The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-16
Professor Harris Declares He
Shot Thompson to Save
His Own Life.
ALL TESTIMONY OFFERED
Case Will Probably Reach Jury
After Arguments This
Evening.
Especial 10 The Times. pispatch.l

Oh WaTIenton, on the evening OIL April
"a 1903, was concluded this afternoon
The court Will instruct the jury as
to the law bearing on the case to-mor-
row morning. and the argument OF
counsel. which viii probably take up
the entire day, Will begin. The case
should be given to the jury tomorrow
evening
Mrs. Thompson. widow OF the MUIR
dered man, was the last witness for
the Commonwealth. which rested its
case this morning. The prosecution
having announced yesterday that it
had finished its case in chief, except
that IL reserved the right to call the
widow of the dead man this morning.
a larger crowd of persons was on
hand this morning than yesterday to
hear the testimony of Mrs. Thompson.
and also in anticipation of hearing
what Prof. Harris would say.
Mrs. Thompson on stand.
The court room was packed when
the widow took the stand Mrs.
Thompson told how her husband had
left his home at o'clock on the morn
ing OF the fatal day. and said she saw
him no more until after he had been
shot. II was not until the body of
her husband was brought home from
the hospital that she saw him again.
Miss Agnes strother and Miss Selma
w dlleES "eEc the HESL "ItIicsSSS All
the defense TO take the stand this
morning. On the day Of the fatal oc-
currence these young women. with
several others, had gone to the depot
in Warrenton, and Prof Harris had
accompanied them. While at the de-
pot Thompson came up and In the
presence and hearing OF the party
made some very vile and filthy re-
marks concerning Harris The Com
Z ~, M q
upon the young women repeating the
language.
Harris Tells His story.
AT 1880 o'clock this morning Harris
took the stand In his own defense.
The witness, while showing the terri
BILE strain that he has undergone dur
ing the progress of the trial, was calm
and collected. and gave his testimony
In dispassiona;e way.
an 1905" said the witness. Il was
principal OF the Warrenton High
School and in charge of the summer
Normal School at winchester. Among
my other duties in connection with
the last mentioned school, had To
get nut q catalogue Of the summer
normal.
Mr.. Thompson asked me 10 let his
firm do this work. and gave him the
contract. with the understanding that
:
THOMPSON was so dilatory with the work
that was compelled to take 1t away
from him and give ii 10 the Democrat.
rival paper This was the starting of
the trouble between Thompson and my
self"
The witness then related the vile
and abusive language and epithets d.
rected at him by Thompson whenever
they passed on the streets or were
thrown together by chance. The wit
ness further said that he had had
misunderstanding with Thompson IN
the summer OF 1908 about bill rem
dered him hy the printing establish
.ment and which the witness claimed
was incorrect
"on the morning of September IS.
1905" the witness continued, i was
walking down Main Street on my way
10 ny school, when I was accostsd By
Thompson. who said i want to see
YOU about that bill replied i am
in a hurry now and Will see you some
other time L don't give about
the bill Thompson replied. but have
made up my mind to give YOU -
OF a beating.." The fight, as detailed
In the evidence on yesterday, then oc-
Cured.
Arms Like Woman.
AT this point IN his testimony Pro-
fessor Harris was asked TO show his
arms 10 the jury. The witness took
off his coat rolled up his shirt sleeves,
revealing an arm no larger than a
woman's.
IN this encounter l found that it
was a. physical inapossibility for me to
cope with Thompson" continued Har
ris From that day to the time of
the fatal occurrence he never let UP
on nle, but bounded me TO DEATH Har-
ris had taken supper at the home of
AL. Srrother on the evening of the
shooting and had accompanied a party
I of young women who had been staying
at the house 70 the depot. II saw,
continued Harris, that Thompson was
growing holder and more insulting in
his remarks concerning me. and fear
ing there would be an open encounter
i4f met him on the street. I went
home and armed myself.
| The witness then detailed the con-
I.versation that he had Just prior to the
| shooting with Irvine Maxheimer, bro
Ither-in-law OF Thompson, at which
time he asked MaHheiner to see
Thompson and get him to let up in his
insulting denleanor Coming to the
point in his testimony where the shoot
| ing took place. Harris said:
Shoots to Save Himself.
II was walking down Main Street
with Mason Strother, when we were
ovartaken by Thompson. who repeated
the vulgar eplthet that he had been
using on the other occasions. To get
out of his way I stepped from the.
| Sidewalk and started across the street,
when Thompson pursued me aud struck
at me. l turned. aud Thompson grabbed
me In the collar with his LETT hand and
proceeded to rain blows about my face
and head with his right fist. called
to Maxheimer to come and take him
away, but before he reached us Thonlp-
son had knocked me down on my knees.
! recovered my feet Thompson still
holding me by the collar and striking
me;@with his fist. l realized that I was
being beat to death, and drew my re-
volver and fired twice down at the
ground, thinking that he would let me
Ego,
After I fired the shots he continued
to mainland then pointed the re-
volyer at his body and fred Maxheim-i
er then ran UP to usyand pulled Thomp-i
son away. and Twas placed under ar.
rest by Mr.. ". a. ,simms, consta-'
BILE orsthe county.''r
| lis Mr. NfcCtorp,}oi, ocEad tho