The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-10-19
SMITH ON THE STAND.
HE MAKES HIS OWN CASE WORSE
And Does the Mayor NO HaEm-Ho Be.
come. a spectacle on the CrO's Ezamia-
ation-ssnuatiOnal Gene Between the
Attornsys-An Interesting session.

ntion-Ssnsationa Gene Between the
Attornsys-An Interesting sSs'iOn.
Saturday nights session Of the Commit
tee Of Council engaged in investigating
the charges against Mayor Grub was the
most interesting and the only important
session yet held. 1t was chiefly notable
for the pitiable spectacle afforded by Por-
ter Smith on the stand. The prosecution
found itself in desperate straits. Not
witness had been produced who in any
degree sustained by his evidence one OF
the charges against the Mayor. Therefore
they were forced to the expedient Of
placing the accuser himself on the stand,
that bis own testimony might substantiate
his own affidavit. On the face OF it such
case is weak, but when, as on Saturday
night, even the accuser himself cannot
teiI a straight story, evades direct Ques.
tiions and cOntradIcts time and again
statements in the charges to which he has
sworn, as well as portions Of his own evil
denCe which he has scarcely done giving,
the entire tissue Of unsupported falsehood
falls TO the ground.
Naturally the man who had sworn to
certain charges could not be expected to
do anything when he came oil the stand
but to stick 70 his original story. This,
when his testimony is carefully sifted, he
did not do. There was not one OF the
charges with which his evidence was not
ct variance TO a greater or less degree. He
did not answer one question directly yes
or no most Of them he evaded, not skill
fully, and when pushed hard he resorted
10 the expedient OF saying that whatever
was in the charges was true; that the facts
were fresh in his mind when he signed
them. He never referred 10 the charges
as his own. 1t was when signed them" !;
"when l swore to them" when they
were presented to Council; "when | read
them over" never "when made them"
rIrIABLg SPECTACLE.
When Smith came on the stand, natu.
rally hC waa the centre Of interest. Even
upon his direct examination his testimony
was not clear and direct, nor did 1t impress
listener as truthful. He hesitated, as il
loath to go the whole length to which his
course go far impelled him. His story was
given in fragmentary sort OF way, not
as II he spoke OF what he had seen, but
with the air OF one dealing in inventions
and anxious. mott be betrayed into incon-
sistent or contradictory statements.
It caused almost shock OF surprise
when the counsel for the prosecution an.
nounced on the previous evening that
they intended 10 offer Smith as witness.
This meant that ho was to be subjected TO
the mcst merciless Cross-eXamipation that
human ingenuity could devise. When
this commenced Smiths nervousness, al
ready perceptible, increased till he became
on object Of pity. He turned about,
lfumbled with the lapel OF his coat, pulled
his mustache, and at intervals OF about
minute and half drew out his handker-
chief and wiped his face. His counsel
leaned back in despair and watched the
frail tissue OF rickety evidence which their
client had erected on his own behalf taken
apart pecemeal, and in its place solid
wall Of evidence favorable 10 the other
side momentarily growing thicker under
the unwilling hands OF their witness.
When the committee adjourned there
was probably not person in the hall who
was not convinced that the crowning
folly Of series OF unwise moves on the
part of the prosecution was placing the
prosecutor on the stand.
TIE COMMITTEE SESSION.
Chairman Hildreth was again absent
Saturday evening, and Chairman pro lem
Bingell called the committee to order. All
the other members were present, and the
Clerk, Stenographer, Mayor, City Sergeant,
the opposing counsel and the Market
Master were all in attendance. AS usual
all the benches on the floor OF the hall
were occupied by members OF the Council
and other prominent citizens, three ex.
Mayors, Messrs. Egerter, Miller and
Sweeney, being among them. President
f. NJ. Turner, OF the Morgantown Univer-
sity, was spectator during part OF the
session.
The crowd in the gallery was at first
smaller than usual, but 1t gradually filled
up till there was scarcely breathing ipace,
let alone the traditional room for one
more"
Chairman Birgell asked that all present
assist tho committee by observing order.
The Clerk called the roll OF witnesses for
the prosecution. Six OF them were pres
emit. The return OF Market Master Kinney
was read, to the effect that he had served
rules on all, US instructed. Mr.. Augustus
Pollock responded that he would not ap-
pear under any circumstances, and Mr..
Charles Hamilton YVES confined to his
room by illness, and could not appear ua-
less in daytime.
Col. White asked that the witnesses be
comnAllpd 10 attend or the rIlle enforced
Mr.. Dobbins asked whether the proper
action would be TO assess fines or exert
force to bring witnesses. Mr.. Jones
thought the committee could not disregard
the Solicitors opinion. Finally twas or
dered that the witnesses present be exam
ined.
HAD CHANGED THEIR MINDS.
The first witness was Mr.. Dent Taylor,
concerning whom the prosecution had