The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-02-02
The Trial.

The Trial.
ATLANTA, GA, Jan. 21.-The ecclesi-
astical court to try DIR. Armstrong has
boen in session and yesterday this morn
ing up to IL o'clock, when it adjourcln
until $3.50 this afternoon for col. ference
and consultation. The members of the
court are not lawyers, and while very
broad latitude is allowed under the
rules in the admission Of evidence, yet
the court, while an ecclesiastical one.
desires to conform to the rules Of evil
dence as far as possible. There have
been two very protracted and animated
contests over the admission of evidence,
which have puzzled the court very
much. The counsel on each side have
argued the points with rnllness and
ability. and with a citation Of numerous
authorities, and the arguments
and authorities were so evenly
balanced that decision 70 ono unprac-
ticed in the law was very difficult. The
court has been very desirous to do
right.
AN UMPIRE SUGGESTED.
One Of the points was submitted to
an eminent and learned member of the
judiciary, who informed the court what
was the rule Of law. The second point,
as warmly contested, tho court felt some
delicacy in submitting to the same
authority. 1t was almost certain that
the legal contests would arise all
during the trial, and it was deemed bet
ter to have the court select q legal um.
pire who would be acceptable to both
sides. and so the body adjourned to
confer upon such selection. Col. w.
Hammond, Of Thomasville, was men
toned, and it was agreed that he would
be an excellent umpire, but it would
take thirty-six hours to get him here,
and the delay was undesirable. Some
lawyer was selected for this duty, and
the investigation will proceed. The
trial is being conducted with vigor and
GOODNESS by both. the prosecutor and
defence, d. sspstrpas -pnass v-a4l.a.
procedure is allowed to be Witness,
and has been ON tho stand telling his
own account Of the matter.
WHEREOF THE MATTER HINGES
The evidence offered has been main.
ly attidavits produced by the prosecu-
ton. Mr. Mann, Of the Cincinnati
Post, is here to testify. He wrote up
the account for that paper. and bore
heavily on DR.. Armstrong. The affida-
Wit of the proprietor Of Hunts hotel,
where the Doctor stopped in Cincinnati,
has been read. Az far as can be learn
ed. the matter. hinges upon DR.. Arm
strong's explanation Of what is open to
the construction of being injudicious
coYduct. The defence claims that an
indiscrect thing was done with a good
motive; that actions bearing a question
able aspect were inspired by gener-
Gus purpose, crcditable to This heart.
\ our readers will see how complicated
a question the trial becomes, and how
much margin there is for division of
views.
AN AUGUSTA MAN FOR UMPIRE.
LATEn.-It is understood that we'll
known lawyer of Augusta has been tel
egraphed for to act as legal guide to the
Reverend Judges. A strong effort will
be made to impeach the character Of
Mr.. Mann, the Cincinnati editor who
poached on DR.. Armstrong. 1t is as
serted by DR.. Armstrong's friends that
Mann passed under two names in his
life time, though on the other side Mr..
Mann's friends give plausible explana-
ton Of that fact.-Augusta Chronicle.