Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-17
GIVEN TO THE JURY.
CLOSE OF The ARGUMENT IN The
MCFFETT mUaOER-TRlAL.
Mr.. MnssIe's Clear and Concise Recital OF
the Case-A Great Spesch--fhs jury
Asks Time Until To-Day.
lspecinl telegram 20 the pl.patca.l

Special telegram 20 the Dispatch.l
DANyILLE. Va. February lG. - When
court met this morning the room was
AGAIN crowded. and at least fifty ladies
were present Mr.. n. II. Massie be-
gan the closing speech for the Common
wealth by saying that he understood the
evidence IN this case better than any
other lawyer IN the case. lie bad studied
it carefully and diligently. and knew II
word by word. He would ausw wer conclu.
slvely every point that had been made by
the defence. Counsel tor the defence had
seen TT to make q vehement attack on
Colonel Aylett. charging hum with being
the represe eatatIyo of the Prohibition party
and the like. But the charges were un-
true. The issue of liquor and antl-liQuOr
had been dragged into the case by the de-
fence. and Mr. PeatrOss began It IN the
outset by asking each juror sworn II be
was a PrOhlbltiOnIst. Inls issue had been
introduced as # perchance some Juror
might be caught by 1t.
AN ABSURD CHARGE.
Again. il was charged that the pr0secu-
tion had not been far. But that was ao-
surd. He was sworn officer of the law
and knew his duty. Clark was q brother
lawyer and 4 fellow-DemOcrat. while Mot
fett was h's lMa,sie's) political opponent.
The prosecution had not been unfair.
Massie then paid his respects 10 the
speeches If counsel for the defence, taking
up each point and discussing it. Coming
at length 20 tho evidence, lie began with
Clarks alleged etlort 10 settle negro on
the lot ueXt To MOhett'S residence. show
ing an old grudge. lie then referred 70 tho
difficulty On election-day. when Mohett
struck CisrS. Clark. he said. smarted un-
der that uuresanted blow. Then Monett
publicly denounced Clark, and again
Clarks anger was hndled.
HrLD MoFFEr4's I.ri.
Clark wanted b. +. jefferson % help him
run Monett out of town. aaj sald ue held
J Mofett's lite lu the hollow ot hi- hant;
/ then told j. h. Carter lao would get even
WITH Mohett: that he aud Nuiiett couldn't
/ live twcnt,-four hours IN the same town.
and IN tweuty-f0ur hours NOHett had been
! shot by Clark. After tue trouble ON elec-
/ tiOn-dav. Mo1ott again denounced Clark
/ through Ant- H. amor and Clark started out
+ t. hunt for the paper, went 20 tne H. Si,r
Office. where he saw Moiiett, SAID nothing.
J but retired II he hal wished to avoid a
, difficulty be would have gone away from
/ Man street. Aslt wa. DE stationed HIM
/ self ON Man street ou MoIe.ts Nay 10 tho
| BAPTIST church. where Clark knew that the
! BAPTIST ArsOciauon was m session. took
/ hi, position at the wlter-tau6, and then
/ went across tie street where lie could
! watch tho door ot the RrglsT ONCE.
TOOK uIs STAND.
:. ". Martin came along and Clark
+ wa. kod back 90 the water-tlnk and took
. ms stand between the two posts. the only
place on the street where he could be con-
4 coaled from the glare of the lights. When
/ Martin passed Clark went back 20 the
/ other side of tho street, where be could
watch tho H,fstr Office, and when Mohett
/ came ont Clark again crossed tue street
and stepped on the sidewalk from the
/ curhstona a. Witness Neat testified. Neal
/ aiso testified that Clark stepped m front OF
Mo1ett and hrng at once began.
r'TERALLY TRUE.
Ma.sle chem took up tho dying statement
/ ot Moiott and sad 1t was literally true !:
, that Npb % was man on great soul and
aDov. 70 Mr iha doctors SAID be was tho
/ braytst and coolest man they ever saw
THAT when tho statement was made Mof-
! fott was surrounded by kindred and friends
. and knew lc WA soon 10 die. lie would
not have dicd with lie upon his soul.
As for Clark. he had everything 10 live
/ for. and hls statement must toe taken with
allowance. II be- was 20 be acquitted upon
I hI- own statement trials would be- a farce.
. TOD Knew ID" MNNil not 90 NlAIh bu lu-
Justice. but Clark had all possible motives
Co make statement that should be favor
aule % ms case.
EXACT JUSTICE.
In conclusion. Mr. Masslo asked the jury
. mete out exact justice 10 the prisoner
felrle.sly. honestly. and deliberately. As
DEE closed Colonel Aylett asked that tho
urv bee placed m charge of some other per-
son than Deputy Sergeant {. y. Momack.
lie would elyo hs reasons 10 the Court II
the Court desired and the Judge SAID he
would hear Colonel Aylott later. Colonel
Aylett afterwards said that his charge
against Womack was not of q serious cha
racter. but be had made the request out 0t
abundant caution.
INSTRUCTIONS.
Instructions were then submitted with
out argument and the iary retired. The
lurv afterwards came ont and asked the
| Court that they be allowed % retire to
their room at the hotel aud meet the Court
asaln Nc o'clock II the morning. This
Was done.
Nlr. Massio has been showorei with CON-
pMmeuts. and Hon. ". ". MOGett SAID hil
speech was . complete ylldlcatlon Of Rev.
j. K. Moae,t.