Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-05
All Refreshed for The Continuance Of the
MaSsy-Pilot Suit.
PEI soNAL
POINTS.
scVE
Hard Work All Around-Pen
sketches of the Judge and Coun-
sci on both sides-A Patient and
Intelligent Jury.


are at the baseball games. at Virginia
Beach. or Old Point, and even some
members OF counsel cannot be found IN
the city because the day is The Glorl-
Gus Fourth"
The trial so far has assumed several
perplexng phases. This arises partly
from the fact that there are so many de-
PENDANTS to the suit. There appears to b
no doubt that the proceedings will be
considerably prolonged yet They VIII
very likely consume all OF next week. In
view of the large sum OF damages claim
ell by Mr.. Massey. which is 5000 ana
of the large number Of attorneys in the
case. progress necessarily is slow and te-
dious
THE COMMON TALK.
The defence hope To finish with thelf
witnesses tomorrow. II Is common 'dlh
that they have determined TO put Mrs.
John T. Massey on the stand, ana tha'
that lady is indignant at the idea that she
should be dragged into court 10 TESTIFY
against her own husband. Mr.. Masseys
counsel. however. are not worried IN the
least over this matter.
Counsel i'm this suit have worked win
almost unceasing energy They seem 10
recognize the magnitude OF the contro-
versy. and have applied zeal ana STUDY
and learning 10 the case from lts peslh-
ming 10 the present time. 1hen, 100,
Judge Prentiss has devoted great zeal
OF thought and earnest labor 10 the ques-
lions involved When court adlourned on
"Wednesday afternoon ne showed as much
reed OF rest as any person participating
in the investigation.
or NrlEDRnIFS INTELLECT.
Judge Prcntlss is young and active. and
OF vigorous intellect. His decisions, while
always rendered with great care ana
manifest impartiallty. have been prompt
and always accompanied by what appear
TO be good and sufficient reasons for what
ever stand he takes. H was originally
from the county OF Albemarlc. About NJ
teen years ago he began the practice or
law In Norfolk rs the partner OF the
Hon John Goode. end although ne now
resides IN Nansemond county he wa,
elected To preside over this court az the
last session OF the Legislature. lie mas
| already gained distinction upon the VIZ
ginia bench. and will no doubt make
fine record for himself In the celebrated
Massey-PilOt suit.
MIR. MASSEYS COUNSEL
The lawyers were very much In need
Of the DAYS rest that the Court allowed
them by adjourning for the Fourth. The
| case begin on Monday. June 2i,h. and
| during the ten days ito yesterday there
| was constant struggle between the at
torneys on the two sides. Mr.. Massey Is
represented in this important in"ostigation
| by three Of the ablest lawyers In the STATE
II Virginia They are Messrs. John Nee.y,
| ". p. Thorn, nd Richard Wake OF
| this city.
Mr. Nicely came 10 Norfolk from Acco-
mac county about ten years ago. He had
previously achieved quite reputation as
a pleader and had long represented his
| county in the Legislature. Since his re-
moval to the city by the sea, he has
| participated in some OF the biggest cases
| tried here He is m1l Ct about D years
| OF age. OF fine appearance, and Is quick
thinker. a clear. and forc!ble talker and
| his words are always attentively Listened
| to NY the jury
MIR. Thorn is the junior partner Of the
well-known and congratulated Norfolk
law firm OF Tunstall n Thom. He Is
| doing the great buik Of the examining In
| the Massey suit and just how well he has
| done this has been manifest in the pro-
ceedings from day 20 day. Mr.. Thorn
| hae had rlany legal tits with Mr. John
! :. Wise, and at no time has Mr.. Wise
worsted him. Mr. Thorn is just in the
prime OF manhood. being only 40 years OF
age tie has been practicing law In the
city OF Norfolk for the past seven years.
He was born In Northampton county,
and educated at Richmond College and
the University Of Virginia. He at once
/ DISTINGUISHED himself at the bar a. coon
as he began the practice OF his profession
on the Eastern Shore 81 Virginia. lie
was for n long time the receiver Of the
Atlantic and Danvile railroad.
FULL OF DIGNITY.
Mr.. Wake was born in Norfolk. lie
IL the most dgniied member OF counsel
i'm the case. lie is always suave ana
polite. but not in the least given 20 any
OF the little bits Of frivolity which are
INDUCED in by other attorneys In the
suit occasionally. He was educated AT
the University Of Virginia, and In Ger
many
Upon leaving his German university he
went directly into the army. filing posi-
ton on General Mahone's stan. lie was
regarded as one OF the finest soldiers who
fought In the cause of the South. Al
the close OF the war he came 10 the bar,
in Norfolk. and since then has achieved
grea, distinction in his profession.
In the case In question he Is directing
/ his attention TO such technical points as
may come 10 his keen attention. He Is
expected 20 make a strong argument when
the time for the speeches rolls around.
DEFENDANTS COUNSEL.
But IL cannot be said that the defend
| ants in this case have not also the aid
/ OF strong counsel MIR. John Sargent
| wise who appears TO be the particular
/ bright star in the constellation Of law
yers for the defence. is being assisted,
and ably so. by ea-Judge j. T.. Heath, and
/ his son. Mr.. j. r.. Heath, Jr. Mr.. Sam
uei W. Small, the ex-editor of the
Pilot is acting as his own attorney, and
Mr.. Richard T. Byrd. OF Winchester. the
/ author Of the alleged libellous article. IL
constantly on hand TO protect the side
! represented by him.
Mr. Wise and Mr. Small are too well
known TO the people OF Virginia for BIZ
ographical notes on them to be neces-
sary.
Ex-Judge Heath Is a man Of courteous
bearing and OF splendid personal appear
ance. He is a shrewd. careful at ~Aney.
who while jealous for his clients in.er-
| ests Is at the same time broad and
/ liberal IN his ideas. lie argues his points
| fully, strongly and well. He is about
/ - years old. and came % Norfolk In 1872,
| from Northampton county. the County
I Court o. which he had the honor OF pre-
/ siding over for many years. He Is a
| graduate OF the University OF Virginia.
| and has always been successful as a
| lawyer. His son. Mr.. j. r. Heath. Jr..
/ who is on the same side of the case, l.
/ quite young. but has done some good
/ work since the trial began. He. too.
was graduated from the University OF
| Virginia.
! Mr. Richard T.. Byrd. OF Winchester. is
/ also a graduate OF that institution. He
/ .s not only a prominent member Of the
| Virginia Bar. bu, II a member Of the State
I Central Democratic Committee He Is