The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-11
THEPRISONER TESTIFIES
CLARK GIVES HIS SIDE OF THE
MoFFETr SHOOTING AFFAIR.
Tie Saws He Tried TO Avoid the Preacher
and Was Assaulted by Him-Ihc sum
ming Up to Begin To-Day

DANvILLE. VA. Feb. 1o.--Speciai-
the rain fell steadily this morning. ana
q wac a cold, disagreeable rain, but II
did rot keen people from flocking TO the
courthouse in great numbers TO near
everything and see everything pertaining
10 the trial Of J. T. Clark, charged with
the murder of Rev. J. II. Mohett. Inc
trial has how been going on since Mon
day. ard at no time has public interest in
IL Jagged in the least. Though the court
was not oIened this morning until 10
o'clock the hustings courtroom was
hacked with people before o'clock, ana
when the Jury came in the services OF al
ditional officers were required TO make a
way through the dense throng Tor the
Jurors to pass.
Many people from all the surrounding
sections are here with no business On
earth except TO attend the trial. After
the opening Of the court at 10 o'clock
the defense continued examination OF us
witness W. S. Blackwell. Tom Roden-
hizer and w. Il. Oliver all TESTIFIED that
they were at Blackwells store late In
the afternoon of November llth and were
present when Clark came in the store,
and was asked by Blackwell II ne had
paid the fine imposed on him On account
OF the fight ne had 18th Moftett Oh cleo
ton day Claiks reTly was he had not
and did not intend TO: that he had been
fined for telling the truth and they could
send him TO jai IL they wanted to. but
Il would be dark day for North Dan
VILE when they did. That is all Clark
said as ne went out of the store then.
Adams and a man named Clark testified
for the prosecution yesterday that In ad-
dition to the above Clark had referred TO
Moftett as a id scoundrel and threatened
him. These witnesses denied that. Frank
A. Millner testified that j. II. Carter was
not I'm his employ in November and not
in charge OF his (Millner's) milk wagons
Carter had testified that he was driving
Millner's milk wagon on the 1lth. and
while so q ling heard Clark make certain
threats against Moffett.
On cross-examnation one Of the Wit
nesses said j. II. Hill. of North Danville,
had approached him to ask about the con-
versation. end he gave Hill the same
answers as he had given here. In answer
to questions witness said Hill was town
collector of North DanVille, an extreme
Prohibitionist and had been exceedingly
active In hunting up testimony for the
prosecution in this case. Just then Hill
was seen making his way towards the
room in which the witnesses are being
kept. Counsel for the defense addressing
the court protested against the Com
monwealths Attorney sending Hill to the
witness room at this stage of the trial,
after he had been allowed TO remain in the
courtroom all heretofore. Counsel for
prosecution said they did not know until
just then that they would want Hill as
witness. hence had not before sent him
TO the witness room. Defense asked that
no either be locked in a room to himself
or kept In the courtroom. Hill was al
lowed TO remain in the out-room.
The defense then introduced Drs r. B.
and surgeons and the entire morning and
up to =. NJ. was consumed in examining
them In regard TO the operation per-
formed on Moffett at the Home for the
Sick after he had been wounded. The
examination and cross-examination of
these witnesses was lengthy and inter
esting, and the whole question of the
latter day surgery was discussed and the
works and opinions of standard writer's
on the subject were brought into review
and discussed. The sum and substance
of their testimony was that formal
laparatomy In cases OF wounds in the
abdomen should not in their opinion be
resorted 70, being in nine cases out of ten
more dangerous to life than any ordinary
gun shot wound in the abdomen. DR..
Temple went so far as to say that in his
opinion the operation performed on Mof-
felt completely annifilated any chances
he might have had to recover DR.. Walker
was not so pronounced but both agreed
that under no circumstances should
laps rotomy be resorted to while the
patient is I'm a concition of shock as was
done in Moffett's case.
]. T. Clark, the prisoner, was put on
the stand. and his statement in brief is
as follows:
On November 18th between ard
o'clock l returned from the country. At
ter reaching home in North Danville,
started TO Danville and there stopped at
several places and finally went to Masonic
Hall, where Democratic conference was
I'm session. / re NAMED there half an hour
and In company with X. ID. Flynn went 10
North Danvile. On the way Flynn told
me of an article in Anti-Liquo~ Moffett's
paper, in which l was denounced as a
whiskyite. ETC. / tried to find a copy Of
the paper in North Danvile and falling
came back TO Danville in search of one
] telephoned to the Daily Register office
TO know If one was there, and then
started TO that office to see it, Seeing
Moffett In the office in conversation with
the editor, | retired and walked up the
street hundred yards and stopped at
show window few moments and then
walked slowly back. From what I had
heard / believed Moffett would at the first
opportunity seek a difficulty with me:
that was my reason for not wishing to
meet him at the Register office. While
walking back suddenly some one rushed
upon me, caught me by the coat and
pushed me backwards and threw his hand
behind him. and. as thought, drew pis-
toll and shot me on the wrist recognized
my assailant as Rev. j. r. Moffett |
knocked Moffett's hand down, drew my
own pistol and shot Moffett.
The shirt which Clark wore was ex-
hibited. The cuff with bullet hole was
also exhibited, and Clark showed the
scar on his wrist
Moffett continued to rush upon him,
said the prisoner, and the struggle con-
tinued until the policeman separated
them.
On a lengthy cross-examination Clark
said II was all he could do TO keep his
friends from attacking Moffett, but he
had always urged them not 10. He had
consulted friends in regard to the election
day difficulty, and had determined to let
II drop. He contradicted the statements
made by several of the Commonwealth
witnesses.
1t Is probable the testimony will be con-
cluded early Tomorrow. and the argument
will begin by or before noon.
CHlRGED ICITH E0RGERY