The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-13
TRIAL OF HARRIS
BEGINS TO-DAY
Warrenton Teacher Charg c d
With Murder of Editor
Thompson.
MAKES PLEA OF SELF EFENsE
-
Change Of Venue Granted and
Case Removed to Prince
William.
MAKES PLEA OF sELF-D EFENsE
Especial to The Times.Dispatcb.

Especial to The -Dspatch1
manassas. Va, June 12.-On Monday
the noted case OF the Commonwealth
against j. d. Harris Will be called In
the Circuit Court of Prince william
county. Both the Commonwealth and
Professor Harris are ready and anX.
'lous Tor trial. and unless something
unexpected happens the case Will DC
taken up at that time
Inc crime with which Professor Har.
ris Is charged, and for which he will
nave to answer at the bar of this coun-
~ is the killing of Editor Thompson
on the streets of the town OF Warren
Ton. Fauquler, county. last summer.
professor Harris was indicted and tried
IN tauquier county short while sub
sequent to the alleged crime. He was
convicted and given four years term
in the State Penitentiary. During the
progress OF the case many exceptions
were noted to the rulings of the court.
and the case was taken to the Court
OF Appeals on bills OF exceptions. with
the result that the Circuit Court was
reversed and tho case remandcd for n
new trial. The ground upon which the
Court of Appeals based its reversal of
the Circuit Court was the refusal of
enc lower court to allow the defend
ant to Introduce evidence to impeach
the testimony of certain witnesses
called before the grand jury.
Change Of Venue.
After the case was remanded TO the
Circuit Court OF Fauquicr county the
defendant asked for a change of venue
and submitted with his motion 400 afi-
davits from citizens Of Fauquier county
stating that in the belief OF the atlantis
IarrI. could fol INN
tial trial before a jury of that county
The defendants motion for a change
of venue was granted and the case re-
moved TO this county.
Both Harris and Thompson were
very prominent in Fauquier, the for
rer at the time of the homicide being
principal Of the Warrenton High School
and much interested in the affairs OF
the schools of the county and state.
MIR. Thompson was associated with w.
c. Marshall in the publication OF tho
Warrenton Virginian. one OF the lead
ing county papers in the State.
on the day OF the homicide Thomp.
Eon had insulted Harris in the pres
ence of a party of women at the depot
IN Warrentcn, and later assaulted MIN
on the main street of the town. Har-
shot in self defense. and upon this
plea he VIII ask vindIcation at the
hands OF the Prince William jury.
brilliant Array of Counsel,
brilliant array of counsel Will ap-
pear In the case The Commonwealth
will be represented by j. a. c. Keith.
Comrnonwe1lth's Attorney for Fau-
QUEER: Major r. a. Mcintyre. a promi-
lent attorney OF that county. and IL
Thornton Davies, commemorative At
torney for Prince William
The defendant Will be represented
BY Marshall Mccormick. one OF the
best known lawyers OF Virginia, who
recently represented Judge Samuel w.
IUiiiiams, Attorney General OF this
State. In the assault case preferred
against. him by Judge Saunders. OF
West Virginia. Hon. Richard e. Byrd.
Speaker OF the Virginia House OF Dele
gates, and one OF the most prominent
lawyers OF the Winch ester bar: G.
Latham Fletcher, member OF the State
Senate from Fauquier: r. +. Garrett,
of Loudoun, and r. A. Hutchinson. an
able and successful practitioner OF
Prince William county