The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-24
NORFOLK, VA. WEDNESDAY, JULY "a 1895

III hio huoWleuRe lou. gentlemen OF
the jury, know how he stood 1t. You
know that he gave Information of which
no one would have known had he not
furnished it; TINT he told Of expenGi.
tures that went TO reduce the amount
he haa on hand. when there was no
necessity for telling it, except to tell
the truth
Mr.. Thorn here told of n converse.
ton OF which he heard between MIR.
Massey aud friend. MIR. Massey having
said to the friend. in reply to sug
RestIon that lhe looked ss,huggnrd.
Yes. | have been through u great
deal. have had to read out to q
crowded audience even tho cost of the
caskets Of my dead" Mr.. Thom sug-
gested that he tThom) was surprised
that the other eide (defense) was resiive
while he (rhom) told Of this feature
OF the cross examination of Mr.. Mus.
soy by the defense.
Mr. Thorn said that the defense
would dwell upon the fact that only
small amounts were shown by Mr..
Massey's books us expended for GER
tain articles, but he insists that it is
equally fair to say that the receipts of
said books are as incomplete as the ex-
pcadltures may be.
Speaking OF confederation and per
ponGerance of evidence Mr.. 1hom
sad the weight was all on Mr.. Mas
sey's slde. He then read the list of
witness, intending the Governor. who
had endorsed Mr.. Massey.
THE CONSPIRACY,
MIR. Thorn next took up the matter of
conspiracy aud said that, uuder the
evidence brought ont III this case. il
had been shown that the ONLY con
spiracy IN the school book adoption
was on the part of CHM ~ Co. and the
fllot Publishing Company, $. W,Smnll
ana Is. o. Byrd, who were the only
| consplrators. lie said away back in
1911 the conspiracy WAS begun by CHM
| Co., III New York. and was winding
up III thls court room to day. Mr.
lhom read the deposition OF the psrty
III New York, which stated TINT
| he was approached by GInn ~
Co., WHO desired him to make Il iioht
against Mr. Massey. That conspiracy
was followed up by the employment Of
| Mr.. X. Il. Byrd III 1894. Counsel then
| alluded to the motive thut Impeiled O
testimony of James, Dickinson and
others; that they were politicians
IN the "Blg Four" days. whom Billy
Mahone was attempting TO throttle
| Virginia. aud John Z. Massey stopped
| hls progress. aud said that in doing so
he antagonized these parties. ami that
now they had been gathered together
| anu nau seen In this suit n chance to
nrenk down tins old man and have
their revenge. In alludiug to the ac
cusations made against MIR. Masse e
counsel said that some of the charges
|
S59 and Mr.. Thom characterized the
examination Ms "merciless" that would
accuse man of transaction that oc.
Cured forty years ago. and force him
to depend upon his memory to explain
tue tranBactIon; that it was a pursuit
without mercy, and one to which no
man shonld be subJectod.
MIR. Ihom said that the defense had
authorized tand 1t appeared Us head.
! iines IN newspaper the statement
that MIR. Massey had thousands in n
secret drawer, while his grandclild is
In the Charity School on his Massey's,
| aiildavlt, when there was no such
affidavit. SAID Mr.. Thom: "Tbis Is n
| specimen OF the way lie has been pur
| sued. MIR. Thon. III recountiug the
| processes Of this att pied ruin. asked
Whist Is the measure OF the damages?"
You will consider, said he, the honors
that hnve been given MIR. Massey by
the people OF Virginia; 1t would be a
libel on them to say that they would
elect MIR. Massey Lienteu.nnt Governor
and twice superintendent of Public
INSTRUCTION., II he ls a man OF bad repu
tation,
realize the issue Air. Massey is fac
ing TO day. 1t means to him ruin or
yiadication. / trust have done NV duty
by him and yuu. ! feel that we are
standing on firm foundation. Can't.
Wise has rejoiced In the idea that me
was going TO take the scnlp of the
plaintiffs side, but when we cut away
the bushes there wns no terror for
Capt. Wise's Indian warfare.
ln closing MIR. Thom said: They
the defonsel want to get at your hands
simply an insignificant verdict; want
you to say that 1t la Il slight matter to
take the most prominent official IN his
department in Virginia, and falsely
libel him. then try to ruin him. and
fail; want you to soy by your verdic,
that this IS only an insignificant mat
Ter. say, gentlemen, the occasio II is
historic, because the issue before the
jury ID not only the issue of the sancitv
OF private rights, but it is the Issue
OF whether or not mou in high oflicinl
position can he falsely accused, ali at
tempt afterwards be made to rum thocl.