The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-08-05
A SCENE IN COURT.
Solicitor General Fite said the VII
moss WAS Armed TO shoot Him

c,artersvilIe. Ga. August 1--fSpecial)-
Several of the most prominent citzehs %
north Georgia were the hgures IN d seiisa-
tioral court scene here today
The case of the state vs. DIT i H. DaNei
and q. H. Conyers. charged with criminal
libel had been called Tor Tlal anu vas
before the court today
The indictment alleged that the deIehudiid
procured the services OF Harrison smith,
colored. to write a letter to one OF the ne-
PENDANTS, DIR. Baker. saying that Sohcitor
General Fite. of that circuit, VINO inquired
prominently in the political campaign
wear ago, had been TO Pine Log church and
promised the members of this colored
church that if they would vote for Lump
kin the democratic nominee for the senate
against Baker. the populist nominee ne.
Fite would pay OFF their church debt or
about 500.
Tbe alleged letter from Smith to Baker.
together with a letter from Baker 10
Smith. was sent. it is claimed. to the At
lanta Press and published by that paper
at the request of Mr. Conyers-
At the last term of the court the defend
ants were indicted. but not tried on account
Of the inability Of the state 10 procure
tho testimony from Fermor Barrett at l''e
time editor of The Press
The defendants announced IN court that
they would represent themselves and nave
no counsel The case proceeded.
The state proved by Mr.. Barrett that the
letters wore received by him with letter
from Mr.. Conyers, asking that the matter
be published
Mr.. Baker denied knowledge OF Mr.. Con
ver.z letter to Mr. Barrett and it was not
$500 lo,cI,1sivelv that he did know OF
NJ- Conver's intention to have the matter
published Solicitor General F1te charged
Baker with having procured the negro
smith to write the first letter. but this was
denied. Conyers admitted sending the ietler
IA the Daily Press for publication cu'
stated that he did so believing 'he cHdIs
were true against Fife. Fife denied haV1hg
offered any inducement to the members OF
the church for their votes
While Paker was on the stand making his
Into ir'te~s-'s--'@i aim $40 -
/ clared that he was stating something that
/ was false and foreign tcsthe case. The
presiding judge told F1te to sit down. Fife
replied that ne had a right TO object 20
the statement Of things that were false and
foreign to the case. The judge said he
would fine him 500 II he did not sit down.
May il please your honor" said Fite.
81 do not wish to appear disrespectful 10
this court. but as long as that witness
stands on the floor and states falsehoods
about me with a pistol in his pocket and
his hand on that pistol ready to shoot me
down like an assassin right here under the
nose Of the court, I shall not sit down.
The judge called on Mr.. Fife to substan-
tiate what he was saying II Mr.. Fife would
make an affidavit that the witness had
pistol i'm his pocket. the judge said he would
make a case against him and protect Mr..
Fite.
Mr.. Ffte promptly made the affidavit and
the judge called on Baker to produce the
weapon if ne had one. Baker promptly
handed the judge a 44-caliber Smith x Ves-
son pistol.
There was great disorder IN the court
At this time the other defendant was
seen to go into a jury room and was FOL
lowed there by an officer Of the court and
it is stated that lot of weights used on
scales We're found deposited there u
required quite a while TO get the court
GHieted down and order restored that ne
case insight proceed
Baker ana Conyers were convicted.