Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-22
POLLARD IS GR|LLED
ON STORY Of DEATH
He TOLD ON STAND
Prominent Virginian Tells Of
Relations With Woman He
Is Accused Of Murdering'
Defends Mrs. Beck

murder of Mrs. Thelma Ham Rich
ardson, former stenographer, in his
real estate and insurance office, on
the evening Of December II, last.
The defense rested its case early
this afternoon.
The case, it was indicated early
today, probably would go to the jury
late tomorrow.
Thomas Pollard, prominent young
business man of this city, felt safe
from Herbert Richardson complain
ing in the way men usually COM
plain" about such things as his rela-
tiCns with Mrs. Thelma Ham Rich
ardson, because 81 do not think he
had the nerve to do it," Pollard tes-
titled under cross examination today
in his trial for the murder of his
former stenographer in his real es-
tate and insurance office here.
Didn't Have Nerve
Didn't you think Herbert Rich
ardson had a right to complaint" he
was asked.
"Not until later" the defendant
said.
ct is d lucky thing for you that
he did not complain in the way men
usually complain about such things,
isn't it?"
st do not think he had the nerve
to do it,
"Ah! I see, you felt safe. Didn't
Herbert Richardson have the nerve
to enlist and to be on the battle
fields OF Europe?"
Eyes"
you were exempted?"
Eyes"
you stayed at home to protect
your wife and to betray his wife
while he was fighting on the battle
fields Of Europe?"
81 did not betray her then"
"You did it, thought"
after the war was over"
Pollard told of taking Mrs. Rich
ardson to the house of a negress to
have an operation performed for a
condition which, he said, "I have al
ways thought. I was responsible, 3"
| and of waiting within two blocks of
the house for twenty minutes until
the woman returned.
When asked what he meant by
saying in letter read in court yes
terday that he had ''risked evrey-
thing" by going to a hospital where
Mrs. Richardson was operated on to
correct the effects of the first op-
Grafton, he declared
II had gone to the hospital SO
often"
Then it was your reputation you
risked?"
Eyes"
Didn't Risk Everything
''But you did not risk every
thing?"
mo, not everything"
'Then when you said in this post
norton letter-this dying letter, so
to speak-that you risked every
thing, you now say that you did not
risk anything but your reputation.
Both statements are not true them"
'No."
(Which is true-the statement in
the letter or the one now on oath?"
THE one on OATH"
Didn't you write the letter later
than you said?"
nv, L NIOIG IL VII 1ISCOlIDcL I
at 10 o'clock in the morning"
The letter referred to was one in
troduced yesterday and which in
part said "Thelma Fl. Richardson
swore on last Friday that she would
kill me and if I should be found
dead, please see that she is dealt
with as hard as possible"
Pollard's story Of his relations with
the pretty former Atlanta, Ga, girl
and Of the incidents leading up to
her death at the Pollard home in the
fashionable residential section of
this city occupied virtually the en-
tire day yesterday. During the
course of his testimony he told of
going into the real estate and in
surance business in April, 1916, of
engaging the then Miss Thelma Ham
as stenographer in August, 1917,
and of her seeking his advice on her
marriage to Herbert Richardson. The
witness said the girl asked him on
the day before her marriage on
December 20, 1918:
Mr.. Pollard, I am going to be
married tomorrow night. What do
you think of it,"
Il think you are crazy, only
knowing him this short time" the
defendant declared he advised her.
Tells of Relations
Then the witness related how the
woman's husband went overseas
with the American EXpeditionary
Forces, where he was decorated for
heroism. Pollard denied there were
any improper relations between him
and Mrs. Richardson until after she
had been divorced from her hus-
band after his return from France.
He said four months after these re-
latlons Mrs. Richardson demanded
an account Of his every movement
and if he would not tell her some
one else would
In June, 1922, Pollard continued,
his wife learned Of his relations with
his stenographer and went to the
home of her father. After several
conversations with his wife and his
father-in-laW, the witness said, Il
began to think. [ decided to lead
better life He said he told Mrs.
Richardson Of his intentions during
the following September and when
asked why he did not discharge her
Immediately, replied:
"If I had tried to do that I would
not be sitting here"
What do you mean?" he was
asked.
"She would have killed me-" he
declared.
Then followed several weeks of
quarrels between Pollard and Mrs.
Richardson, during one of which
the witness declared he blackened
the womans eye.
Finally the eventful night on