The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-14
JURORS CHOSEN
AND TRIAL BEGINS
Bedford County Man Faces
Court to Answer Seri.
Gus Charge.
tspeclal ID La Titnes. nisnntch l

tSpcclal 10 Tho Times Dispatch
Bedford City. March 1.-THE case o.
the Commonwealth vs. l.. S. Patterson
charged with malicious assault upon
his wife. was called In the Circuit
Cour, on Thursday afternoon. Judge
Bennett Gordon. OF Nelson. presidins
In place of Judge J. l. Campbell, OF This
circuit, who IL seriously III
Tho following Jurors were chosen:
Messrs. John L. Douglas. H. p Burke.
] Frank Key. b. c. Thncker. Boyle q.
clay, Wiley Il Arlington, lease Doug
las Russell Turpin. William L. Ma
jor, Horace y. Knight. Samuel X. Giles.
Rober, Laync.
The Commonwealth is represented by
l.andon Lowry and Aubrey r. Stroda
the defense by Nelson sale. Tho mrs,
witness VAS Miss Ruth Patterson. tho
daughter OF the defendant, "A girl OF
about httcen years. Of remarkable puiso
ana brightness, who although kept on
the stand for several hours, never be-
came confused by questioning or de-
waited from tho history OF the c!rcutn-
stances OF the fire she had related be-
fore the grand jury.
The case IN brief is this: Several
months ago the home Of Mr. patter-
son, near Flint Hin. IN this county.
was destroyed by IRE, the wife ana
five children :hrciy escaping with their
lives while Mr. Patterson had left
home TO secure a physician to visit his
wife. who. he said became Ill in tn.
night Miss Ruth states thnt her faith
or had told her he vas going for the
doctor. but II would not be necessary
Tor her To leave her room upstairs,
who're she and three other children
/ slept until her mother should call her
Some time later she heard the cries
OF the youngest child. who slept in "a
room adjoining his mothers on the
lower floor, and as she started down
stairs she saw light from the win
dows shining out in the yard When
she reached the bottom OF the stairs
she found the door fastened by IA but
ton on tho outside. This sho forced
open, and found the bed on which tn,
!ttle boy lay all aiinmc. Her mother
though conscious, was horribly cut and
bruised, her bed saturated with formal
dehydc. and strong odor OF kerosene
oil pcrvadcd the room, which was like
wise burning The girl. with wonder,
fui presence Of mind, rescued her moth
er ana the four children, even remern.
bcring TO go back up the stairs foi
comforts and blankets to wrap them In.
though the steps we're also on fire.
Mr.. Patterson about this time arrived
with Ir. Thurman and neighbors,
aroused by the bright light OF the fire.,
came. and the family was made com
Portable in some OF their homes Sus-
picion concentrated on Mr.. Patterson
as the guilty person, and no was in
dicted by the grand jury. lie bears ar
excellent character, Is member OF n
large, wealthy and prominent family
connection, and there had never been
at any time discord between himself
ana wife.
There arc approximately sevcnty-nye
witnesses summoned by the prosecu-
ton and defense Jointly and great In
tercst attaches TO the case. The evil
dence for the prosecution Is all cir
cumstantial, unless Mrs. Patterson
should testify; and II is not believed
that she VIII, She has stated that tho.
attack was made upon her by a negro
size did not know. She has sufficient
ny recovered 10 he here now. though
she bears terrible sears on her face
and thront a result of the struggle