Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-21
A VERDICT FOR MOEN.
The Jury Award Him All He Asked
with Interest

BosToN, Nov. 17.-George j. West,
counsel Tor Levi Wilson, resumed his ar
gument in the WilsonMOen case this
morning. MIR. West said toat Moen was
a man who testified according TO the ext
gencies OF the case. His late story did
not find life until after the last trial, when
in his own words he Thought the matter
ended forever. HE seems" said Mr..
West, "to have two standards of veracity
and truth. What do you call a man who
under oath suppresses a part OF the
truthW
''The opposing counsel quoted yester-
day the statutes in relation to the pun
lshment for blackmaIl; l will call atien-
ton to the laws for the punishment OF
perjury. The great gigantic secret that
Moen had locked up in his breast was
tn at Levi Wilson was liar. All that ne
b Rd to say was that be paid Wilson large
sums Of money because he had told lie.
mo. MOen did not pay that money to
w ilson to keep his mouth shut: he did not
pay that money to a blackmailer. Our
theory is that MOen was long acquainted
with the Engley girl. He wrote that
PascOag letter, signed Wilson's name 10
NOTES and opened an account on his books
with Wilson so that II he ever got into
trouble he could charge Wilson with
blackmail and use him as a scapegnat.
"Wilson went to England on a mis-
sion, and wnen be returned he rendered
an account OF his steward ship. Part of
tn at $30, 900 went to the Engley girls. BE
did with the money precisely what he was
told to do. claim to have proved that
the Pascoag letter was forgery; that
M en has not told the truth, and that the
olackmail story was concocted alter the
last trial.
1.-The only way in which Moen can get
out of this contract Is by brIn ing in the
theory Of bIackmail and pressure backed
by forgeries aud untruths. We claim
that ours was a business transaction, and
we want our money. The only .ssue in
this case is who tells the truth"
Judge Carpenter then charged the jury.
Il q said:
''rhere are in this case, gentlemen, two
separate claims. one brought 0y the
plaintiff, Wilson, and one by the deten-
d Mt, Moen. The plaintiff demands $685.
900 and interest in respect to a contract
ne alleges was made with him by the de-
Re ndant. The defendant, MOen, demands
$40, 900, or more, with interest, in respect
To n contract he says had been made with
him.
SIT you ind the plaintiff entitled to the
money he claims and the defendant not
entitled TO his claim, then the verdict
must be for the plaintiff for $4,000, with
Interest from the time when the suits
were settled in September. 1882. Ii you
d nd the plaintiff, Wilson. indebted to the
defendant on his notes aud the defendant
not indebted to the plaintiff, as alleged,
then your verdict must be for the defen-
dant.
''lf you find the plaintiff entitled to the
money be claims and the defendant enti
tied to his money as alleged, then you
m ust compute the amount in each case
and tind the difference between the two.
and your verdict shall be according to
whether 1t is in favor OF the plaintiff or
toe defendant"
AT 3:45 O'Clock the jury came In and In
quired of the court as to the cOmpu alton
OF interest on the notes given by Wilson
to Moen, whether it should be computed
at simple or compound interest. Judge
Carpenter instructed them that simple
interest was intended. His honor then
asked if they had agreed upon a verdict.
The foreman replied in the negative and
they again retired.
At 4:30 the jury came in again, and In
answer to the clerks inquiry: "Have you
agreed upon verdict, gentlemenW the
foreman replied: 1--WE have" Papers
were then handed up tn the court, and the
cierk read from one OF them: 1--WE md
verdict for the defendant, and assess
damages in the sum OF 500, 522 l6."
Francis Colwell, o. the plaintiffs coun-
sci, a. once gave notice that his client
would move for new trial and the court
adjourned.