Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-10-27
NJ. T.. HsaIl's Perjury.

During the spring term Of the cir
cult court, a suit was brought by NJ.
F. Ball against Il. Whitmore, claim
ing $4,000 damages for alleged libel
in publishing an article concerning
his agency in connection with the
death of Mrs. Raynor, whose suicide
was charged by the jury Of inquest as
having been caused by him. The counsel
for Ball, with Mr.. Randolph at the
head, uncovered nasty nest during
the course Of the trial, in connection
with the European hotel, once kept
by Ball 1t was disclosed that the
hotel had been frequented during his
management by immoral women and
men, and that the orgies were strange
and wild, or similar thereto. Ball
swore positively that bis hote'had been
kept as free from vicious attendants
as hotels usually are, and at no time
bad improper persons gained admit
taHoe thereto with his knowledge.
This was decidedly opposite to the
testimony Of Others, and il resulted,
alter the case closed in Balfs favor
by verdict of two hundred and fify
dollars, in Balls arrest on a charge Of
perjury. Yesterday Ball was ac-
quilted of the charge before a
jury in the criminal court as
the judge of the circuit court,
j. 0. Peirce stated upon the witness
stand that in his opinion the alleged
perjury had no influence in the case
upon the original trial for libel. Il was
alleged in the indictment that it did
have an important bearing In that
suit, because if Ball swore falsely on
one point, he was likely to do SO on
another, though this latter point
was not expressed in words,
The charge of perjury was
not disproyed before Judge Hor'
gan and the jury, but upon the close
of Judge Pierce $ testimony the case
against Ball was dismissed, and
through tho direction of the Judge a
verdict ofacquittal entered, Attorney
General Turner SO recommending. be-
cause of his opinion that the charge
could not be sustained after the eyi
dence Of Judge Peirce. 1t is under.
stood that the verdict Of $3.50 in
Balls favor, was what is known as d
compromise verdict. Nearly all of
the jurymen favored no damages, or a
merely nominal amount, so that Ball
might be saved from costs. He had a
friend among the twelve, however
aud that friend stuck out for round
sum aud by his eloquence he succeed
ed in gaining colored juryman to his
cause. After several hours delibera-
tion the verdict of $3.50 was
agreed 10, and though it was a Ling
tumble from the anticipated ten thou
sand, il is said to have appeased Ball s
lacerated feelings and healed bis
broken character. The members OF
the jury, who held the inquest over
the remains of Mrs. Raymer, were
unanimous in the expression that Bal
had bad cause in his suit for libel
but che information impaired tt
them at the time was excluded by
Judge Pierce in the cause for dam
ages before the circuit court. Dur.
ing the progress of the recent
trial for perjury, many expressed the
belief that the action had a black
look for Ball, but tie teehnicallties oi
the law, and its intricate workings are
manifold, and there are a Thousand
looptoles through which escape from
penalty is often secured, and whether
or not he deserves to get of, Ball
went scot free in the recent instance