Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-20
POLLARD VICTIM
, SEEN WITH PISTOL
PRIOR To SHOOTING

RICHMOND, Va, Feb. 19.-Dr. F.
NJ. Bennett, testifying Saturday in
the trial of Thomas Pollard, scion of
one of Nirginia's influential families,
fon the murder of Mrs. Thelma Ham
Richardson, former stenographer in
his real estate and insurance office
here, declared that on December 4
or 5, when the woman called at his
office to pay a bill, he saw a pistol
in her purse. DR.. Bennett was I'm
able to identify the weapon, although
in an affidavit read in court and
which the physician admitted sign
ing, he declared:
II hold in my hand a pistol, No.
429762, which I positively identify
without doubt as a pistol which I
saw Mrs. Richardson with at my Of
flee in her handbag on the 4th or
9Th of December, 1922"
When the physician was asked to
explain why The stood up and swore
to this statement after he had read
it over and had it read over to him
and knew what was in it, DR.. Ben
nett replied:
1T sounded all right at that
time"
The affidavit was made before
Commonwealth Attorney Dave Sat
terrified and DR.. Bennett admitted on
the stand today that he had tried
to amend it the day after it was
sworn to but that the common
wealth's attorney refused.
DR.. Bennett was placed on the
stand soon after court convened to-
day and after only a few questions
had been asked J. Mosby West, said
to be the only eyewitness to the
Staying of Mrs. Richardson at the
Pollard home in the fashionable res
idential section of this city on De-
cember IL, last. West was to con-
tinue his testimony. started yester-
day, but was excused temporarily
while the prosecution introduced DR..
Bennett.
DR.. Bennett told the jury of an
operation he performed on Mrs.
Richardson in January, 1921, to cor
rect i'll effects of an illegal opera
ton. He said Pollard paid him for
the operation and when the prosecu-
ton sought to bring out who paid
the hospital bills, Hiram Smith.
counsel for the defendant, declared;
1T will be admitted that we did"
West again was placed on the
stand and under cross
went over the details of his trip to
a home in the country where Mrs.
Richardson was staying and bring
ing her to the city and later driving
with her to the Pollard home. He
said he stayed in his automobile
while Mrs. Richardson went into the
house. In a few minutes she and
Pollard came out and, the witness
continued, practically instantan-
eously they began to scuffle.''
''This scuffle lasted about a min
Ute" West declared, land Pollard
ran out of the vestibule across the
porch and on to the lawn next door. !"
Mrs. Richardson followed Pollard
across the porch the witness said.
"She stopped on the top step and
said: Tom Pollard, you come here
"She followed him down to the
lawn and they started to scuffle
again. I think Mrs. Richardson
started the scuffle.
81 started across to separate them
and when I saw flash and heard
the gun fired. Mrs. Richardson
sank slowly to the ground.
81 ram" West testified. 81 was
scared
West said he returned when Pol
lard called to him. The witness said
he followed the defendant into the
house and after both had used the
telephone several times, West re-
turned to the lawn and assisted in
taking Mrs. Richardson to a hos
pital.
British Tenants Revolt