The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-14
MANY NOW LOOK
FOR AcQU|TTAL
Witness in Harris Murder Trial
Tells Practically Same
Story
DECLARE THOMPSON
HAD BEEN DRINKING
Pistol and Blood-Stained Clothes
Are Shown IN Court
Adjournment Or
dered.


MANASSAS. VA. June 14.-Dr. s.
w. Maphis, one OF the physicians who
attended Thompson on the night of
the shooting. was the flrst witness for
the Commonwealth In the Harris muir
der trial this morning.
The witness told of two wounds in
the abdomen and one in the thigh,
Alt the bullets entered in a down
, ward course. He explained that the
course pursued by the physicians was
absolutely the only rational one in the
hope of saving Thompsons life.
John Coons. the next witness. saw
Thompson the day OF shooting and
thought he had been drinking. but
do not see Prof, Harris until shortly
after the shooting. He was then be-
ing held by two men. Before APP
preaching the scene of the shooting
he saw a flash and heard reports OF
TWO pistol shots. and saw Thompson
being carried into a nearby grocery
store.
In answer to question from Judge
, Thornton. the witness stated he was
about ten feet from the scene Of the
shooting when the shots were fred
\. Il. Bartenstein, deputy clerk OF
fauquter circuit Court, who was the
next witness, produced the .5S-caliber
pistol admitted to be the one used by
Harris, and the bloodstained garments
worn by Thompson on the fatal eve
ming, which we're PLACED In evidence.
AS these articles were being exhibited
t. the jury the prisoner sat for few
moments with bowed head and chang
ed countcnance.
+ Henry Giaseoek a near friend of the
claim editor testified that he was In
Warrenton on the day of the shoot
ing and took three drinks with Thomp-
SOU In thu early afternoon and re-
; me asbered nothing that took place dur
Ing the rest of the dsfv. He denied
carrying a stick In the streets OF War
ref1ton with threats TO do Harris bod
lily harm. and of saying he thought
IT wus ms duty to Kfft Harrfs TOT shoot
ing his friend to death.
Albert Fletcher Jr, the next wit
ness, told Of his friendly relations
with Thompson and of providing a cot
and having him taken to a room in
the Warren Green hotel and summon
ing physicians.
He identified the clothing worn by
Thompson when shot and testified that
the bullet holes now in them were the
same discovered on the night OF the
ragedy.
Henry Hutton testified 10 seeing
! Thompson pass his place OF business
walking hurriedly FIVE minutes before
the shooting. On account of the alb
sence of material witness the court at
eleven O'Clock took a recess until this
afternoon. IL is the consensus Of
opinion among the large attendance at
court that the commonwealth so far
has made out very weak case and
there appears be little doubt of an ac-
quittal.
The Commonwealth yesterday ex-
amined three witnesses. Irvine Max
heimer. a brother-in-iaw of Thomp-
| son; Mason Strother and Richard
Hailstorm.
Irving Maxheimer. brother in law
of Thompson. was the first witness
| He testified that he met Harris in
/ Warrenton about O'Clock in the eve
ming OF the day OF the tragedy. Har-
| ris, he said, told him that Thompson
! had used insulting language TO him
| in the presence of women at the rail-
road depot that afternoon, and that
| he had asked him (Maxheimerl to
| see Thompson and prevent further
| difficulty.
| Later" Maxheimer testified. Il
/ saw Thompson and Mason Stroth~r
| walking up the street and Harris fol-
! lowing short distance behind them.
/ saw Harris step from the sidewalk
| into the street and shortly thereafter
saw the glitter OF pistol In hts
hands. Then l heard two shots fred.
| ran in between Harris and lhomp-
| son and another shot was fired.
! caught Harris by the right wrist and
| raised his arm and heard the pistol
| snap. l took the revolver away from
| him and heard him say.
| "Now Protect Met"
You have taken my gun: now
! protect me- Then I heard Thomp-
son say. He shot me like dog"
| Mason Strother testified that he
saw Harris step into the street and
| Thompson follow and attack him. He
said he heard Harris call to Max
! heimer to take Thompson away, as
| he wanted no further trouble. Rich
ard Hailstack and Walter Robinson
| testified that the two men struggled
in the street before any shot was
| fired.
The defendant is represented by
Marshall Mccormick, Speaker Rich
/ ard E. Byrd. G. L. Fletcher, f. r.
| Garrett and X. A. Hutchinson.