Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1927-06-25


who worked ND the case said he had
William Washington down to head
quarters around 9 O'Clock, the day
Of the murder. He was normal. he
said he asked him why did he Kill
Gertrude. He said she wouldn't tell
him whefe his wife was and ne
killed her.
WASHINGTON TESTIFIES.
IT am 81 years of age. rye lived
in Richmond practically all my life.
I came from King William County.
/ worked for the Madison Transfer
Company. I've been working here
ever since I came back from ove;-
seas. I stopped work about month.
The last time I saw my wife was
tuesday before Easter. She got
home that morning and fixed my
lunch and l left. 1 lived at Ala w.
Duval Street. 1 rented the place. I
owned the furniture. left at $3.50.
/ did not come back until the fol-
lowing Friday night. / was in
Fredericksburg. Mr.. John D. Blair
was nv employer. I went up to
the door when 1 got back. knocked
and no one answered.
There was a hushed silence when
the Court resumed it's session and
Attorney Leith S. Bremner directed
William Washington to take the
stand. He told of his return FROM
fredericksburg, where he had been
10 Trio n eff
Company He said that he knocked
at the door of his home and no one
answered. He called to his wife
and received no reply Then he
opened the window and looked in.
and saw that all of his things had
been removed. He got into the
house and fell to the floor in daze.
L said to myself" said he Lord,
what has happened to me? I have
not lad my eyes on my wife until
saw her here this morning.
TROUBLE WITH SISTER-IN-LAW
My sister-in-law was younger
than my wife. She had lived with
me fer 6 or months. had trou
Street one n ght and 1 saw her in
house on Henry Street drinking
and carrying on. 1 went home and
told my wife. | got home that
night around IL o'clock. My wife
was there. Gertrude got angry be-
cause l told my wife about it. Ger
trude drew a gun on me once at my
house. My wife told me not to hit
her. sat on the bed and told
Gertrude to get somewhere else to
stay. That was 8 or months be
fore the time of the killing.
II saw her on Madison and Clay
Streets on Easter night. The next
time was on st. James Street and
Jackson Street. She and another
girl passed me. We had no CONVEX
by my house. 1t was on Thursday.
L was standing leaning cn the gate.
The next time I saw her was at
Little Shiloh Baptist Church on
Calhoun Street. The next time, I
was going down ST. James Street
] saw her going into the door the
day before the morning she was
killed. / was in the store. I went
in after package of cigarettes. I
saw her coming up Hill Street She
started to jawing and she said,
sent your wife away took ten
dollars from my pocket and sent her
away. She said she had been to g
conjurc doctor and that would die
in June. She was going away, too
and would never see her or my
wife again.
Joe Jackson said I said was
going to kill five people. ! did not
say IT." Commonwealth Attorney
Dave E. Satterfeld then subjected
him to q rigid cross examination
He continued: 81 have never threat =
ened my wife. said would take
her by the hand and lead her home"
Mr.. Satterfield interjectedl with o
pistol in your pocket?" Judge Ma
thews enuuired: "Have you permit
to carry q pistol?" Washington an
swered: mo. sir"
Mr. Satterfield:' why did you
shoot her? Why did you shoot her
in the back? Didn't you creep up
behind her like dog and shoot her
in the back?" Witness denied this.
"Why did you run away?" II ran
TO get rid Of the pistol. 1 just
realized what / was doing. No l
aid not know then where she was
stepping. / saw her going into the
house where she was living. 7
found out Saturday before Easter
where she was stopping"