Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-24
A MERCILESS POLICY.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PACED

:---------------- -
sentimental. should Ike to hear IT,
and will withdraw my objection"
Mr.. Thorn: This friend of Mr. Mas
sey remarked to him: Mr.. Massey. you
are looking very haggard.' This plaintiff
replied: Yes, / know / am. You don't
know TO what ! havs been subjected. |
have had exposed 20 the world the cost
of even the casiets for my dead"
While counsel was giving this narrative
there were many moist eyes In the court
chamber Mr.. Massey for the first time
since the trial began dropped his face be-
hind a palm fan and brushed the unwill-
ing tears from his eyes. Judge Prentis
turned his head and looked out Of the
window. while the jury were as stu as
death.
Mr. Thorn here went into n review of
Mr. Massey's accounts and showed that
up 10 the year 1880 the plaintiff had more
than the 1900 which he deposited IN
the Planters National Bank OF Rich
mond. Counsel said that he hoped the
Jury would not go into maze or hgures.
and asked the members how they woull
Ike to have the private memorandums OF
their transactions for fifteen years In the
hands Of one bent upon their destruction,
and let him marshal the figures. Turn
he Wise would endeavor TO show that
the accounts as testified TO by Mr.. Mas
sey were rot correct and that he crho'n)
would lust here state that the plainun
had never claimed that they were. He
further argued that while the credit side
OF these accounts undoubtedly failed TO
show all Of the expenditures, the debit side
would prove equally as Inaccurate. ana
at this point the attorney read from
memorandum, puiportng TO show
that many Items OF income from the
farm could not have been included In the
partial accounts produced in evidence.
The counsel concluded his remarks on
this line OF evidence by an earnest re-
quest OF the jury not 10 enter into
an exhaustive consideration Of the com
pllcated figures. but 10 draw their INFER
ences from general Investigation, as IN
dlcated by his argument He stated that
before entering into "A discussion Of the
book-contracts he wished 10 point out
emphatically 70 the jury that Mr.. Mas
seys innocence as to the charge of cor
ruption had been backed up by the evil
dence Of Ex-Governor j. ". Mckinney,
Attorney-General K. Taylor Scott, ana
Governor. Charles T. OFerrall.
THOSE BOOK CONTRACTS.
Mr.. Thorn spoke Of the four charges
contracts. He said that Reed * kellogg's
grammar was put on the list in les2,
and not during 5Ir. Massey's term OF
office as was charged. that WebsteTs
dictionary was substituted for NOrces-
fers at the instance Of Governor O'Fer-
rail. that Longs Language Lessons were
not used in this State at discriminating
price against Virginia, 10 the difference
in the quality ~ the books used here
and IN Louisiana was NOR than equal
10 the difference In the prices; that the
Spenceran copy-books were placed upon
the list because Of their favor among the
superlntendeuts Of the State, and that
the use OF the Graphic was allowed for
a while because Of the large supply I'm
the bookstores Of the State. Mr.. Thorn
also called attention 20 the fact that the
evidence had shown that the discounts.
as charged IN the article, had not been
correctly stated.
He said that in the light ot the testl-
mony all charges OF conspiracy on the
part Of the plaintiff vanish from view,
and that he only conspiracy left IN sight
was that Of CHM q Co, Mr.. Byrd, and
the Pilot Publishing Company. and that
that seemed 10 be a conspiracy OF no
recent date, as depOsitions showed that
as early as 1891 CHM * co. were plan
ming an attack upon MIR. Massey, ana 10
have him investigated by the LEGISLATURE
Of Virginia. ana that thereafter they
engaged Mr. Byrd TO accumulate the facts
and come In contact with a newspaper
thrstlng for sensation. he said that IT
was shown that Virginia had been
secured for al the enemies that hlr.
Massey had made In seyenty-siX years
Of political and other contentious. ana
that they had been brought 10 this court
house 70 bIacken and overthrow his
character: that most Of the enemies were
-hc old enemies OF the big Four COM
o.nation. which was formed by Mr. Mas
sey 20 thWart the tactics Of Malone in
his efforts 10 get possession Of the politi-
cal machinery OF the State Of Virginia.
These defendants had first libelled the
plaintiff and then had brought 10 bear
upon him everything in his long record
which could be used 10 try and ruin
him. Counsel had taken up this fight
against this old man as a labor Of love.
a MERCILESS POLICY.
Mr. Thorn here spoke Of the record
which had been introduced concerning a
will and referred 10 the fact that de-
| PENDANTS had used the part embracing
the charge, but not that containing the
| yindlcation. This, Mr.. Thorn decried
as a merciless policy. and in this connec-
lion impressed upon the jury that this
transaction happened 80 long ago that
| 10 was almost ancient history 10 them
Mr. Thcm referred 20 the incident ~
Mr Masseys granddaughter being placed
| IN the Miller school. and In this connec-
/ ton he made q strong point Of the fact
| that IN the public press as well az In
! the courtroom the defence had alleged
/ that this child was placed IN the Miller
| Institute on the afiidaVt Of Mr.. Massey
| Tire speaker averrel further: I'VE stand
! face 10 face with the astonishing acknOwl-
/ edgement that there was no affidavit. but
! that the assertion was merely an accusa-
! ton" Mr. Thorn here characterized Mr..
/ Massey's explanation Of the Chamber
layne affair as manly and straightfor-
ward. and added that whatever had been
! possible 10 accomplish by attorneys.
! wealth. and enemies. BAD been hurled at
/ this plaintiffs head for the purpose Of
hls ruin. lie said that even the most
sacred relations Of Mr.. Massey's life had
| be- exposed to the public gaze, and that
! this ruthlessness Was brought about only
/ by the right Of the lIbeller, for only he
b. that right could come into ones life
and open Up those sacred relations.
Counsel then referred 20 the evidence
| u the "old Ivy Depot men and the
James gang" and compared them 70 the
long list Of witnesses which the plaintiff
| had marshalled 70 testify as 10 his char
acter and standing IN Virginia. He ask "a
I where was the prepOncerance OF testi-
mony which was necessary for the de-
/ PENDANTS 10 establish their charges. lie
/ said that the people had vindicated Mr.
| Massey's character by making him once
| Lieutenant-Governor and twice Super.n-
tendent Of Public instruction. In closing
/ Mr.. Thom said that he wanted 10 I'm