The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-27
RESTS
Evidence Against Major Wright Is In and
the Defense Now Begins.
DEFENSE OFFERS TO WAIVE EVIDENCE

DEFERSE OFFERS TO WAIVE EVIDENCE
aud Go 60 tho Jury on that when
tho Commonwealth Has Intro
duced-The Prosecution, However,
noes Not Agree-It Ia Probable
that the End Is still Distant.
Suffolk, Va. August 26.-(Special)-
After eight days, some of them long,
4 tedious. and harrassing, the Common
wealth of Virginia, has with one eX-
ception, completed its evidence in SUB
sanitation Of the charge OF empezzie-
mept against Major G. w. wright, e1-
town treasurer. That witness Is John
g. Primer, who Is out of town. He Is
only wanted to TESTIFY regarding one
point, and when all others had been
concluded the witnesses for the defense
were begun on this afternoon.
The feature Of the day was PROPOSE
tlop made by Captain Wise to the Com
monwealth's Attorney. when they had
Captain Wise may or may not be
poker player, but he evidently knows
( how to bluff, and besides he knows
when and how to do 1t In very skilful
manner. With so much confidence was
81 done that Mr.. Holland probably
did not dare to call him. though his
hand when inspected might have been
4 little short
when Bain's evidence was all in
Captain Wise arose and said he had
proposition to make to Mr.. Holland.
1T was this: That the defense would
agree 10 submit the case to the jury
without going any further, without the
Introduction Of any witnesses for the
defense. without instructions and with
out argument. Let them take the case
on the testimony of the Common
wealth's witnesses and retire to their
room and decide 1t. The Common
wealth's Attorney refused to call. He
said he was conducting the prosecution,
and did not want any suggestions from
the defense as to how II should be done.
And the case went on. Captain Wise,
when asked about the proposition out
side, said it was not a bluff, and they
would have held to 1t II Mr.. Holland
had agreed.
But IL 1t was bluff 1t was made at
an suspicious time for the defense.
They had just finished with Balm, the
expert, or rather one of them, who
had under direction of counsel for de-
Tense done some more figuring along the
line OF debtor and creditor statement
between the town of Suffolk and Major
Wright. He, as yesterday, found the
town to be the debtor. but the amount
was more than $1,000 larger. The bal
ance due the Major from his statement,
which, Of course the prosecution will not
admit, was $4,197.90. Should the in
debtedness increase $1,000 day, and the
trial continue long enough, It is only a
question of time when the defendant
would own Washington Square. But
the supposition is erroneous. as they ore
now getting towards the beginning OF
the end. Mr.. Balm, who had been on
the stand a part Of four days, was evil
IDENTIFY glad when told to stand aside
The witnesses following were disposed
OF In short metre
DIR. WOOD.
DR.. W. D. Wood, ex-Chairman of the
Council Finance Committee, testified
that 50 was paid to him and turned
over to Major Wright.
w. II. ELEY.
Mr.. Eley, clerk of the market, brought
IN large number of receipts from Ma.
jor Wright and one check drawn in his
favor. They were offered in evidence
SERGEANT AMES.
John w. Ames, Jr., town sergeant
brought In forty-nlnc receipts from the
defendant which had been received du-
ring their Joint incumbency as acknowl.
( edgements OF monthly paymenls OF
fines, &C.
Mr.. Holland also introduced a numbe,
OF other receipts, and a check drawn
q In favor of S. p. Holland, which had
been endorsed by Major Wright. The
admission of some of them was object.
ed to and argued, but the court sustain.
ed Mr.. Holland.
Wise: 1--WE will clear up all Of these
and clear you up too"
Holland: That's to be seen"
EXPERT VANDERSLICE.
q. Y. Vanderslice, who said he was
a bookkeeper OF eight years experience
was next introduced. He with Mr.. Lee
Britt had examined Major Wright's &C.
counts before the employment OF Mr.
Balm. 1t was after their statemen,
had been made that q settlement with
the town was had.
He acknowledged hat he and Balm
mad been doing some work together
since the latter was on the stand as a
witness. This fact was dwell on al
length by Colonel Boykin and Captair
Wise. They said 1t was contrary to ar
express order of the court; that witness
z es FOR the Commonwealth should bt
separated. They had been ordered Il
keep apart, and In violation of that
order had been figuring together or
inc report while Balm was theoretical,
on the stand
Judge Kilby said 1t was highly i'm
proper, but as no special harm had beer
& uohe was allowed to proceed. He didn'
get mixed in the counts. While he wa.
iaborlng on the accounts the Judge anf
some or the spectators walked arount
ga