The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-21
THE CELEBRATED CASE
Fourth Day Of Major Whght's Trial Was
Most Interesting for the Spectators.
DEFERsE'S COUNSEL STEADILY OBJECT
10 Admiration OF Doctor Eicy's Evil
dence aad Judge KiIby Almost as
STEADILY OverruIes- Doctor EIey
Gives tho Jury huch Needed Light
sto Wriaht's Official Term.

Suffolk. Va. Aug. 29.-tspeciaD-The
tourth day of the celebrated case, Com
monwealth VS.. Wright, was an inter- ST.
IN. one Tor the spectators. Frequent
Tits and spats between the attorneys
went far toward enlivening matters. The
STAR witness thus far introduced, DR.. A.
w. ELY. said much to enl!ghten the jury
ana said IL In a thoroughly ineligible
wav. The prosecution thus far has the
better OF the courts rulings Almost with
out exception Judge Kilby has oveiruled
the motions Of the derense-and there
were many of them.
Everybody was on hand promptly and
court convened on time. Spectators were
little late. but the room was not long in
filling. After the sheriff's proclamation
Clerk Conner read Yesterdays minutes
and the roll-call of the jury ensued.
Judge kilby asked the jury to retire to
The court green while h rendered his
decision on the motion made by defense
Yesterday and argued at length against
Abe admissibility of certain evidence.
| The court overruled captain Wise's
motion and held that evidence tending
to prove the collection of taxes on prom
eItY not legally assessed by the Commits
s!oner of Revenue was proper testimony,
holding that the money became public
tnnds when in the treasurer's hands
Judge kilby read in court and summed
up about n doz n of the cases cited by
attorneys. and said it was doubtful
whether more than one of them had any
direct bearing on the case in point. He
also held that the cases cited by the
commemorative Attorney threw littls
light on the matter. The court regret
ted that there was no eluc.daton of the
point. that there were no Supreme Court
cas-, Tor guidance, and sad he had de-
caed II by his own construction. of the
Virginia laws. The defense noted ex-
ceniions TO the ruling
DIR. ~. w. Eley. president OF the Town
Council. and chairman of the Finance
Committee. who was on the stand Ii arly
NIL of the afternoon session OF yester-
dav. was recalled. DR.. Eley made the
best witness thus far in the case. His
answers were clear. concise, accurat re
and to the point He told what he was
asked and no more.
Mr.. Holland-"You said yesterday in
answer to question that a committee
was APPOINTED by the Council to investi-
gate CAPTAIN Wrights accounts. Who
constituted that committee?"
DR.. Eiev-"Myself j. H Macleary and
G. S. p. Holland"
Mr.. Holand-"You also said that Cap
tain Wright was asked 10 bring you GER
tain books and papers. For what spe-
, and papers wanted, by YOU at that
, time?"
. Defense objected: motion was overruled
and objections noted
DR.. Eey-"To aid committee in their
investigat tons"
Holland-"What assistance, If any, did
Captain Wright give You in making the
! investiGa tlon?"
: Elev-"1 don't consider that he gave
us very material assistance; he brought
: us some books"
Holland-"When was this investiga-
, ton begun. and was it ever completed %
|, EleV-"The investigation was ordered
at the d. cember meeting, but Major
Wright being in New York at the time
having his throat treated. 1t was begun
ABOUT month latey, 1t was complied
about the middle of April"
b Holland-"Will You state what amount
. II anV. was ascerained by this nvesti-
o cation to be due the town of Suffolk by
= CAPTAIN Wri2ht?"
y Obi. elton of defense was overruled
y ana exceptions were noted.
u Elev-'rhe result was that we came
u 10 conclusion In our own minds tina,
we had claim on Major Wright fol
f S?;Ooo In round numbers
Z Motion To strike out was overruled and
. defense noted exceptions.
J.. Ho!iand-"Please state what part Of
a that amount If any, has since been paid
= me town OF Suffolk by Captain Wright
. when and under what circumstances was
u the amount. II any, so pad?"
Captain Wright paid through
.Mr. Bt!EGs. his counsel. by a check
81. ! don't rem mber the date i,
was about the first of March The only
conditions were that he receive a re-
: ceint in full for all claims held by the
town of Suffolk against him. The
< money was paid under protest"
HoIiand-"What papers. If any, were
6 SHOWN Cantain Wright proving his in.
, Idebtedness 20 the town."
FlHv-"We exhibited to Mr.. Briggs the
Il exnerts statement. II was shown tc
\ his client at Southern Pines, N. c."
. Holiand-"Whu made the proposition
: OF settlement at the amount you have
/ named?"
sell"
y Northumberland errors and omissions
. II any. were pointed out as the result OF
ms failure to settle at an earlier date?'
3 Objections of counsel for the defense
u were overrulcd and the point saved
r Elev-"He did not point out errors
o lie simply offered n compromise"
0 a motion Of the defense to strike ou
was oFerruled, and exceptions were
! noted.
. Holland-"What. If anything. was eve
~ salc To YOU by Major Wright with ref
. crence To what had become of banl
, taxes and those of the water works"
Elef-"At the very beginning OF III,
l. Investigation Major Wright came into
l. nv store and produced papers. He sale
l. lneV were books of the Commissioner O
% ltcVhuc-summaries. not whole books
d lie asked me to take pencil and paper
n and copy certain figures from the sheet!
&c which he pointed out. He then asked
- me 10 make certain calculations IL,
n a