The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07
VIRGINIA ITEMS.
The Trial Off. c. Morgan.

CHARLOTTE. December 5.-iCorrcspond-
ence The trial OF young +. G. Morgan was
resumed at 10 o'clock. The courtroom was
crowded, and although the me rnlng session
extended far beyond the usual hour ior ulll-
ing everybody seemei 10 remain. ne prs
oner's mother aud bfOther-in- VINO came
from London, Eng, to see HIM through, SAT
besidc him and gave close attention 10 the
proceedings. Morgan maintained MS atten
tive manner OF yesterday.
Mr., John Alexander. at whose mouse
Nor an boarded for several years, was again
placed on tho stand a. a witness Tor the Com
mOnwealth. When the question, "Dld you
not state To Mr.. Dawson and others IN ScOtts-
vile, that you heard two shots but such was
your excitement that you could not Say
whether Coles nred or nOt?' WAS asked Dy
Captain Woods Of the prosecution, the de-
fense objected OH the ground that the pur-
pose OF the question was lnnlreclly 10 III. =.
peach the witness. Judge White ruled mat
The auestiOn should be answered, as the
prosecution had a right TO test or impeaeh
Alexander's memory. An exception was
taken. The witness denied making ans such
statement. 49,.
This question by the prosecution was the
first open indication Of any part OF its llne ol
attack. that OF showing that but one shOt was
fired. ana that Morgan fired that one. Inc
first efforts OF the prosecution WIS ucNolru
10 this attempt, and three OF Mr. coles hlrel
men, who at the time OF the homicide were a,
n.totacco barn some 400 yards away, were
placed on the stand ana swofe thnt theJ
heard but one shot, Alexander's testimony
on this point was this: "Mf. Coles nied hMts. M
and still had his pistol Ia ms
hand wnen Mr. Morgan returned the
nre. Mr.. coles pistol was heid
pointed towards MOrgan's face. would Say
| that IL was pointed with he purpose OF nr-
lng aud that another shot would nave iol-
lowed II Mr.. Morgan had not nr.d. II siOi
gan had not fired the probable result would
have been that Morgan would have Deen
| .hot. or shot at" This wGs the story as tOlu
and repeated by the only eyewitness ol tn.
tragedy. The only others wlihin ehf-shO'
swear that they heard Dut one shol. -.
| The next endeavOI of the prosecution was
| 10 show that those who hhTOuded Coles iOuho
| three distinct welts across the left lace one
| OF the welts extending across the upper np
These marks were sworn 10 Dy w.
two white men who shIouasu 'Niy' aI,
the lamp wllich furnished tne ngnl
| for the shrouders. The tross-examlhatlol
| by tho defense seemed To be directed q
| showing that these wells were Ihlseu u?
| 10 es' fall to the ground after he was shot
| n was shown that ne fell on his iace. ihs
purpose OF the prosecution was 10 snow .na
| Inc ,relts were such Ls could De raised Dy
blows of Il switch or whip. some Oh me VIZ
nesses described them rs such, ana Iead ot.'
conclusion that Morgan had cut ,oies sS.o,' ~,
the face with the switch he had jerked from
him. and was therefore the aggressor 20 al
extent sufficient 10 provoke Coles 10 snoo,
| The testimony of the only eyewitness on thl
| noint vas as follows: 81 thought Mr. Morgan
struck ar Coles OF the bootleg. could no
.uenr that Mr. oles was actually sruch
but thought so, and think so stlll.'
The Or. secution rext attempted 10 aecoVh
for the one empty chamber OF Mr.; Coles pls
tol. IL WAS proved that Mr.. Coles hsd 81
dsys before, nred at a cat. Ills son GARY
was nut on the stand 20 prove thst CoIs
never loaded the pistol himsen. anu WA
.afraid 10 fol with It," lie swore tnat ny
wa, in the habit OF 10 ding the pistol Tor nih' y
and kept the cartridges In desk IN III III
room. When pinned down by the deienss na
Young Coles was not prepared 10 swear .aa
there could not have been other cartrius.
i'm the place; he thought, however, thvt
were not. Another witn' 81 testiieu nat
examined the barrel few hours aitst .n
ahoot,ng. and found the Inside OF the paifs
had n "redish cast" -, ,,. f,c
considerable stress IL placed on inc itc
that MIR. Morgan was trespasslng. anu III
defense's questions have been directed ,
showiug that Mr. Alexanders ismliy ~
been granted the privilege OF using the pr
yate road, and that Mr. Morgan was fegat1s as
as a member OF Alexanders family
defense showed that Carter Coles had ,o ..1
hidden Morgan to hunt ON the place. ~
when asked II he told Mr.. Morgan nst
U,ole'sl father had told him 10 iorniu ~
trespasslng Ia that way. Young CVses CIV"
mot aay that he had.