The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-17
ARGUMENTSBEG|N
IN HARRIS TRIAL
Case Will Probably Reach Jury
by Noon To-
Day.
Especial to The Times-Dispntch.l


Manassas. Va, June 16.--Greater In
terest was manifested to-day in the
case of Professor j. y. Harris. on trial
for the murder OF Editor Thompson
at Warrenton. in April 1909, than has
been shown on any former Gay of the
trial. which has been in progress in
the Circuit Court since Monday morn
ing OF this week
One OF the strong points in the
Commemorative case is the fact that
Thompson had a bullet wound In the
right leg. the ball entering the leg
between the hip and the knee. and
ranging upward.
The theory of the Commonwealth is
that Harris did not wait until he was
attacked by Thompson to draw his
gun, but that the accused. having
stepped off OF the pavement into the
gutter of the street, and thus being
on much lower elevation than
Thompson, fired the first shot while
the latter was still on the pavement,
the pistol being pointed upward, and
the bullet naturally taking the same
course. This is one of the strongest
points In the case that the defense
has been called upon TO meet.
After 1t was thought the evidence in
the case had been closed yesterday
evening, the Commonwealth was al
lowed to introduce evidence showing
the height of the pavement above the
gutter at the point IN the street where
Thompson was snot.
This morning the defense put on
witnesses to show that the point in
the street where It Is claimed Harris
was standing when the first shot was
fired is about on level with the
pavement upon which the Common
wealth contends Thompson was stand
ing when he received the wound in
the leg.
Theory of Defence.
The theory of the defense in regard
to this wound is that Harris fired
the shot In the scufle between himself
and Thompson at time when the
latters right leg was lifted a consid-
cradle distance from the ground.
Numerous instructions Were given
the jury by the court this morning,
instructions which cover nearly every
phase of the evidence In the case,
and which as a whole are favorable
to the accused. All OF the instruc-
lions asked for by the defense were
granted while of those asked for by
the commonwealth one was entirely
refused and three amended Five hours
were allotted to each side for argu-
ment of the case, the attorneys on
either side having previously agreed
that this would be sufficient time.
The case was argued to-day by
Major r. A. Mcintyre, of -Warrenton.
and ri. T. Davies, Commonweaith's at
torney for Prince William. for the
Commonwealth, and by Richard
Evelyn Byrd, G.. Latham Fletcher and
r. "A. Hutchinson, for The defense.
Will Resume Argument To-day.
Tomorrow morning the argument
will be resumed by E. L. Garrett, Com
monwealth's attorney for Loudoun
county. for the defense. and will be
concluded by Marshall Mccormick. the
defense's leading attorney. j. A. {.
Keith Commonwealths attorney for
Fauquier county. where the alleged
murder was committed, viii conclude
the argument for the state.
Three hours and hfty minutes OF the
time allotted for argument remain, the
defense having still two, hours and fif-
teen minutes and the Commonwealth
one hour and th:rty-tive minutes The
case will be given to the jury between
IL and / o'clock Tomorrow.
Professor Harris will probably know
by tomorrow night whether he is held
guilty or innocent of the death OF the
man he killed.
In concluding his argument for the
Commonwealth this afternoon Com
monwealth's Attorney Davies said:
Gentlemen of the jury. the respon
sibility of the fate of the accused rests
with you. If you consider that Harris
shot Thompson, believing himself TO
be in danger of death or great bodily
injury, it Is your duty, under your
oath, to acquit him. If, however. you
do not SO believe, then l ask that you
mete out to him such punishment as
you think he deserves for the crime
that he committed