Evening star., 1923-02-18
MURDER VICTIMS
HUSBAND ON STAND
Herbert Richardson, Jr., Tells
at Pollard Trial of Shat
tered Romance.
LOVE NEVER FALTERED
Tried to Win Her Back, He Saws
Choir Singer Also
Testifes.
LOVE NEVER FALTERED
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RICHMOND, Va, February ia
husbands story of brief but happy
married life, then an estrangement
oiVorce and ultimately tho tragic end
ing or life's romance on the very eve
OF reconciliation was unfolded iE
musings court here today by Herbert
richardson, jr, who testified at the
trial of Thomas Pollard, prominent
young business man, for the Inurder
OF Mrs. Thelma Ham Richardson.
Ills voice shaking with emotion.
Richardson told OF his first meeting
pretty Thelma Ham In Atlanta,
br1ef courtship, and their hasty mar
riage on the eve of his departure
Tor France with the a. f. F.
In response TO question from Spe
claI prosecutor Richard Evelyn Bird
Richardson said he was decorated
tor bravery in the st. Mihiel and AR
gonne offensives and exhibited hi
war medal.
Knew of Attentions.
While he was overseas, Richard
SON said. his wife lived with his par
ents here, but shortly after his re
He said he learned that Pollard had
been paying attentions to his wife.
He was asked why he did not sue HIS
wire for divorce on the ground OF
infidelity. Because I loved her." be
answered.
Several months later, Richardson
said. his wife sued him for divorce
and he then filed a cross-bill, in which
he charged her with infidelity. Ha
said he saw Pollard and Mrs. Rich
ardson together frequently after h.s
separation from her
Richardson said his former wife
called him on November %, last, ano
asked If she could see him. He said
she came to his Office and told him
that she was giving up her position
as Stenographer in Pollards Office and
also her relationship with her en-
pioyer.
Gave Her Money.
She told me-" Richardson said
brokenly, that had been right Al
along in saying that Pollard would
get tired Of her. She said she was
sorry"
asked Mr.. Byrd.
mo sir" the witness responded
Il gave her some. j advised her 10
go home and told her that 1 would
pay her way and would send her
money from time to time until she
got fixed"
Richardson then told of meeting
Mrs. Richardson on Saturday night
preceding the killing. He said Mosby
West accompanied her to his place
and the three had supper at hotel.
The following night. he said, he saw
her for the last time. She was killed
on Monday night. December IL.
In response to a question from Mr.
Byrd, Richardson said he paid the
funeral expenses and bore the ex
pense Of sending the body to Mrs
Richardson's home in Atlanta.
Identifies One Pistol.
Richardson denied ownership OF the
pistol with which Mrs. Richardson IS
said to have been killed. After ex
amining the weapon closely he said
!, 1t did not belong to him and identitied
another pistol which the common
wealths attorney handed him as his
own.
The little courtroom was packed
with men and women when Mrs.
Bertha Louise Beck. alleged other
| witness stand Mrs. Beck Is a choir
| singer In a South Richmond church
She admitted receiving attention from
Pollard during period of severa-
months preceding the tragedy. She
said she is now suing her husband
for divorce.
Mrs. Beck answered In the afTima-
tive when Prosecutor Byrd asked her
II Pollard gave her presents. She
said he gave her, among other things
an acqua-marine ring, a watch ana
a mesh bag. She denied that she was
engaged to Pollard.
Attentions From EmpIOye.
81 was merely friendly with MI.
Pollard and did not intend to marry
him." she said. She said Pollard Oh
one occasion had said to her joking
ly: Louise, some time, when we get
our affairs straight, we'll get mar
ried." This statement, she said, was
made in the presence of another
woman, Mrs. Laura Riddy.
Mrs. Beck testified that Pollard
telephoned her q few minutes before
the shooting on the night of Decem-
Der IL, and told her that he could
not call that night, as Mrs. Richard
son had threatened TO kill him IL he
again went TO her home. She admit
ted having received attentions from
Alvin G. Quarles, jr., an employe OF
Pollard since the killing of Mrs.
Richardson.