and struggled with him During ths
iracas 4 was struck on the back of the
mead and fell on one knee" Maxhein1er
ans Wered- he also said that when ne
nnally got the gun away from Harris
the latter said. Now YOU have nv
pistol protect me- Thompson. accord
IlS 70 the witness, said al the same
tlL9e be Is shooting me like a dog"
The next witness was Mason StrOtb-
eF- his evidence was decidedly in ia
vor Of Harris. although the Common
wealth depended upon him for their
strongest points in aid Of the prose-
cution.
Strother's Testimony.
Strother testified that he was with
Harris the night of the homicide. |
walking down the street. He said ti,at
"a moment after he and Harris had
passed a drug store on Main street. he
heard some one walking rapidly behind
him, and, turning around, saw Thomp-
son.
Thompson turned to me-" said
Strother, and ripped out a string Of !
vile oaths. the same applying 10 Har-
ris. TO whom he had said the same
thing before. Harris turned from the
sidewalk and went toward the middle 3
of the street, with Thompson following !
After Prof Harris had shouted 10 {
MaXheimer TO come and take Tholnp-
son away, Thompson rushed him.
grabbed him by the collar and punched
:hat Harris pulled his revolver and
shot toward the ground. one bullet tax
ing effect in ThOmpson's leg"
Witness said that he then turned and
ran into a store and saw no more of
the affair.
It was brought out by several other /
witnesses that MaXheimer had rushed /
IN and grappled with Harris. and in
the general mixup the revolver was
again discharged and inflicted a fatal /
wound in ThOmpsOn's stomach.
A negro Richard Hailstalk, testified
that he saw the flash from Harris pis-
tol directed toward the ground. This
evidence is what the defense depends
upon 10 clear Harris. and refute the I
commonwealth attorneys statement 4
that Harris deliberately shot al Thomp- l
son, intending 70 kin him, when the 1
latter rushed Harris.