Year: 1869

Unnbnfcd Interest in the Trial--Tke Theory


OF the Alleged Powder ETnrixs-Close of


Evidence for the rosecution-Testimony of
General Henry A. Wise.


RICHMOND Va, March 3, 1859.
The interest in this remarkable trial. which has
been in progress for the past three days. continues
unabated. The testimony taken far is but repe.
ttion OF that given at the inquest held the body
Of Pollard J. Marshall Hanna, the detective Grad
dock, Major II. p. Clinton (who occupied the rooms
in which Grant discovered after the killing OF
Pollard the policeman Moore and two negroes tes-
titled substantially as they had done before The
only thing additional was the statement of Major
Clinton that young men the habit Of visiting
his room at all hours, and that Grant had asked him
for key which he gave.


The court is daily crowded from early morn till
late at night Several new witnesses have been
examined without eciting any more important
evidence than that already reported. AS yet no de-
fined policy has been developed by either the prose-
cution or the defence The former-perhaps adopting
the presumption OF the guilt OF Grant from the
motives lie had in avengng the SANDER on his sister,
the manner in which he was discovered at the time
OF the assassination, locked In room the window
of which overlooked and commanded the spot where
Pollard fell, and surrounded by murderous weapons
among which was a doube-barrellcd gun with one
barrel discharged, and all the singular chain of cir
cumstances pointing to Grant as the muroerer-will
try to convict. On the other hand, the defence,
placed in the critical position of having bad case
will use every endeavor to create doubt in the
minds Of the jury that Grant is the real murderer;
that Pollard might have been shot from the window
Of the room adjoining that In which Grant was dis
covered and arrested, or that the assassin might
have laid concealed on the roof or the building
the parapet OF which the fatal discharge Of buckshot
was fired.


One OF the chief circumstances on which the pro-
secution has hitherto relied - the alleged powder
stain marks on the window Sill of the room where
Grant was found, pointing In the direction
OF the wall, on the opposite side OF the street,
ndented BY o the bnckshoT M About these marks
are backing or paint marks, and Others say their
effect, but, If extended, would reach point some
eighteen feet to the right Of the indentaons upon
the wall where Pollard fell; and it also forcibly
stated that with the muzzle Of the gun resting on
the upper portion Of the window sill, over these
marks, the lower part OF the sill would obstruct
to go clear OF the lower ana outer sill would reach
point clear above the heads Of any street passen
gers. As yet the article that Is supposed 10 have
caused the homicide has not been produced, the
prosecution declining because II gives some justca
ton TO the ASSASSINATION, and the defence being
willing to admit their client committed the murder
under any circumstances whatever. Perhaps il VIII
be brought out in due time, besides other very i'm
portant and interesting testimony on both sides.
Dir. ]. u. Brock sworn, tcstled-There was one |
wound In the face, another on the right side Of the
neck several the shoulder and one on the left OF
the spinal column; noticed the apertures from which
the balls had been taken the wound on the left OF
the spinal column seemed to have been made, as |
The Others, by ball entering the body there
was nothing In the location OF the wounds that would
indicate the direction, except that the wounds on
the shoulder must have been made by shooting IRON
an elevated position. Witness could not conceive |
how they could Lave been made In any other way.
John ). Stubbs, sworn testified that, as member |
OF the Coroner's jury, he had made an examination
to ascertain whether gun had been fired from that
window Il black mark extended across the sill and |
pointed directly to the indentatons upon the wall
on the opposite side OF the street, the marks left the
impression upon the mind Of witness that gun had
been fred nom that window.


J. Marshall Hanna, associate editor OF the southern
Opinion, being recalled, testifled-Hcard the splash
OF the buckshot on the walls OF the house; know !
that the inuentations were made by the shot fired
that occasion; the marks on the wall present the
same appearance now that they did then, except |
that their freshness Is gone.


Major H. r. Clinton recalled, testified that he had
never had double-Darrclled gun In his room and |
did net see any firearms there the evening preced
ing the homicide.


This ended the testimony for the prosecution the |
commonwealth reserying the right to Introduce |
such evidence as might be deemed proper during |
the progress OF the trial.


General Henry a. Wise was then introduced as o |
witness for the defense and being sworn testified
that he visited the scene on the day OF the homicide
about one or two O'Clock and marked the pecuiiarl
ties OF the place; witness found that Fourteenth |
street ran north by northeast and south by south
west; on the west witness saw the spots OF blood
and seven ndent1tlons on the wai; witness at tue
request OF counsel yesterday visited the Of the
murder anu, Win nplements such as he could OBJ
tain the use or measured tc distances with view
TO solve the my sery OF the shoOtng he ascertained
that the spot where Pollard fell seventeen feet
from his Office door. and twenty seven feet rom |
Nam street; Fourteenth street runs north north
east by south southwest the window ss of the
third door Of the Isaacs building were, in round
NUMBERS a0Ou twentyOn feet above the spot where
Mr Pollard fc; tie street was about forty feet wiae
the line OF Ire, II the snct were fred from wn-
dow supposed, was about nliy feet.


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