Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-14
TRIAL OF CLERK BROWN.
His Alleged Part I'm the Carolina
Assignment Act Fraud.

RALEIGH. y. c., January BIN the
Superior Court to-day the entire session
was devoted to the sensational trial Of
Enrolling Clerk J. w. Brown, OF the
Legislature, on the charge OF permitting
or causing to be enrolled the assignment
act, which never passed the Legislature.
Brown was the first witness in his own
defence. He denied ever having seen the
original act, or enrolled the bill. and de-
clared he never read the bill with Daisy
Branson, who copied IT, as she had sworn.
He was closely cross-examined He as
serted that the bill was never In his Of
flee. that he never knew OF II till the
great sensation about the bill began, and
he read the newspaper accounts that told
of II. r. r. Purnell told him the number
OF the bill after he had arrived here TO
Join in the search for II. He said he be-
lleved Miss Branson was honestly mis-
taken in her testimony.
He was asked why he had not brought
his receipt-book, in which entries were
made OF bills given out TO be copied for
enrolment. He said there was no neces-
sity for doing SO; that the book was at
oxford, his home. Solicitor Pou said he
would argue that the bill was receipted
for I'm the book, but Judge McIver said
find that IL was not receipted for, as
there was no evidence to show that II
was. The Solicitor said Miss Branson last
Thursday asked Brown TO produce this
book, and that he refused TO do so.
j. w. Lassiter. Browns assistant clerk
was the next witness. and the defence
through him tried TO disprove Miss Bran
sons testimony He gave out bills for
copying, but declared that he had never
seen this original bill. and that Miss
Branson did not read II over with Brown.
The Solicitor sprang big surprise on
Lasster by asking him II he had ever
been charged with crime. Lassiter re-
fused TO answer at first. but the Judge
ordered him to do so, and he said he had
been tried for embezzlement, but acquit-
ted.
Miss Branson was recalled, and swore
she never took away a bill until she re-
ceipted for II. or having some one In the
enrolling clerks office make a memoran-
dunn Twenty prominent witnesses swore
to her high character.
Counsel for Brown urged the Judge 10
quash the bill OF indictment. on the
ground that Brown was not State OFF,
GER. and so was not liable The Judge re-
fused to quash. b. s. Royster and T. r.
Purnell then argued for the defence.
said suggestions were being made that
very prominent people were connected
with this great and unparalleled crime
that II any one should put him In pos
session OF facts which would show guilt
OF any person. no matter what his posi-
ton or his politics. he was ready 10 send
a bill to the grand jury and TO press the
case against him as vigorously as he had
pressed the cases against Clerks Satter-
field and Brown. The Solicitor made the
point first. that Miss Branson's evidence
was inconsistent with Browns innocence;
second that Browns receipt-book would
either show Miss Branson's receipt for
the bill. or the signature Of some person
who had signed for her: third. that the
evidence for the defence was not OF a
character to warrant the Judge In doubt
ing Miss Branson. who had no interest
In the matter
The case was given to the jury this
evening.
Clerk Satterfeld. OF the House. who was
convicted Saturday OF negligence. will be
sentenced tomorrow. The extreme pen
atty Is stated to be $1,000 fine or impri-
sonment.
Some leading Populsts are ASSERTING
that the courts cannot get at the exact