The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-27
TIE NASSEY-PLOI SUIT
NT. Wake UAalI; TO Close tie gTqu-
HGNl.
IAR. TN0N'S GREAT SPEECH
His Friends Claim the Speech of
His Life.
The Case Was Given 10 the Jury, and
Till O'clock Were Adjourned
Till This Morning, When
They Win Decide.

The City Circuit Court opened on
time yesterday morning. Judge Prem.
tee was one Of the first arrivals and
the jurors were punctually III their
pnces.
There were present large number
OF prominent citizens who had come 10
hear The closing speech, nu answer to
the charges made by counsel for the
defence, and they expected to hear one
OF the big speeches aud were not dis
eppointed. IGk Gov. Cameron had
eeat on the bench with Judge Preutis.
AZ soon AS the court was called to
order Mr.. Thom n1oso aud said that
his associate, MIR. Wake, was sick and
could not make the closing argument
rs he had expected. He said that the
earnestness with which Mr.. Wake had
gone INTO the case was too much for
Ills physical strength, and that 1t was
unsafe for him to attempt to close the
ease. MIR. Thorn sai he had mess
ago from MIR. Wake that it was one of
che great tdisappointments and regrets
of his life that he was unable to be
present.
MIR. Thorn then said that Mr.. Neely,
having spoken for number of hours
during the trisl. was unwilling to un
dertake to make the closing speech,
thus leaving it to him.
HE ARGUMENT.
Entering then upon the argument,
MIR. Thom said that the plan of cam
paign OF the other side had been to
cruelty Mr. Massey before tho jurv.
"a said that the defense he's tried to
bind Mr.. Msssey down to accuracy,
although some of the facts run back for
many years. He contended that 1t was
entirely unreasonable and unfsir for
the defense to crl.icise the items OF Mr.
Mnssey's accounts as they have crit
tcised them-uniair to try to make 1t
appear that Mr.. Massey's isbor account
was intended TO show all that was paid
for labor on that farm, when, as every
body knows, large part OF the labor
expenses of farm ore paid from the
products Of the farm.
Counsel had lived on O farm and he
knew what these things amounted to,
de criticised Capt. Wise for his remark
TO the witness, Lee, that the latter
'needed all the benefit that he could
derive from being the nephew OF his
uncle, and stated that counsel on the
other side had no right to treat a wit
ness In Buch manner; TINT no word
had been haid or conld be said against
she character Of MIR. Lee, and that the
only charge brought ngainst Mr. Macon
was that of being fox hunter; that the
plalntilf'a farm had been alluded TO AS
little sed9o-growinG patch of ground
when this Mr.. Macon against whom
40 charge had been made, ,testiiied that
the farm was a productive and good
one anu 1t was III evidence that the
1hrm was such one that 1t required
63,uOO bhrn on 1t. MIR. Thorn then
went back TO the statement of Capt.
Wise, that MIR. Massey's little grand
child was an lumate of charitable in
ttltutlon, while he had thousands IN u
eecret drawer, nnder his own affidavit,
and criticised the Captain for making
such statement when no such affidavit
existed.
MIR. wIsE's METHODS.
This was only one OF the many in
accuraces Of counsel on the other
aide. Counsel also alluded to Capt.
Wlse's error of $500 III his figured
statement, and which the captain was
compelled to correct in court. 1t was
as much the duty OF counsel IN the
case to be correct as 1t WAS the duty OF
Che witnesses III tho case To be correct
and Mr.. Ihom asked the jury what
would have been the effect if MIR, Mas
eey had made such q statement as that
made by Capt. Wisa about the affidavit,
aud he had uot only made the state.
nent, but had published 1t in news
paper-he wonld have been stamped,
eaid counsel, rs II perJurar and "a liar,
and counsel can make such q statement
with lmpunity. Mr.. Thorn referred to
fue testimony OF Mr. Massey III cou-
nectlon with his statement about MIR.
tIood being the agent of CHM n Co
AT the time that thur gentleman brought
~ III L.. 4
Leg stature, and contendcd that the
alter facts Justified MIR. Massey IN as
cunning that MIR. Flood was the agent
Of Ginn ~ Co. Mt that time.
In nllnding to thepiea entered by Mr..
Massey in one of his previous suits
wherein that gentleman had endeav
pred 10 bod certain property exempt
Prom SarniShee process. dispute as
20 certain law proceedings in tho case