The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-09
ihG dudlG DG2iG} ThlI Only O Conspiracy in
VIIgINI0 con Be Proven.
llR. WHITE ElTERS q PROTEST.
Judge Nicely viii Not Object TO the
Light Being Turned Or, But He
Protests Against an Ignus-
tatus illumination. The
Defense Concludes
To-Day.

The Massey Pilot suit held yester.
DAY the 18th day OF the rrInl. the uu di.
sided attention OF au audience which
'illed every part OF the courtroom. The
evidence sought to he introduced was
OF vital importance 20 the defence aud
Was resisted with the greatest determi
uhtion by the council for the plnin.
till
Mr.. l.. II. Leach, OF the State of
Washington, had been brought to Nor.
folk by Glnn y Go. to tell what he
Knew of Womack aud the American
Book Company The defence relied on
this wltnest to make good several of
their charges. Both sides knew what
he was going to say nud had prepared
Dor the struggle with all the authority
obtainable bearing on tho questions
which would arise.
There were the usual number of
preachers present. The men OF "the
cloth" have been taking great interest
In the case and are divided IN opinion
aud sympathy. Several OF them are
standing by MIR. Massey and say that
nothing has yet been proven that will
make good the libelous charges. Others
ere as equally as outspokeu III express
ing their opinions IN fnvor OF the
SlutE 6lues
The jury virtually had holiday yes
serday. They were kept waiting but
we're not in court more than an hour
Their absence WAS due to the argument
OF counsel in the admissibilIty OF the
Leach testimony, and at = o'clock they
were adjourned till this morning at the
usual hour.
When court was called to order
Judge Prentis said he was not ready to
pass on the admisibiIity of the testi
iaony of Col. w. G. James, of Frank
i'm county, Va. who last week said that
while he was u member of the Legisla
ture Mr.. Massey offered to bribe him
70 secure his vote. This was denied
by MIR. Alassey'a counsel at the
timo and will be denied by
air. Massey when ho goes on
the stand, nevertheless Messrs. Thorn,
Wake ana Neely desire to have it ey-
cluded. The reason Judge Prcntis was
not ready To pass upon tho admissibility
of the evidence was the absence of GER
tain authorities quoted by Capt. Wise
fn his argument. The books were tele-
graphed for yesterday by Capt. Wise.
MIR. LEACH uS STAND.
AIr. Leach was called to the stand
and his testimony, which was being
taken Saturday when court adjourned,
was resumed.
Capt. Wise asked Mr.. Leach to
identify the signature OF j. W. Womack
10 letter which he desired to intro.
duce. The counsel for plaintn
objected snd the jury was Instructed to
retire while the point was being ar
gned.
Capt. Wise said the defense had
proven by three State Senators. four
Commonwealth attorneys aud two
members OF the House of DELEGATES
snat MIR. Massey Is man OF bad char
ncter and that they would not believe
him on oath. iic;said the defence has
shown that MIR. Massey knew of tho in.
dictment against j. W. Wumack when
he Travelled with him as companion
TO Canada; that the Inference to
te drawn is that Mr.. Massey takes
what he can get regardless Of
how he gets 1t; that the defence hns
shown series of suspicious circnm.
otauces, his poverty and his sudden Of
huence, tho state and character OF his
bank accounts, etc. IIe said that his
'ittle farm III Albemarlo county would
not provide this much money. 1t was
stated by the plaintil that his net in.
toihO "ho hpp IuOI tudu ,oUU u wear.
Al OF this shows that there "was some.
thing rotten in Denmark. The char
acter OF Womack had been shown and
hassey's association with him. Evi.
dence tending to prove conspiracy was
nearly always circumstantlal and he
proposed to show the character of
the conspiracy and to follow it
up by showing the character
of WOmack md Edwards Iuduo D.on
Gs reminded Capt. Wise that the de-
fence have not proven many of the
things ho in his argument assumed had
been proven. Judge Prents said he
was willing to admit the evidence if in.
troduced IN proper order. That cer-
tain things which he oitcd shonld be
proven first and the conspiracy after
ward.
Capt. Wise claimed the right to con.
sfol tAe order of the introduction Of