Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-07
CUMMING TRAGEDY
RELATED TO JURY
continued From First Page)

continued From First Page)
going to kin Mr.. Cumming. / told
other people whu. che said.
So you. who worked for MIR. Cum
minss mother. tell the jury tina.
MIS- Cumming. who you had never
seen, In three minutes heard tho
story OF her life and told you she
was going to shoot Mr.. Cumming.
said Mr.. Byrd in summing up the
coiorcd woman's testimony. In
questioning the woman. the attorney
said NO one bu, crazy person
would do what you say Mrs. Cum
ming did"
Tnlinferro on stand.
W. e. IL. Taliafcrro, city attorney.
o. Hampton. college mate and friend
Of Mr.. Cumming, was tho next wit :
ness He resented Mr.. Byrd's state
incnt that IL was necessary to aucs-
ton hi INTO show biaS. Il want 10
state that am "a friend to both Mrs.
Cumming and the boy" he said.
$50 YOU though, you were doing
her a kindness when you got her To
sign IA pre-nupt.ai paper giving up
All rights IN her husband except 81
a week alimony? You thought 1t was
wrong. for the wife 10 ask her hus-
band for money and right for him
TO refuse IT," byrd asked
MIR. Taliaferro went fully into his
dealings with both Mr.. Cumming and
Mrs. Cumming. He said he often
Cummings request, lie also tes;i-
fled tina, Mrs. Cumming had threat
rnnd 10 XIII the man who divorced
hcr. "Hut | paid little attention TO
ihr threats. Sin" seldom knew her
nina from ono minute tn tho next
Mrs. Cumming. stated before the
marriage that she did not want tn
live with Cumming. that she would
not live with him She did not want
any aiinony At FIRST. This was put
In IA an aftcrthought. I often adj.
NiHrd her 10 LOT Gordon cummint,
alone Had she done SO lie woult
have done moro for her and the child
Tho prc-auptial agreement idea
was hers aud Mrs. Wards tMrs
Ward Was representative Of a chill
accn's hospital and home in Sor
folk). This statement, lcd MIR. Byr,
to closely question the witness. rs
dint Of InaUy questions he got Nj
Taiiafcrro - admit that II probably
Was his idea that tho agreement be
put in writing He later contra
dictcd this statement. However. said
hc. y knc" tina, VIC were skating ON
thin ice. hut thought We were do
Ing tho best thing for all parties
concerned"
Tell. whole starry.
Nj. Byrd dismissed the witness
here. but h. requested permission IL
toll tho fun story. which was
granted. He said that Mrs. Cumming
signed the aErccmcn; on advice OF
her father and brother.
NJ
strnoEraphcr. testified that .he had
twlc" heard Mrs Cumming threaten
10 Kill Cumming
MAJOR Thomas l.. Sclatcr. Of Hamp-
ION. referred To ~ Mr.. Byrd as Iii.
Honor. the Lord Mayor OF Hampton
wax handled by counsel! for tho ac'
cused wi,hou, gloves. Tho Mayoi
WAS accused by the attorney viii
saying 10 Mrs. Cumming. why don't
you let him alon" and get money frc.
your other man"
rhe Mayor denied this. snying hs
had told Mira. Cumming to 90 and
get married again. 80 you wanted
her 70 set married when she alrcad!
had a husband" Byrd asked NO
] thought she had - divorce
Here counsel for the accused took
sir Sclatcr TO task on charge o
not taking into consideration th'
fact that every one is allowed one
year IN which 10 appeal a divorc,
decision.
I.~nirnt With MrS. Cumming.
THE Mayor said he thought he ina,
been very icnicnt with Mrs. Cum
ming Counsel for t-ic accused asked
II n" Was lcnicnt when ne had hc:
thrown iatr jail for four days AND
lot Cumming take the child. Wit.
ness said hc did no, let Cumming
TAX" tho CHILD
'pidn't YOU have her put in jai
because she said shed kin you botf
when you insultcd her?" Byrd asked