Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-11

NOT NECESSARY TO SAY WHY.
1--WE except" said Mr.. Thorn.
what are you excepting for" asked
Mr. Wise with some sarcasm, hoping &c
get even with the counsel for the defence
for the way In which he CWise) had been
trapped upon this sort OF thing yester-
day. do you expect TO APPEAR" he ques-
toned.
no SIR" said Mr.. Thorn. I'VE do not
expect 10 appeal. We expect TO win the
case. We are not hopeless. as you were
the other day"
1T Is not necessary for counsel to state
why they are excepting" interposed the
Court at this point.
Mr.. Thorn asked the witness how far
he lived from the railroad. He replied
that he resided twenty-five miles from
the railway and about that far from the
river.
Mr.. Wise: Has your memory been
sufficiently refreshed TO tell where you
got that s. 80 early In ls9i?'
mo: had good deal on banda great
deal more than that" answered the wit
ness, as he was told to stand aside.
JAMEs's REPUTATION.
Mr. John r. Lee. OF Mount Airy. Frank
lin county, was called by Mr.. Thorn. He
said that he knew the general reputation
for truth and honesty OF W. T. James
the ex-member of the Legislature who
testified that Mr.. Massey once tried to
bribe him.
What is that reputatIon?'
1T is bad"
From what you know OF his general
reputation, would you believe him on
oath?''
II would not"
Cross-questioned by Mr. Wise. Mr.. Lee
n he haH In uhnfff
seven years He did not know the gene
raj reputation OF Edmund Parr or Amos
! Dickinson.
who was your grandfather" asked
| Mr. Thorn.
Henry Lee
you are "A nephew Of Robert T.. Lee?'
YES"
The witness disclaimed any bias at all
| against Mr.. james. and Mr.. Wise hoped
the witness might have the benefit OF
| all the good that his illustrious unele's
name might give him, assuring him that
| he would need il.
CORROBORATIVE EVIDENCE.
Mr. John s. Hale OF Franklin county.
| also testified that he was a farmer, and
had lived in Franklin county all his life.
| He knew the general reputation or Mr-
, James for truth and honesty was bad.
! and he would not believe James under
oath. The witness was not prejudiced
| against Mr. James. although he was in
| the difficulty with Mr. James when no
| Dames) struck Mr.. Massey. Mr. Hale
! declared that II was not drunken, as
| orderly mob az Mr. James claimed. lie
| was cross-eXamined by Mr. Wise, ana
| asserted that he was not a rowdy, ana
| while he took drink occasionally, ne
was not n drinking man, and did not use
! intoxicating liquors at all at that time
MIR. George NJ. Helms, a farmer and
merchant. Of Franklin county, had known
| Mr. James for great many years, ana
he. too, knew. he said the general repu-
tatlon of that gentleman for truth ana
honesty. II was not very good. and the
witness could not believe him under oath.
| He had no hostility or feeling or preJu-
/ dice toward Mr. James. He was only a
| witness to the difficulty between the ex-
state senator and MIR. Massey. Substan-
! TALLY the same testimony was given by
a Mr. Carper. of Franklin county, who
had known Mr.. James for many years.
AS TO MASSEY's CHARACTER.
The first character witness for Mr..
Massey was Mr.. j. II. Wingfieid, Urea
stirer Of Albemarle county, who was twice
| State senator from his district. lie
was examined by Mr.. Thom. and said
that he knew Mr., Massey's general re-
| putation for truth and honesty In his
| county. and that II was good. Speaking
| of Mr.. Macons farm, which had been re-
ferred to as almost entirely Of Rivanna
| lowland, the witness said that such was
not the case, as the farm was largely
| highland.
| Being cross-examined by ex-Judge
Heath, Mr. Wingfield said that ne had
never heard Mr. Massey's character ques-
toned. A great many people OF Abe
marie county had very high regard for
Mr.. Massey, and were very fond of him.
| He was of the opinion that the people
| of Abemarle thought that Mr. Massey
had been acquitted OF the charge of rid
ing on the railroad trains upon free
| passes when at the same time he was
/ charging his railroad fare to the State
| of Virginia. He remembered that there
/ was some sort Of an investigation in the
| Legislature of charge OF bribery against
Mr. Massey. but he could not
/ recollect the details or result Of the mat
ter without refreshing his memory. lie
never saw an editorial in the Richmond
State in 1850 referring TO hr. Massey as
this vile Massey. this dog-mangy cur
this creature" etc. After all this. how
ever, testified the witness, Mr.. Massey
was elected Lieutenant-Governor OF Vir-
ginia, and afterward elected Superntend-
ent of Public instruction.
HEARD OF THE CASE.
you say that you were in the Legisla-
| ture during the session Of lssl-'S2. and you
have had something to say about the Big
| Four?" Mr.. Thorn went on To ask. NOW
what was the Big Four?''
The witness explained the connection OF
the Big Four-Messrs. Hale. Lybrock.
Newberry, and Hale-and the sixteen
/ Democratic members OF the Senate.
What was Mr. Massey's connection
with the Big Four?" asked Mr.. Thorn.
! 1--WE object" interpolated ex-Judge
1 Heath. and he was sustained by the Court.
who considered the question an irrelevant
| one.
OTHERS TESTIFY LIKEWISE.
Mr. L. C.. Watts. Sheriff OF Albemarle
| county, and also farmer. testified that
Mr. Massey's reputation was as good as
that of any man In the county. He knew
! the general n putation of most every man
in AIbemarle. He knew the general repu-
tation OF Mr.. Nick Macon. and also of
Mr. f. c. Flanagan. Their regulations
were as good as those Of any men In Abe
marie county.
Mr. Wise told the witness he wanted
! him 10 send him (Wisel one of his photo
| graphs, which ne promised 10 do.
! Mr. j. l.. Fry. Commissioner or the
! Revenue of Albemarle. corroborated the
testimony of these other witnesses as 10
Mr. Massey's general reputation for truth
| and honesty, and said that he had never
heard the truth or honesty discussed by
| any one in Albemlrle county. He. too.
had seen something In the newspapers
! about the railroad pass matter.
Mr.. W. l.. Maspin. Clerk or the County
| Court of Alb marie county. testified in
substance as the several other witnesses
had. He had never heard any OF the pro-