The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-09
DANVILLES HOMICIDE.
MUCH DIFFICULTY IN EMPANEL-
ING JURY.
One Finally Obtained From Lynchburg
Opening Of tho Trlal-Interesting
Testimony-sudden Death.

the hustings court this morning. AT "
o'clock the courtroom was packed with
people. showing the great interest taken
In this trial. The panel Of twenty-four
veniremen from Lynchburg and two Of
the jurors of Danville were On hand. j.
X. Vernon. the third Danville juror. was
reported sick at home. The prosecution
announced that objection would be made
10 Jurors II. Hirsh and ]. II. Vernon
| serving. Hirsh was called up for further
examination, and asked II. upon refresh
ing his memory. he could not recollsct
having expressed decided OPT Non.
Hirsh was much excited and spoke With
| great feeling as he replied that he had ex-
| pressed no opinion. and when on Monday
| he swore he could give a fair trial he
told the truth. but after reading this
mornings Daily Register he had learned
| that d feature had been lugged in this
case which made 1t impossible for him 10
serve, and with that feature In the case
he could not give fair trial.
The paragraph in the Register referred
| to is as follows:
Some OF the friends OF the late Rev. j.
| r. Moffett were not at all nealy-mouthed
In expressing their disapptobation Of the
selection OF Messrs. Vernon and Hirsh as
jurors. and some OF them were busy yes
terday looking for testimony to have those
excluded. They say Mr.. Vernon formerly
a liquor seller. was present at the killing
| OF the man Gravett in a Craghedd-street
| bar-room. several years ago, and his con-
] duct was vigorously criticised by Rev. j.
K. Moffett in Anti-Liquor. and for these
reasons they think he Is not a competent
Juror in this case. Their only objection is
| that he is engaged in the brewing bust
ness. and it is proper to say that Mr.
| Hirsh himself, when summoned as We
nireman. urged the same reason why he
! should be excluded from service as
| Juror"
Counsel for defense urged that, there
being no point Of testimony in the para
| graph and Hirsh having sworn that he
could give fair trial. he was a compe-
tent juror. In answer to a direct ques-
! lion by the Court, Hirsh said under the
turn given the case he could not give
! fair trial" and on that he was excluded,
, the defense taking exceptions.
Counsel for the defense said there was
! reason 10 believe Juror Vernon, who was
, reported sick, had been tempered with.
and asked that the juror be sent for.
/ A physician was first sent and reported
! that while Vernon was in bed and pre-
tending 10 be i'll, he was not sick. An at
tachment was issued and Vernon sent
| for. He was put on the stand, and de-
| MED that he had expressed an opinion
since the wOunding and death Of Monett,
| but on close ss-examination he partial
| ~ broke down, and the testimony OF sew
! eral witnesses introduced showed he had
| expressed very decided opinions. Vernon
was excluded and the LynchburS venire
was examined, cScnsel for defense ex-
cepting to the entire panel on the ground
that IL had been improperly drawn. In
addition to the usual questions asked each
talesman counsel for the defense asked
the following: Are you a member OF
any church; If so. what?" and do you
belong to the Prohibition party
There was but little trouble in OBJ
tanning from the Lynchburg panel the
eleven men necessary TO complete the
jury, which is as follows: j. Il. Jarck OF
Danvile S. f. Hamilton. j. w. Layne,
r. r. Malone, G. K. Boyd, w. s. Clai-
borne l.. a. Pugh. W. G. Witcher, T.
y. NJ. Perkins W. II. Dornin. F. G. Well
ford and Arthur Cornell of Lynchburg
After the jury was sworn most OF the
day was taken up In examining the ply
sicians who attended the wounded man,
performed the operation and conducted
the autopsy Drs. w. l.. Robinson and
L. f. HarVie were examined at great
length. Their examinations were lengthy
and tedious. but interesting. In brief,
they showed that Moffett was shot No
vember 18th, at y. NJ, and removed
home. after failure to find the bullet
by probing, an operation was performed
by opening the abdomen and removing
the intrstines to ind the bullet. and the
patient twice came near dying on the
operating table, and the operation had TO
be suspended.
The bullet went across the liver and
cut the intestines, and death resulted
from the shock and peritonitis, caused
primarily by the pistol shot and increased
by the stimulants administered the pa
tient and the operation. The wound would
have certainly been fatal with or with
ont the operation The operation was the
only hope of saving Moffett's life.
Three other witnesses We're introduced.
who testified as to the difficulty between
Moffett and Clark In North Danville on
election day; as to Clark's threatening
utterances after that day; his movements
on the 18th Of November, the date OF the
homicide. The article In Moffett's paper,
Anti-LiquOr, Of November llth, which so
enraged Clark and Moffetts card of the
same date in the Danvile Register, were
read in court. At o'clock the court
adjourned to 10 o'clock tomorrow.
George Williamson, one Of the most
prominent citizens of Caswell county. n.
c.. died suddenly at his residence fifteen
day morning. Colonel Williamson, who
was nearly seventy years OF age, was a
captain in the Mexican war. and a Con-
federate major in the late war. He
served several terms in the North Caro-
lima State Senate. was a successful farmer
on a large scale and was identified with
the Grange and Alliance movements but
was always a sterling Democrat. The
burial took place to-day.
A Brilliant North State Wedding.
\ very brilliant wedding occurred to-day
In Leaksville y. c. The contracting par
ties were Mr.. b. Franklin Mebane, A dis
tinguished young North Carolinian, now
residing in New York, and Miss Lily
Connally Morehead. enc of the most pop
uiar and accomplished ladies in the South.
The marriage was i'm the Baptist church At
high noon. and the CEREMONY was per
formed In a most beautiful and impressive
manner by Rev. Dr. Henry VI. Wharton,
of Baltimore. Md. and Rev. T. a Potter.
OF New Haven, Conn The decorations "a
the First Baptist church were elaborate
and gotten up IN fire taste Innumerable
candles shed soft light on the great
crowd which thronseG the edidce. while
the sweet notes of ;he organ added inter
est and impressiveness to the scene. II
was great occasion. ana all who at
tended came away enthusiastic over The
joyful event. Hundreds of loving hearts
wished the couple the blessings OF Heaven.
and will always think with pleasure of
the blissful day.
TO EE HANGED ~ SUFFOLK.