The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-07-09


malice charged against Mr.. Byrd, aud
that the letter was to prove that Mr..
Byrd had evidence to support his belief.
That he believed certain things true,
and he should now be allowed to
show why he believed them true.
Capt. Wise said it was impossible to
prove an act of bribery unless you
were allowed to prove who VAS the
briber. He wanted to turn on the light.
Judge Prentis asked how could any
light be thrown on the suit by intro
ducing paper signed by Womack and
an officer OF the State of Washington.
Capt. Wise snid 1t was on the question
Of malice. Capt Wise spoke with much
earuestness aud frequently with
warmth, and at times was eloquent.
AN IGNISFATUs ILLUMISATIoN.
There was quite spirited colloquy
between Judge Neely and Air. Wise.
The counsel for the defense said he had
right to show that certain circum-
stances proved corrupt combination
between Womack and Massey, and he
would show how the indictment against
Womack In Washington was dismissed.
Judge Neely said that he could not do
it. Mr.. Wise snid that the man who
has oil along said turn on the light Is
the man who now objects every time
the defence attempts to turn on the
light.
Judge Ncely said that he did not de-
sire 10 exclude any proper light.
Yes said Mr.. Wise, any light is i'm.
proper that reflects on your client.
No, cir, said MIR. Nicely, we do not
object to nil tue light aud all of the
reflection that eau be shed by legal
process and rs legitimate and proper,
but We protest against an iguisfatus
illumination.
Capt. Wise concluded by saying that
he thought it perfectly competent to
prove Mr.. Womack's character. He
then dictated to the steuographer what
he proposed to prove by the document
he desired to go to the Jury, viz. That
the letter was delivered to Witness
Leach by Womack or his agent; that
the letter would be followed by proof
that Womack and Edwards employed q
detective identified in letter submitted)
who offered to bribe Witness Leach
with check for $1,000. which check
was endorsed by the counsel of the
American Book Company, who was
also Lieutenant Governor; that Wit
ness Leach would show that he ex
of Education OF Washington, aud
that Witness Leach was fully
sustained by the Governor of Wash
lngton aud the other members of the
Board of Education; that witness would
show thut Womack and Edwards wero
indicted; that the defense would offer
testimony us to protested sight draft
of Il. 5. Edwards on the American
Book Company to pay detectives for
the work done Capt. Wise also
prepared to prove by q letter from
the American Book Company to the
witness that they (the Book Com
psnyJ denounced it as "amaZlng to
u.s. how a man with Womack. 8 expe.
rlence could be so depraved as to
make such an attack on Mr.. Leach;
that the Book Company said it was
something they could rot understand,
and would have nothing 10 do with
Womnck and Edwards; that Leach
would see that they (Book Company
would be hereafter rid of those two
fellows; they Book Company had no
more idea than the man in the moon
that they (Book Company had such
unreliable men as these (Womack aud
Edwards IN the new State of Wash
ington; that they (Book Company
could understand how he LeachJ got
desperate III dealing with men devoid
OF honor
Capt. Wise also proposed 10 provo
that the American Book Company
wrote TO Leach, saying that Womack,
1t learned, was III Virginia wreck and
he could not get employment from any
publishing house, while. as matter of
fact, he was III Virginia representing
the American Book Company.
Judge Neely asked that as Capt.
Wise had stated the things lie proposed
to prove which should not go before
tho Jury the reporters be requested not
to publish these statements.
Capt. Wise protested that while he
could not get them before tho Jury he
had right and would insist that they
should 20 before the people of Virginia
rs matters he desired to prove i'll the
case.
Judge Prentis declined to instruct
the newspaper men, but said he would
tell the jury not to read the papers.
Judge Prentis ruled that whatever
had trnnspired In Virginia between
Womack aud Massey was admissible.
but that matter occurring in Washing.
ton regarding another charge could
not be admitted.
Mr.. Thom asked His Honor whether
il 1t could be shown that the matter
would be ruled out. His Honor would
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