The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-10-29

Trial for Ars0n~- ManageF AFRihe's
TestimOny--Latta Told Him he Had
Been Offered $3.50 TO Set Fire To the
Building--A strong Array of Legal
Talent on Both Sides.
The most sensational trial heard in
Durham in many day began here this
N lrning
Last Thursday morning I. Fl Martins
prize house, on Morris street, one OF the
largest and best tobacco houses IN the
State. was burned. In the building, Mr..
Moses Irvine, manager for Mr., Martin
and his tobacco blyer, had his sleeping
apartments.
Allen Latta, an employee of Mr. Mar
tin, is charged with setting fire TO the
building, ard because OF Mr.. lrvines
sleeping in the priz4ry, the charge IS
arson. A,son is one OF the crimes which
the laws of North Carolina punish with
death.
The preliminary hearing is before
Mayor Peay
Fred. A. Green is the attorney for the
prosecution, and Fuller, Winston and
Fuller, R. B Boone and Victor S. Bry-
ant (of R9xbor0) for the defense
Latta entered a plea of not guilty.
Moses II. Irvine was the first witness
put on the stand. He testified that he
is in the tobacco business, and buyer for
7. II. Martin Two months ago "a sleep
ing room was fitted up for him in the
Martin prizs-hous9, and he used it rs his
place OF residence. II those TWO months
he has slept but few nights OUTSIDE the
building; October 24th One time of the
fire. he thinks about 100, 900 pounds of
tobacco was s sored III the building The
old crop wrappers belonged to Venable
Brothers, of Lynchburg, old crop filters
to Empire Tobacco Company, of Canada
the other tobacco to Martin himself. The
wrappers had been bought on specula
ton for the Venables, had been shipped
to a Dauville tobacco factory, and had
been Immediately returned because it
vas wormy; the Martin building WIS
the best of its kind IN the State. the Mon
day afternoon before the fire took place
he met Latta at the front railing of the
factory, ''Are you going to stay here
to night 2" Latta asked. Il suppose
So Why?" Irvine answered. Latta:
Don't you know anythingg" Irvine:
"No. Tell me what you are talking
about" Latta ''I'll tell you, if you
won't tell Mr. Marin" Irvine: ''Well
| won't tell him Latta: This won be
here in the morning" Irvine: "What
do you mean II" Latta: "Mr. Mart u
took me in the back part of the factory,
and told me his business was in a terri bic
fix, and he was ruined. He said he
wished the whole buildiag would burn
up. | told Mr. Martin / would do it.
Mr.. Martin said if / did it, he would
give me $3.50. But, Mr. Latta, he said,
'be sure to get Mr.. Irvine out of the
building" This was the converse
ton between them as Irvine testi-
fed, up to this point. Irvine said
he then begged Latta not to do it, and
said il should never happen. Said: IF
you burn this building and | get out Of
it alive, the first thing I'll do will be to
kill you" II begged him to throw the
whole matter up, and have nothing
further to do with it, said was done
with such friend after that. told him
to come down to Sneed IL Thomas, /
wanted to talk with him At that place
/ told him what the consequences would
be, il he burned the house. He said
he thought no more OF it than
of burning a trash pile. | told him
it mustn't happen. If it does and you
do it. if come out of that window
alive, I'll kill you. / told him to go to
Mr. Martin, and tell him he was done
with this thing forever. He said he
would. | think it's all over with. ]
slept IN the factory that night, but ann
so bothered | lay awake long time
Went back to the factory again Tuesday
night. Tuesday Latta told me he was
done with it forever, and wished he h I'd
never come to town, but had stayed in
the country. That evening Mr.. Martin
asked me if / didn't want to
90 to the Fair. Before |
went to the fair Wednesday,
went back to the factory and, in the
basement, said to Latta: I'm going awar.
Nothing must happen here while | am
gone. II it is dOae | will tell all know
Then | went to Raleigh"
This was Mr. Irvine's testimony on
direct examination.
Ga cross examination. by Mr.. r. B.
Boone, he S aid the tobacco that had been
shipped back was bought on speculation
for the Venables. It was not Martins
tobacco, but had been left there for Mar
tin to sell He told Mr. Martin nothing
about what Latta had said TO him
Met Latta at Sneed & Thomas at 6:15;
met him again at O'Clock; at Lat'a
told him he would have nothing more
to do with it, Had two converse
tious with Latta Tuesday. Iu QUE of
these he asked Latta how he felt about
it Latta said he felt mighty bad. |
told him he ought to He was at
the Fair, at Raleigh, on Wednesday.
Saw E. G Lineberry there Thursday
morning. Lineberry told him the factory
nad been burned, and said Its no use
TOR you to go back TO Durham now. Mr..
Martin will probably De h9 20 day"
"Why didu't You tell Lneberry about
| this theD?' the attorney asked
Because didn'e want to tell Mr.,
Linenerry at that time, twas th9 answer.
Didn't you tell Lneberry yesterday