Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-08-02
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THE MOORE MURDER.

The Case Before Justice Caldwell
Again-AttOrGey General Wright
Declines to PrOseeute-The An
nOuueement in COurt-Scene There
upoD.
From the Memphis Appeal, July 81.
By nire O'Clock yesterday morning ex-
cited persons were running all ove- the city
irving to find out where the preliminary
trial of hrs. Moore and her nephew, j. r.
Hanson, would be held. Several lawyers
and two or three officers were cursed by
more than dozen persons who, after going
TO the Second Circuit Court, on Second
street, found Judge Halsey occupying the
room with the trial of a hsbess corpus case.
The report was spread then that the trial
would take place at tie First Circuit Court
room, which attracted a number Of persons
who were somewhat disappointed. II was
finally believed that the case would be
tried at Justice Caldwel's Office, on
Front street, where q large crowd soon
assembled, but only again to be
disappointed. Mr.. Luke Wright, the attor-
ney-general, sent word to Justice Caldwell
that he would dismiss the case if he would
bring the prisoners down to the criminal
court between eleven and twelve O'Clock,
where large number of persons were being
tried on Writs of hdheGS corpus. Justice
Caldwell, being under no official obligation
to remove his Offlce for Gen. Wright, who is
not compelled to prosecute norresist Writs
of hGbeas corpus, IS has been illustrated by
the Benjamin Med Onald trial sore time
ago, did not leave his Office. Capt. Harry
Cranmer, the deputy sheriff, in due course
of time appeared in Justice CaldWelPs
office and stated that the attorneJ-gereral
declined to prosecute the case. The pris-
oners, Mrs. Moore and j. r. Ransom, were
then brought before Justice Caldwell, who
said:
"Mrs. Moore, in accordance with the
verdics of the coroner's jury andst tee in
stance of the community, have issued a
warrant Of arrest for you aud your nephew,
Mr.. Hanson, for the murder of your hus-
band, Frank NJ. Moore. We have put you
TO q great deal Of trouble for the benefit OF
the community, the state Of whose feelings
demanded the arrest. now state that the
charges, founded on suspicion, have been
withdrawn against beth of you, and you are
at liberty to depart this court"
One of Mrs. Moore's attorneys said be
wanted to say few words in connection
with the proceedings. He sid that after a
careful and candid attention to the case, he
had satisfied himself that the prosecution
had no foundation. Not as her attorney,
but as 2 man and as s member Of society,
he could say she was not guilty. He had
talked TO her in her most un-
guarded moments, and felt convinced
of her innocence. He made the
statement, not as an attorney, IOr in the
interest of the accused, but in the interest
of society, with desire that the guilty per-
son Ee punished. Before coming to this
city, he had large practice in the law and
much experience in criminal prosecutions.
He had been in intimate contact with all
kinds of crime as lawyer, and after close
cautious and scrutinizlng intercourse with
these accused parties, he had no hesitation,
both as q man and q member Of society, III
saying that there was not one single instance
that imputed to her guilt. He was salts
fed that the person who committed the
murder in The house did not go there for
that purpose. From his examination OF and
conversation with Mrs. Moore he was salts
fed there was no connection between her
and this transaction. An egregious mistake
had been made in arrestiDg Mrs. Moore,
At the conclusion of the attorneys
remarks. Mrs. Moore, who was dressed in
deep mourning, and wore s heavy black
vail which her hid pale face from the criti-
cal gaze of the curious, approached Justice
CaldWelps restrain and extended her hand
to him. She was followed by her nephew,
]. R, Hanson, who, upon shaking hands
with Justice Caldwell, said in low thick
voice, ''GoOd-bye."
Justice Caldwell remarked: 81 took
much pains end think there is no necessity
for going through tedious trial, to harsss
your feelings, Mrs. Moore, when there is
no evidence in the case. l made tire in
vestigation merely in accordance with the
verdict of the coroner'5 jury, and with a
desire to satisfy popular sentiment"
Her attorney replied that Mrs. Moore had
no bad feeling in the matter, and is glad OF
the investigation.
Justice Caldwell replied, saying to Mrs.
Moore: 81 am sorry you have been put to
this trouble. Let the csse be entered as 3
mistrial for failure of prosecution to ap-
pear" The crowd was very much disap-
DO nted, as they evidently expected some
thing new would be ELECTED in the testimony
of the witnesses,