Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-10
MOFFETT'S MURDER.
SECOND DAY OF THE TRIAL or ]. r.
CLARK AT DANVILLE.
Dying Declaration In Evidonce-Chfef
Williams Describes the Trsgcdy-scene
Visited by Judge. Jury. and Counsel
Especial telegram to the Dlspatch.l

Especial telegram 70 the Dspatch.l
DlNyILLE, Va. February 9.-The Court
opened st 10 o'clock this morning and the
building was packed with spectators, every
particle of space large enough for hu-
man form TO squeeze in being occupied.
The prosecution introduced B. +. Jefer-
son. of North Danvllle. who testified that
Clark had before the shooting. in cOnyer-
sation with witness. threatened Nofett,
saying the time had come when the good
people Of North Danvlle should drive de-
ceased out Of town: also. that he Clark
had Notfett's life in the hollow OF his
hand.
SCENE N THE REGISTER OFFICE.
ID. =. Dyer testified that he was telegraph
operator working the night Of the shoot
ing IN the DGy Rsqis'er Office, receiving
press telegrams; answered the telephone
when Clark asked if there was = copy OF
Ant'-Ligtor IN tha Register Office; saw
Clark come in the front room of the edlto-
rial-roOms. pause when he saw Nofett IN
conversation with Copeland ana retired
without saying n word. MOtfett and Cope
land were both standing with their backs
toward the door and could not see Clark.
W. +. Murrle testified he left the room of
u lfienl utAI NAtIt Aut LItAtAl NNNutAtH
about $50 Z. NJ. As he went mp Main
street he saw Clark standing AZ a telegraph
pole fifty wards from where the shooting
afterwards occurred. The defence IN
cross examination partially broke Murrle's
testimony down.
WAITING FOR MOFFETT.
Several other witnesses were introduced
to prove that Clark was standing on the
street near tho pont where the hoOting
occurred for some timo before Mofett
came NJ. II was IN evidence that ne was
standing first on the opposite SIDE Of the
street and that he crossed over and stood
until Motfett came along.
r. VI. Neal testified that he was gong M
the street from the Register building and
that Mohctt came on behind him; that no
saw Clark step from the curb-stOne To tho
sidewalk. and then passed between HIM
and NOlett. Soon after this he heard tho
pistol shots.
". ". MoGstt, brother Of tho deceased.
was put on the stand and he broke down
with emotion. HIS evidence WAS unim-
portaut.
The bail with which deceased was shot
was introduced. as also tho clothes which
Mr. NOlett wore when shot.
DYING DECLARATIONS.
NoTetts diving declaration was then in
trOduced. THIS was IN effect that he Did
not recognize Clark when he met him on
the street; that he made no assault on
Clark and that Clark opened fire on HIM
without q word OF warning: that after
Clark had shot he lMoHeND Crappled with
HIM. The Commonwealth. much to tho
surprise of everybody. rested lts case here
without introducing ChIef-of-Polce Will
lams and 7. B. GraVely. who were eye
witnesses TO the shooting.
FIGHT FOR POSITION.
Counsel for the defence insisted that
under former decisions of the Court OF
Appeals the Commonwealth was COM
yolied when possible to produce eye-wlt-
Lesses. This was "A fight for position. Il
being q point of law that neither side can
contradict it3 witnesses, and each side
was irving b force the other to place
theso important witnesses on tho stand.
Judge Akel SAID that under the latest
decisions Of tho higher courts the Com
mouwealth was not compelled 10 put tho
witnesses on the stand. but that he would
Introduce them and that both sides might
cToss-,luestion them. The Courts d."
cision was generally commended by the
bar as emlnontly wise and proper.
THE FATAL MEETING.
At the afternoon session Chief Williams
was introduced. He SAID that be was near
/ the HeDser Office when Clark came up and
asked for a copy of Ant Liquor. and ho
/ told Clark be would fad copy in the
! R.7is7. Office. Clark went into tho
/ Ecls'er Office and soon came out, walking
/ up the street. tie waited around, fearing
! there might be trouble. lle ani Z. Is.
| Grayely then went % the Masonic Hal
aud whom they came back started towards
/ the pOst-ofic,. He soon saw two mon
scullIng. He ran towards them. and be-
tore he got there heard n plstOl-shOt ran
to the men and tried to separate them.
After ho got there Clark again fred at
Mofett MoTett fell and Clark made
several attempts 10 shoot him after he had
fallen. lle caught Clark's pistol and told
him to desi-t. which he did. He then had
both men arrested.
CLARK SHOT.
Clark sad MoTett shot him, but Mo'Tett
said be ha1 no pistol and asked witness
70 search him; did search MOfett. but
f0nud no pistol. On cross-eGamlnatiOn
Williams was positive that the men were
/ erufling before the first shot was fired /;
also sald that for all he knew Clark might
/ have thought that Moiett vas armed and
! was TRYING 10 snOOt him. Clark was shot
/ in the left wrist, and his cuff and coat
with bullet-hJle therein. were exhibited.
Clark pistol was also exhibited. Witness
! thought at tho time there were five shot 3,
J but after Yards felt SATISFIED from exam
ining Clark's pistol tina. only four shots
| were fired.
! +. b. Gravelv testified substantially the
Same az Williams and Policeman Carter
swore he heard five Or ak shots-at least
/ five. The court then adlourned. Tonight
st o'clock the court again met. and
Judge, prisoner. Jury. and counsel went 70
| the spot where the shooting occurred, and
also visited the RtJ.S'c office ani the room
where Mofett was standing when Clark
went IN and saw him.