The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-10
ARGUMENTS TO BEGIN MONDAY.
But One More Witness TO be
Examined,
When the Case of John Smith for the
Murder of Peter AliT VIII be Given
to the Jury-Tho Defense Has Not
Made Out Strong Case Scene OF
tho Murder Visited by tho Jury.

Public interest in the John Smith
murder trial is still undated, and the
crowd OF spectators was as large as on
the previous days. The evidence is all
in with the exception OF the testimony
of Joe Jones, q witness for the defense.
who will be examined Mondey morning.
1t is the general opinion that the prose.
cution has made very strong case, and
a majority of those who heard this pre-.
vious trial anticipate verdict of guilty.
Smith seems careless and indifferent
to the result. His wife remained by his
side all day yesterday, as usual. Tho
jury is composed of an intelligent look
ing body of men, who have paid the
closest attention to the proceedings.
They will attend church to-day under
the surveillance Of IN officer.
George Prillman was introduced by
the defense. He swore that Peter Aliff
and Smith had difficulty which ended
In blows before the shooting occurred.
Aliff tainted as they were carving him
home after he was shot, Peter Alife
had been drinking heavily for several
days, and was on protraoted spree.
Charles Holland, John Smiths
brother-in-law, next testified. Aliff and
Smith had been having a scutiie and
Aliff struck Smith in the face with his
fist. After Holland had concluded the
jury and the prisoner, accompanied by
the counsel and q number of spectators,
went to tho scene of the murder on the
l. o'clock dummy. The witnesses who
had previously testified were in the
party, and pointed out to tho Jury the
houses OF Smith and Aliif and the posi-
tions occupied by the different parties as
the time the tragedy occurred.
at the afternoon session the first wit
ness was Officer Toole, who testified as
follows: AT the time of the killing I
was deputy sergeant and had charge of
Smith at night. On the day after the
conviction l met man ! took to be
Norman Arthur and asked him what
he thought of the verdict. He said he
was somewhat surprised, as it was q
general fight. Tho reason identified
him was because on the previous day I
heard the same man say to Col Brooke
that he was entitled to mileage from
Bedford City"
Col. 5. $. Brooke testified that he re.
Nom bored some witness asking for mile
age, tut did not remember whether 1t
was Norman Arthur or not.
Mollie Chaffner testified as follows:
Il was standing in my door when Smith
came came up in the yard and called to
Aliif. heard the noise and confusion
in the forenoon. l saw Smith and some
ono go to town and saw him return.
Heard him say, DO you want to take that
up, Alitf?' | saw Smith go in tho direc-
ton of his homo with George Aliff and
Mrs. Aliif Peter Aliif followed and
picked up two rocks as he went When
they reached the corner of the house
heard cursing and saw them all throw
ing M their hands, but did not see any
blow, o'~-'d. Did not see the crowd
pcs od ;thy pirtitular individual.
heard tho Two shots, but do not know
who fired them. did not know who
was shot until afterward when I saw
them taking Potter Aliff to the house,
Mollie Cross was tho next witness.
Her evidence was about the same as that
OF Mollie Chalmers.
George Aliff was called back for the
purpose of contradicting the statement
that in conversation no had an iron
rod in his hands and could have pre.
vented the killing by striking Smith
with the rod. Aliff denied this. Jones
was then recalled and stated that Aliff
did have this conversation with him
and made tho above statement.
This ended the testimony with the
exception of one witness. .who will be
brought before the jury Afonday morn
ing at 10 o'clock ii he can be found. Ii
was stated that he was in the courtroom
at different times since the trial began.
The argument will be commenced
Monday morning and perhaps the case
given 10 the jury Monday night.
4 Passencer Rate yyar