The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-29
NOEL GIVES EVIDENCE
IN own DEFENSE.
Reflects Upon Character OF Woman
He Slew and Blackens Ills
Own Name.
Petersburg Scholars More Numerous
Than Evcr-William ID. Spratley.
Respected Citizen, Dead--Two Mules
Killed by Train.

Petersburg. Va, Sept. 2S.--Trial of
the case Of the Commonwealth VS..
James r. Noel was resumed imme-
diately upon the opening of the Hust-
ings Court this morning, and the ex-
animation of witnesses which was
believed to be nearly complete at the
closing hour last night was not con-
CIuded until late this afternoon, when
court was adjourned until 10 O'Clock
tom orrow morning.
The court announced just before
adjournment that instructions to the
jury would be argued tomorrow morn
ing. Argument on the instructions and
of counsel before the jury will prob
ably take up the entire morning ses-
SION of the court. The case will hard
" reach the jury before the after
noon.
Among the witnesses examined to-
day were r. l.. Nunnally. clerk for
Boothe & Cole: r. +, Westmoreland
tanitor at the r. f. Lee School where
little Bertha Robertson was a pupil
last session: Joel T. Brown, manager
of the Kenny Tea Store: w L. Eanes.
clerk for r. r. Totty. by whom Noel
was employed at the time of the muir
der of Mrs. Robertson Robert G
Bass court clerk, and Edwin F. Glenn
ents. police Justice
Following the examination of the
above witnesses, James r Noel the
accused was placed upon the witness
stand. He testified to having been
confined to the city jail since the day
Of the murder, May Ii last; to being
married and having FIVE children. the
Youngest Of which is seven years old.
Witness told of his wife having been
n sui
burg.
Noel testified TO his first meeting
with Mrs. Robertson, at Tottys drug
store, when she went there to use
the telephone. When he first met
her his Wife was in the Eastern State
Hospital. That was about two years
ago He testified that Mrs Robert
son told him that she had to leavs
| trewe because she had no one to sup
port her. and that she worked upon
his sympathy so much that he rented
a house for her on High Street and
provided for her
Since furnishing home for Mrs
Robertson. the witness testified that
he had left her home several times.
but that he subsequently returned He
told of going to the house on the day
| OF the murder and while in his room
nearing the voice of man familiar
! " MIN OF gong 10 his door and seeing
me man with his arm around Mrs.
Rohertson's waist Of later going IN
the Kitchen, where Mrs Robertson
and her little girl were; that he told
MRS Robertson that she was a traitor
70 him, and that she was so angered
mat she struck him in the face with
! a wet dishrag and later went to the
; safe, where she procured a long knife.
OF drawing his revolver IN an effort
70 lntlmidate her; of graphing with
her. witness testified that in the
scuffle the revolver was accidentally
discharged. but that he did not know
who pulled the trigger.
The courtroom was crowded
throuehout the day with spectators
enrolment Record One.
The report of Superintendent r. NJ
Martin. Of the Petersburg nuhftc
schools' for the month of September
SHOWS the largest enrolment in the
history or the schools, totaling ASST
Mnlte ana l,sl4 colored pupils The
increase In the white schools Is large
~ IN excess OF what had been antici-
pated and great difficulty was expe-
rienced In accommodating ALI ami
Giants. "pP''-
Flower show,
Inc Flower Show, for the heneft
or the chflds cot will be featured r.
morrow evening with a minstrel ner
romance, by the Boys Department of
me Young Mems Christian Association.
ne youngsters have been rehearsing
ior 'he past week and are said to be
ready to give a first-class entertain
ment
Judge Mann to Speak
Ex-Governor William Hodges Mar,
Will deliver an address at the Young
Mems Association, Sunday afternoon.
on The Plan of salvation" Song SER
vice VIII begin at 4 o'clock and a large
attendance is anticipated.
Negro Charged With Assault,
Eddie stewart colored, was arrest
ed today by Detectives Heelan and
Jefferson. upon a warrant charging
MIN with assaulting Frank Brown. a
respected colored man. with hoe fork
II seems that Brown owed Stewart
fifty cents and that the two met this
! morning on Ferndale Avenue Ste
wart demanded the payment of the
money and was told by Brown that he
(Brown) did not have 1t at the time.
whereupon he got off his wagon and
assaulted the older man, INJECTING in
juries from which he may die.
Two Mules Killed by Train.
Two fine mules, the owner of which
had not been learned this afternoon.
we're hiled py Norfolk and Western
train near Hopewell this morning The
mules walked upon the railway track
In such close proximity to the train
that 1t could not be stopped before
they were struck.
William ID. spratiey
Mr.. William d. Spratley, a we'll
known and esteemed citizen, died yes
terday afternoon, at his residence on
Liberty Street. after lingering i'll
ness. Mr.. Spratley was sixty-six years
of age. Besides widow he is sur
Nived by one son, Robert G. Spratley,
and one brother, r. ]. ]. Spratley, all
of this city. The funeral will be con-
aaeted from Old Blandford Church, at
4;3o o'clock. Friday afternoon, and in
terment viii be made in Blandford
Cemetery