The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-26
BRIGHTER FOR WRIGHT
The Seventh Day Of the Long Trial Seems
a Lucky One for Him.
EXPERT Balm ON THE STAND ALL DAY.
He is BEGINNING TO show the Effects
orthe Fryin Ordeal 90 which He
Has Been Subjected-Th Defend
ants spririts Rose Considerably
During Yesterdays Session.

Suffolk. Va, Aug. 25.-(SpeclaD.-T
seventh day of the Wright embezzle-
ment case was a lucky one for the de-
Tense, and at the close 1t can hardly be
denied that the prosecution lost ground,
taken as whole. Some of the defend
ants friends claim that II was q field
day for the major. who by the way.
wore a brighter look than on any other
day of the. trial. He had q confident
countenance and an expression of Veri-
table satisfaction every time his attor-
neys gained point or knocked out O.
peg from the experts report, which en-
gagged the courts attention all day. AT
times the major went so far as to smile
as he leaned back In his chair and
stroked his chin whiskers which he has
tween, but just behind, Capt. Wise and
Col. Boykin, and frequently leaned for
ward in whispered consultation.
Expert Balm was In the witness chair
the entire day, and when adjournment
was had the attorneys had not yet fin
ished. Balm has had something of an
ordeal during the past two days and it
is telling on his appearance. When he
was turned loose tonight he looked
tired and exhausted, and not without
reason. The figures which he has re-
peated, enumerated and explained dur
ing his two days occupancy of the wit
ness chair, would make a column from
here to Norfolk.
And then to-day he was subjected
to searching cross-examination, dur
ing which he was compelled to admit
that the report, through no fault Of
his, however, but because of his sources
of Information. contained errors, the
elimination of which caused a reduction
of the amount with which he said Maj.
Wright should be charged BILE. Indeed
by calculation conducted under the
deience's instruction which involved a
series OF eliminations and credits, he
figured that the town of Suffolk now
owes Major Wright $4,000 in round num-
bers. He would not acknowledge though
that all of the credits should be allowed
on account OF obscure records and
shrewd cross-examination the original
report OF the experts alleging short
age of s72.661.72, which. ACCURATELY
speaking. was pretty badly perforated,
was supplanted after dinner by new
report, which reduced the amount to
S5,551.55. or n difference of over So 900.
Capt. Wise designated this new report
as exhibit X,' or the revised edition. /"
When Judge Krby convened court
capt. Wise said he wished to make q
statement regarding remark made by
the court last evening. He thought the
court had no right to say that II nut
Major Wright on higher plane than
that on which he was placed by his
counsel. who had never admitted any
sHihS II was an injustice to- his client
Tor the court TO infer that any admis-
sion had been made-by counsel. and he
wished to set the matter in proper po-
sition before the Jury He quite agreed
with His Honor's remark that the en-
treasurer was a capable and efficient
officer. *.
Judge Kilby said he was glad that
the point had BEEN raised The gist
of his remarks was based on supposi-
ton and not on. any admission. His in
tentAon was misunderstood, as he did
not intend any injustice TO any one.