Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-26
DEFENSE TO PLEAD
INSANITY, BELIEF
Prosecution Calls Over Hun.
drcd Witnesses to Com
bat Claims.
TAKE DAY TO PICK JURY
Sec Speedy Conclusion-yon-t Al
low ONrrcrowdIng of
Courtroom.

tIp''laI 10 inc Times Dispatch.
CAPE CHARLES. VA. sept 25.-
i.lhcs are being drawn on the East
ern shore for one Of the greatest le.
gal battles In the history OF the
commonwealth. when Charles "
PARSONS. wealthy real estat. man
"l this city. goes on trial for his life
tomorrow. at Eastvilie for tn. killing
o! George II. Lewis. n striking Penn
sEIShnia Railroad machinist. at Cane
'hhr!es on III" evening OF Angus, Is.
on on" Of the principal business
streets
Hriiifnnt Army or Counsel
n" trial o: Parsons Will bc f.a
'HTcd by a brilliant array Of counsel
FaTs"nS Viii be represented hv John
L. Lee, "a noted criminal lawyer. of
iEnchburC. Va; James J.. Heath OF
norfolk: :. James burlington. Of Ac.
comic, and John !. Nottingham. of
northampton. Commemorative Ar
tornov Thomas II. Nottingham. Will
be assisted by Walter :. McNejll. u
'.achcr OF criminal law. o! Rich
mohd' Va. and J.. s. Sacks. OF Cape
th"rieS. The prosecution and de-
tense are not leaving e stone I'M
turned In the way Of running down
every available biz OF evidence The
Commonwealth alone Will have we'll
over 100 witnesses. About half of
this number had 10 knowledge Of
ihr actual shooting, but have recent
~ had various business transactions
with Parsons. and will only be called
TO block the insanity plea. which tn.
h"fensc is expected to use to clear
Parsons.
TIL" entire Official board or Tie
southern Methodist Church, OF which
bodE Parsons was member. has
been summoned
May Plead ScIf-Drfcnsr.
There Is also u possibility Of at,
;oTneys Tor the defense usinr- scIf.
defense as their plea This would bc
BASED on the fac, that about fortv
minutes prior "a tho shooting. some
differences occurred between strih-
ers ana strike breakers on the same
street whcT" the murder was com
ni'tsd' ana j., seems that Parsons
Vas -" on!o"kcr crCwdius IN 10
gather iH;u' 'matinn. at which limo
som" "f The in!ou men warned i.ar-
, sons tuut would be advisable for
Atn 10 @.' ~ .lr street .md % !.otn.
h"Ior" Ice sos hugt as f. was ALWAYS
"'S practice ." ,y-0ruu uu ..ciyiLina
! he union iurU were doing, ~ f. said
ThiS al! happened Will" the murder.
I'd man was al hom" with MS fam
!!y, he not arriving on the scene nm
| u! about tel minutes before M w..
Sh"t down while. Standing facing
Parsons with his arms folded.
Take Day ta rick Jury.
~ IS not thought there will he any.
di'!cu!ty experienced i'll securing a
jury IL !s expected tina, most Of
me hrS' DAY vii! be taken up in
getting the twelve men that bo,h
the defense and prosecution agr.c
upon. Accommodations have beer,
arranged FOX the jury at tn. East
Nii!c Inn. which is not more Than
100 yards from the courthouse. Visit
ing attorneys FOR both The proseru
'i"h ana defense nave quarters m
thr Inn. all Of whom arrived S,tur.
day 10 lineup the case and h:v.
everything in readiness lor Tues.
dag
Aim for speedy Trial.
JuGfc WcScott. il is said homes
- hurry the case to conclusion
ny the following Saturday This
would intinat" that ATTORNEYS viii
not he allowed 20 put a large nnp,
Der OF witnesses on the stand to
prove any one point. and tbpt ,h.
'riai VIII not draS. but instead b..
aiiFe a; al! times and rushed through
without any delay. The Judge nisn
states there will not hc any over
crowd!ng OF the court room. dcclar-
ing tina; as soon as the room ;s
hl!ed the doors will he closed. wh;ri.
means hundreds Of Spectators ANA
friends OF Parsons. as well as the
murdered man. will not gain nd =
mittance during the trial.
]; is coincidence that tho shon,
ing should have occurred nj WIN.
WAS for more than twenty wears IN.
front door OF Parsons saloon al
though the building is now occnricd
by drug store. Parsons for Tho
last six or eight years has been in
the real estate business. but con
duc1ed Il bar before the state wen,
dry. He is now - years old and IL
the owner of an estate tho value of
which is estimated at $3.50. 600
Lewis is said 70 have been n peocc-
maker among The strikers and was
evidently not expecting trouble Rail-
road men cl:f!m that he had his arms
Folded and WAS smiling when the
nrst shot struck him.