Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-22
PROSECUTION, TRYING
TO BREAK TESTIMONY,
GRILLS THOS. POLLARD
(COntinued from PAGE Il

which Mrs. Richardson was shot
and killed Pollard said he went to
his home about $3.50 O'Clock and met
his siX-year-old daughter in front
of the house, where she was play
ing while her mother visited in the
neighborhood.
Hello, Pig" the witness said he
called to the child, but she refused
to speak to him and went to her
grandfather automobile near the
curb.
81 went up to my room and sat
down on the bed in tears" he con-
tinued, because it was the first
time she had done that way with
me-"
Soon the telephone rang and Pol
lard said he recognized Mrs. Rich
ardson's voice. He said she wanted
to know if he were going to visit
Mrs. Bertha Louise Beck, named by
the prosecution as the "other wom-
an" in the case, and when he told
her he was not she said she was
coming to see him.
Il called Mrs. Beck and told her
that it would not be advisable for
circumstances and warned her to put
up the shades at her home so that
Mrs. Richardson would see that 1
was not there if she called"
Soon the door bell rang. Pollard
said he did not answer it until Mrs.
Richardson had rung it three times.
Details killing
81 went to the d ror, opened it and
closed it behind me, the latch snap
ping. Mrs. Richardson tried to put
her foot in the door to prevent it
closing, but failed. She then point
ed the pistol at me and L grabbed
it and wrenched it from her, turn
ing her completely around in doing
so. [ then ran to the lawn and took
position at the areaway so 1 could
either retreat or defend myself. I
was holding the pistol without my
finger on the trigger. I saw a man
appearing and recognized by the
walk that it was Mosby West. While
my attention was turned, Mrs. Rich
ardson either leaped to the ground
Or ran down the steps.
''West came between us and she
yelled get out of the way, Mosby
West and as she did so, she
plunged at me. I threw up my
hands and she grabbed the pistol,
which went off. She fell, and as
West started off, I ordered him back
at the point of the pistol for the
first time putting my nnger on the
trigger"
One of the most dramatic points
during the testimony of Pollard
was the production of a sealed note
produced by the defendant, said to
have been written four days before
Mrs. Richardson was killed, in which
a request was made that Mrs. Rich
ardson should be dealt with as
hard as possible" should he meet
violent death.
The unopened note was PRODUCED
by the defendant and passed to
Judge d. c.. Richardson, who broke
the seal and read it. The prosecu-
ton offered no objection to the
missive and it was read to the jury
The text follows:
This is to certify that Thelma
H. Richardson sWore on last Fri
day that she would kill me and il
I should be found dead, please see
that she is dealt with as hard as
possible. Mr.. A. G.. QuareIs, Jr.
knows how she has said on sew
eral times she would kill me. Also
on last Friday she said that ar
! she would have to do was to say
| the word and [ would be killed anC
she would not have to, do it her
self. All of this was said because
said she had to leave the office.
have always stood by her in ev-
cry way and she was operated or
about January 1 and Doctors Ben
nett and Herring will prove to yol
that [ risked everything for hel
and anyone, such as Mr.. Quarles OF
H. r. Woodward can tell you OF
the things ] have gone through
with. If I am killed and any jury
in Virginia should turn her loose
it would be a blot on the state for.
4, ever.
(Signed) THOMAS POLLARD"
'P. S.: I am living under a nerv.
Gus strain, can not tell when any.
thing will happen, but am living
a pure life and that is the reason
I am trying to rid myself of her.
The envelope in which the note
was sealed bore the following in
scription:
"To be opened only on condition
my body is found. Otherwise. please
burn without opening. [ mean if
die a natural death to burn. Other
wise, open and see why / die"