Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-23
Prosecution Will Attempt
to Have Real Estate
Man Held.
COUNSEL OF ACCUSED
CONFIDENT OF RESULT
Mrs. Beck, Choir Singer, Is
Expected to Be in
Court Today. =

Testimony designed to prove that
Thomas Pollard. 80. prominent real
estate man. shot and killed Mrs.
Thelma Richardson. 81. divorcee and
stenographer. at his home. 2olS
Grove Avenue. Monday night. De-
cember IL, will be adduced at the
preliminary hearing before Justice
Ingram In Police Court at 1880
o'clock this morning. according to
the police last night. The police
also asserted evidence will be pre-
sented designed TO prove that j.
Mosby West. IS. aided and abettcd
Pollard in the alleged murder.
On the eve of the preliminary hear
Ing. Hiram NJ. Smith. who will APP
pear as counsel for Pollard, expressed
the hope that there will be no con-
tinuance OF the case. He said every
witness. SO far as he knew them. will
be presented In Police Court today.
The defense will plead that tho kill
ing was accidental. according to Mr..
Smith, who expressed the belief that
Pollard will he promptly freed of any
blame for the killing
Wording OF WRrrnnts
Malice is alleged in the killing ac-
cording to the warrants in tho ca Sc.
The records at police headquarters
show that the charges against Poll
lard and West are worded as follows:
Thomas Pollard, W., SO. real estate
agent. Virginia, on warrant did un-
lawfully and feloniously and OF his
malice, did Kill and murder one Mrs.
Thelma Richardson. Witnesses: T.. L..
rillcr. w. L. Waymack. r. l.. Bry-
ant.
J. Mosby West, w., rs. salesman
Virginia. on warrant did unlawfully
and feloniously aid and abct one
Thomas Pollard to felAniously Kill
and murder one Mrs. Thelma Rich
ardson. the said felony Thomas Pol
lard did commit. Witnesses: p. l.. Til
Ter. w. l.. Waymack. X. l.. Bryant.
Conmonwealth's Attorney Sattcr-
field has already announced that he
Will insist that both Pollard and West
be held. without bail. 1t was report
ed last night that Richard Evelyn
Byrd will assist in tho prosecution,
but thik gould not be verified.
Justt !: Ingram intimated yestcr-
day afternoon that he would prob-
ably take steps to prevent the as
sembling OF crowd in Police Court.
He said the hearing will begin at
1880 o'clock
Brothcr May BE Witness.
the slain woman. who attended her
iuneral in Atlanta, Ga. has returned
|" his home. l0l West Twelfth Stree;
South Richmond. He is expected 10
DO one OF the witnesses In the case.
Herbert T.. Richardson. Jr., divorced
husband OF the victim. is also cxpect-
ell TO testify. Detectives are reported
To have. conferred with witnesses for
inc prosecution last night
Mrs Bertha Louise Beck, prcttv
choir sinEey. who/is believed by the
pchcc 10 have been tho innocent
cause OF the tragedy. is expected TO
De IN court this morning.
chief of Police G. a. Sherry and
Captain Wright have directed the in
Nestigation OF the recent killing.
Coroner Whitfield. who conducted
an autopsy over Mrs. Richardson's
hody. and who presided at tho in
quest, is expected to be ono OF the
most important witnesses in the case.
Jerry Jones. who lives next door I,
the Pollard home. AMI who swoars
mat Pollard told him Immediately
at'eT the shooting. 1--WE shot some
DoaE' is expected to bo one of tho
chiet witnesses for the prosecutIo,