Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-26
WINDING THE
The HaSsey-PilOt Libel Suit Drawing
to a Close.
MR.. NELLY CONCLUDES.
He Is Followed by Mr.. Wise for
The Defence.
EXCEEDINGLY HITTER SPEECH.
He Does Not Hesitate to Use Harsh
Words-A string of Inyectives-Nr.
Heath Makes a. short Argument
To Go to the Jury To-day.

/ speech this morning, devOting himself
/ chiefly TO commenting upon phases OF
| the evidence 10 which he referred yester-
| day. Among the things. he said that 1t
Is not true. as intlmated by Mr.. WISE,
! that any part OF the plaintiffs counsel
fees are paid by the American Book Com
pany. Every particle OF expense this
/ old man has borne or win have 10 bear"
said Nr. Nicely. Observing a smile Of in
creduliiy fitting across the face OF Mr..
Wise. Mr.. Nicely reiterated this state
ment with great emphasis at the same
time calling attention to the fact that Mr..
Wise had practically admitted that his
CWise's) fee was paid by CHM co.
Mr.. Nicely closed at II 40. and Mr.. Wise
came forward to reply. He was looking
rosy and robust, strong and vigorous;
making a great contrast IN appearance 10
that Of Mr.. Massey. VINO looked aged ami
worn, but who was full Of fight and
calmly met Wise's eyes, often directed
towards him, throughout the day.
Mr.. Wise started out upon his argument
with a verse of q hymn and n Biblical
| text. which he thought appropriate. In
| view Of the fact that the two chief par
ties TO the controversy Small and Massey
are distinguished dlvines." Mr.. Wise
| then made a sort of panoramic exhibit Of
| Mr.. Massey's finances, according TO Mas
sey's testimony as stenographically re-
| ported. with the purpose OF showing that
Massey had sworn falsely I'm order 10 ac-
count for the large sums Of money which
/ came into his bands I'm 1890 and 1891 These
! compilations. as made by Mr.. Wise. were
marked I'm big letters on great sheets
I Of card board. so that when exhibited
| they could be read by everybody In the
/ courtroom
For two hours Mr.. Wise commented
upon and ridiculed these exhibits. and In
so doing characterized the Plaintiff. with
| out the use Of euphemisms, as liar.
"hypocrite." "periurer," etc.-a man who.
! he said, ought not only not To get "A
verdict. but would be lucky not TO land
in the penitentlary. Indeed. ! think he
ought to have been there years ago
added Mr.. Wise. who, however, admitted
needlessly, that he was prejudiced against
Massey
The highest fights OF eloquence to which
Mr. Wise reached-his choicest efforts in
rd-paintlng--were heard when he under
took to express his scorn and contempt
for the character OF Mr. Massey and
his disbelief I'm Masseys statements-espe-
cially those statistics of receipts and eX-
ponses taken from M Masseys personal
account-book.
The object Of Mr. Wse's cardboard ex-
hibits were TO show that Massey had put
down his living expenses at almost no
thing. while he greatly exaggerated the
profits of the Ashlawn farm-all designed
10 sustain Mr.. Wise's contention that the
large sums OF money Massey was alleged
10 have in late years could not have been
the results Of "Massey's economies"
The Regular Order.
When court opened Mr.. Nicely resumed
his argument by drawing attention TO
the fact that Mr. Massey's high charac-
ter has been fully attested by persons
from Mr. Masssy's home, notwithstand-
ing that Judge Heath does not think
that the plaintif's statements command
respect Mr.. Nicely also called attention
TO the letters from Messrs John 3.
Baldwin, A. n. H. Stuart. John Letcher,
and others. indicating Mr.. Massey from
charges brought against him (making
an alleged fraudulent Wild.
Continuing. Mr.. Nicely said: What
YOU Ghe Defence are after IS not his
(1r. Masscy'D punishment; from begin
ming 10 end yours has been an effort 70
make the school boards afraid 10 deal
with the American Book Company be-
cause Of the charges that have been
brought against 1t Of bribing a public
official Ohe speaker meaning that II is n
brittle I'm the interest Of another book
company-Ginn d Coz. The process. OF
his prosecutors. said Mr.. Nicely has been
that, being afraid TO take the risk Of try
ing 20 have Mr.. Massey indicted, they
libplled him instead.
Much OF the information the defence
have "a TO Mr.. Massey's financial affairs
has come TO them from the plaintiff. said
Mr.. Nicely.
He then called attention toy the incon-
sis,ency OF the other eide in attributing
10 Mr. Massey at one moment intellectual
greatness and In the next attributins to
him imbecility.
In explaining why the Pilot directors
were held for this libel. Mr.. Nicely called
attention TO the fact that as soon as
these directors explained their position
with relation TO the article the prosecu-
ton as to most Of them was with
drawn.
In referring. in his closing remarks.
TO the defendants Mr.. Nicely wanted the
directors indicated If 1t was found that
they were not responsible for the libel
Referring TO the Pilot company, he said:
'If there's any object Of pity in Norfolk
il is that poor. neglected orphan 0he
PiloD. that has been wearning MOURN
ing since its papa (Ir. SmalD left II"
In relation TO Mr.. Byrd. he said that
he ByrD mad written the article and
published II I'm an edition OF paper
four times as large as any previous issue OF
the Pilot. and probably twenty times as
LARGE AZ. il will ever issue again.
II Won find said Mr. Nicely. verdict
Of not guilty in this case. what DO You
10 for this old man? You had better cut
his throat. If. however, you find that
the defence Is guilty, you should give
yordict In favor OF the plaintiff whether
we ever get n cent Of the money or not.
MIR. WISE FOR THE DEFENCE.
Mr. Wise. for the defence. in following
Mr. Nelly commenced his speech by
saving that i'm Difference 10 the reverend
gentleman Connected with this case, ne
felt that he ONise) ought TO begin with
a HYMN and a text. He thereupon quoted
a verse and announced az his text: Exc
dus sd chapter. lst ana sth verses;
ssThou shat not raise a false report;
mn, not thine hand with the wicked 10
he an unrighteousncss witness.
nAnd thou shalt take no gift; for the
oft biindeth the wise and preventeth
tho words of the righteous"
He then with intense earnestness said
he intended 10 brush away the rubbish
az the case before he attempted TO show
whether Massey was a guilty man or not.
sad Mr.. Wise: unfortunately for Mas
soy. unlike his plea on the hastings, that
ne never carried a cart-load OF books
around with him To reply TO questions.
he has this time brought his books. 1t
was a bad day for Massey when he gave
nm his old excuse. that he doesn't carry