The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-14
IN THE JURY'S HANDS
The Brown Case Given to the
Twelve Last Night.
PUT UP OR SHUT UP.

Solicitor Pou Tells the Lawyers for the
Defense, to Name Their Men, and he
| viii Prosecute the Williams, With
Every Means in his Power, no Matter
How High They May Be--End of the
Trial Over the Assignment Act,
Mr.. j. W Brown took the stand in his
own defence when the Superior Govt
| opened yesterday morning.
He testified that he recognized
neither the original nor the enrolled
| bill; that he had never delivered the
bill to Miss Branson to copy, and when
she had returned it to the office he had
not read it over with her at his desk
and compared the copy with the orig
inal.
On the crosse examination, Mr.. pou
asked him why he didn't bring to Raj
eigh the book in which the copyists
receipted for bills, Brown said lie had
asked his counsel about it, and they
had said it was not necessary to bring
the book. 1T was broughtout that Miss
Daisy Branson had written a note to
him last Thursday, asking to see this
receipt book.
He testified that he never saw either
the original or enrolled bill until after
the Legislature had adjourned. He
said he delivered the bills to the COM
mittee without aseertaining whether
they were correct, and did not repre-
sent to the committee that the bill
was all right
A Man WITH 4 PAST.
The second witness for the defence
was j. w. Lassiter. Lassiter testified
that he lived at Wake Forest, and that
during the Legislature was a copyist
in the office of the enrolling clerk I'M
till the last two weeks of the session,
and during the last few weeks he act
ed as Browns secretary. His duties
were to receive and examine bills and
enter them III book kept for the pur-
qose then to distribute them among
work.
He said he had never seen the origi-
nal bill of the assignment act. He tes-
titled that on Wednesday, most OF the
dav. he. Miss Branson, and Miss Blythe
were together in Harrell's Office, max
ing up the records, Brown could not
Miss Branson unless he knew it. Miss
Branson brought back a batch OF bills
Wednesday morning: He thinks she de-
liyered them to Mr.. Moore, one o. the
clerks in the Office. She did not com
pare any bills ut all after she began
making up the record
On cross-examination Mr.. Lassiter
intimated that while he was positive
that he had not seen the original bill,
that he might have seen duplicate OF
|. that BILL but he would not testify that
there was a duplicate.
Where is that duplicate" asked
the Solicitor.
II don't know sir I4assiter replied.
'.The copy ought 10 be in the Office. It
isn't there / haven't searched the Of
flee"
What crime or offense have been
What crime or offense have you been
charged with in the past?" asked the
Solicitor.
The question seemed TO stun the wit
ness He refused To answer the qnes-
ton. The Judge told him he must an
swar. He at last acknowledged that ne
had been arrested and tried for en-
hezzleInelif. but had been acquitted ny
the jury.
stand aside said Mr.. pou.
4 NAN WITH M ESSAY.
..fut | have here statement which
| have written out, said the bilious
gentleman who had not been convict
ed OF cmbezzlement. .'and | would like
to read to The court and jury III jus
fice 10 Miss Branson and myself.
The court became interested at once.
The stringy-Iooking witness (who
may be poet for all his looks reach
ed into the bosom pocket Of his Prince
Albert coat. and drew therefrom a
manuscript carefully folded and writ
ten in genuine Spencerian hand. He
cleared his voice and began to read
1t began about this way: while
| have, in the. discharge of my duties
as a witness. been compelled to differ
with lady. -
Right there the Solicitor stopped The
performance.
Your honor, ! think we can dis
pense with this little piece OF poetieal
business"
Il don't think IFS necessary 10 carry
on the business Of the court, said HIS
Honor.
And the gent" like the Arabs, 81
lently folded his poetry. and as silent
~ stole away.
MESSENGER TAlLOR's TESTIMONY
g. H. TAYLOR, negro messenger
was put on the stnd, and said that
ne vas messenger employed in
Browns Office. but that he didn't carry
messages, only waited on the commit
tee on enrolled bills
He said Miss Branson could hardly
have talked with Brown without his
knowing it, and that she did not talk
with him any on the day she carried
the bill back.
CLERK SATTERFIELD'S SAY
s. p. Satterfieid, chief clerk OF the
House, was put on the stand. lie tes-
tilted that ne had never carried any
bills to the enrolling clerks office, but
the enrolling clerk himself came after
the bills. The enrolling clerk always
receipted for the bills in a book kept