Telegram-herald., 1888-04-12
NOW THE GOVERNOR
WILL TACKLE THs CLAY MATTER
The Arguments il the Insssife ti0n of the
Chsrsss Against ths Prosecuting Altar
nsy Clessd-Fletober, Maynsrd asa
clay HelG the fioor Tor
sia HoaFs.

kt 10 o'clock yesterday morning Judge
Perkins took his ehicisl seat in the PTobsis
Court after FIRST plscing Sn extra cushion
thereon. He VAS then prepared 70 hear the
arguments IN the matter OF the inyestiga-
ton of the charges prefer-edlby SupeFin-
tendent OF Police Smith against Prose
cutting Attorney Samuel ID. Clay. A huge
pie Of manuscript covered with typewriter
copy. comprising the testimony given in
the examination was placed on the at
torney's table and around il gathered the
three speakers Of the day. Attorney Gen
eral Iaggart who conducted the examiER-
ton for the people did not appear and X
A. Fletcher his specially appointed assistant
had The held for the prosecution. az il has
been termed, 10 himself 5. ID. Clay, the
accused ana Fred. A. MAYNARD. his counsel
were promptly on hand. Mr. Fletcher opened
TIE ball and talked little over an hour.
The drlit OF his argument was that Mr..
Clay had been proven guilty Of official
misconduct, and that he Was al unit man
Tor the Office. Once or twice be became
quite personal. and threw out = few rather
strong sentiments when speaking OF the ao-
uons Of tie Prosecuting Attorney.
Mr.. Maynard then opened on behalf Of
the osfeuse. aud talked until noon. At
O'Clock he resumed. and he held the floor
altogether about three hours. His sreu-
msnt was strong, able and cautious, and be
talked during the entire time with free and
great fiuency of language. be claimed, and
made II special point, that the Prescott
ing Attorney. or any other official. after his
days work had been faithfully performed,
becomes = citizen, AMI bis actions then can
not De set down as official misconduct.
Xr. Clay next took the floor
on his own behalf, and, like
his counsel, carefully analysed each
charge and the testimony produced 10 sub
stantiate IL. In summing up lie said that
instead OF bringing Ia some representative
people TO prove charges of official miscon-
duet against an officer of the county, the
prosecution had sworn two gamblers, Bub
smith, the accuser, the attorneys of Pat
man, his enemy, and poor little Corbitt, %
suestantiate the charges made by the mani
Smith out Of pare personal spite. He ac-
cused Smith Of violating the laws of init
midating witnesses and abused him in
general manner. He said be was glad that
SIR. Tsgsart had had the good sense 10 keep
away, aud he didn't believe there was an
other Democratic lawyer in the State who
would co the dirty work that Fletcher was
doing there. he hiBted sharply al some
dark actions Of Mr.. Fletcher. both while
in the Legislature and on the
School Board here, which he had
no doubt would make that gentleman
squirm If they were Rde public. He sgsin
asserted that the evidence given showed no
official misconduct snd then concluded his
argument.
IL was then 5:35 and Mr.. Fletcher thought
he could say Whist he wanted to before
I o'clock and get through with the matter
He said ne would not reply TO the insinuG-
tions Of Mr. Clay as they were false. He
spoke briefly in reply TO Mr. Maynard and
Mr.. Clay and closed at Just O'clock
after Judge Perkins has certified 70
TAG testimony and attached his
| opinion OF the matter, ii will be sent
to Governor Luce, who will decide
whether SIR. Clay shall or shall not con-
5iaue il the Office to which he was elected
by the voters of Kent county over Judge
stone, one of the bes. men in the oppo.i-
ion party.