The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-08

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the Next Term of fCOurt--SensatiOnal
Examination of Mrs. Stewart--She
Tainted as She Left the stand--Ar-
gument by two Counsel on Side.
Special to the News and Observer.
M0REHEAD CITY, N. O., Aug. z.
After an adjournment from last Sat
uriay night, the trial of the charges
against the alleged insurance eonspira-
tors was resumed here this morning in
the Teachers Assembly hail The morn
ing was consumed with the rather sensa.
tinsl examination Of two witnesses,
named Ms. Emily J. Casey, aged rs,
who was one Of the insured, and Mrs.
Caroline Arthur Stewart, who was the
wife of Charles Arthur, now dead. The
afternoon was taken up with tag ends Of
testimony and arguments by two counse!
on either side, who closed their pseches
at o'clock A recess was then taken
until $50 when a decision was rendered
in favor of the State.
As foreshadowed in my dispatch Of
last night, the testimony Of Mrs. Stew
art, formerly Mrs. Caroline Arthur,
seemed to come as great surprise to
the counsel fer the defendants. She is
a young woman Of comely appearance
and was neatly dressed, She grew more
and more nervous as the testimony pro
ceeded and on cross examination, under
pressure By counsel CLARK, she finally
refused, in the midst of almost hysteri
cal nervousness, to answer further, say
ing that she was quite unwell and wished
to get away as soon as possible.
Mr.. Clark continued to prod her with
questions, intimating that she was well
enough to stand the examination in brief
and therefore she could stand his cross
examinations. he evidently bad not
apprehended how i'll the young woman
was.
At the conclusion Col Hinsdale, coun-
sci for the prosecution, said to her, ''We
are very much obliged to you" and had
hardly gotten the words from his lips
before the lady tumbled over in hys-
terical ft Physicians were summoned
and runners were sent for spirits. Some
women who were present took her in
charge, while her little son broke out in
distressing sobs. This broke up the
morning session.
Mrs. Stewart gave graphic account
of the CHASTITY circumstances surround
ing the insurance of her husband. They
had both lived here for two years before
he died. He had diarrhna for three
years and weighed only about ninety
pounds He was so weak he had to be
lifted by her in and out of the
house. In fact she had full
care of him for three months before his
death. She never had had anything to
do with the insurance policies, and was
against the insurance. Sam Williams,
one of the defendants under arrest, had
come to her house week ago. He had
told her not to tell "you folks" that any
body was in the insurance "but me. "
Sam had been to see her again last
night, but her husband would not allow
him to talk to her. Moreover he had
been to see her last Tuesday three weeks
ago to get her to sign some paper, saying
it was for her own good.
1t was on a Friday night, she said,
when Charlie Springle brought mes
sage to her house saying that Mr.. Has
sell wanted to see her husband
Springle said TO him: Charlie, Mr..
Hassell says it will be s. in your pocket
if you will come over tomorrow morn
ing to Beaufort" He went over. When
he came back he fell down on the rail
road track he was almost skeleton and
unable to rise. He was brought home
in chair It was little after this that
his wife learned that he had been in
sured during that day.
Those who were to participate in the
insurance were O. r. Hassell, John
Henry Smith, Hyde Whltehurst, Solo
mon Simpson, Clarence Simpson, Eugene
Wade, Teen Wade, Joseph Fulcher. Mrs.
Stewart said Hassell had promised that
she should have one half. She said she
told her husband the next morning that
she was against such doings.
On the cross examination she said
Wade came to her to sign papers and
said she went to Mr.. Smiths for one
dollar for her husband and he would hot
give it to her Hassell said he was the
agent Of the company and told her she
was to get one half. She had no suit
against the company; had sworn to nc
complaints before Justices of the Peace,
OuI loiS VI IuSLl udu SShb hCA HdLuo
off unknoWa to her.
Emily J. Casey was the first witness
called in the morning. She was very in
firm and seemed to be suffering greatly
with weakness and asthmatic trouble,
heart disease bad cough and a general
list of ailments Said she had had heart
disease for fifteen years; never had made
an application TO any agent; never was
examined by DR.. Delamar; never au-
thorized anybody to make application
for her; could not write and never had
touched the pen to mark on any paper
authorizing insurance. Bill Fisher had
got her daughter in his Office to sign
papers The daughter told her that BIZ
Fisher had her life Insured. He neTel
had said anything to her and did il all
'unbekn0wnsln 70 her
EEOn cross examination, said Bill Fisher
offered her daughter one dollar to sign