The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-14
not working in Satterfield's Office, SO
his testimony amounted TO but little.
HILEMAN TESTIFIES.

Hileman, of Cabarrus, was put on
the stand He testified regarding the
search and the finding of the bill, and
said it was found in the proper place,
among the tabled bills. He said
Brown was faithful man, and con-
Quoted the business Of his office well.
That closed the case for the defense.
Miss BranSon was recalled, and re-
affirmed her testimony regarding the
receipting for the bill in the enrolling
clerks office.
A REMARKABLE SCENE.
When the evidence had been com
pleted, Mr.. Pou surprised the defense
by calling as witnesses nearly every
body in the bar of the court
Father Worth, the Populist State
Treasurer, after he had affirmed"
was put on the stand. He testified
that Miss Branson had a fine character.
j. N. Holding said he had known
Miss Branson twelve years, and her
character was irreproachable. He
couldn't testify to the character of
Lassiter on account of the reports and
rumors that were widely circulated
regarding that gent"
III. L. Hicks, w. j. Peele. and j. G..
good character.
j. c. Beckwith siad: II have known
her ever since she was a little
girl. Her character is of the very
highest"
Maj. Bledsoe said he had known her
all her life. She had a fine character
Capt. W. II. Day, A. h. Andrews, Jr.,
". il. Snow, W. n. Snellings, Alexan-
a SftAs,t .,.h \
Jones all were unanimous in their testi-
mony regarding her spotless charac-
ter.
MIR. Pou: I'VE tender to YOU, gem
glemen anybody in the audience that
knows her"
THE ARGUMENT BEGAN
Mr.. Register, who opened for the de-
Tense, laid down the legal proposition
that, not only must the evidence for
the State be consistent with guilt, but
it must be inconsistent with the inno-
cence of the defendant
The Judge used that proposition i'm
his charge to the jury.
His argument was logical aud con-
rincing, delivered with ease. and visi-
bly, impressed the jury.
Mr.. PuInell, for the defense, worked
out theory that this original tabled
bill never left Satterfield's office, but
that some hired copyist forged a du-
plicate copy OF the bill, and that was
what Miss Branson copied.
Describing the men who committed
this act of yillainy, he said: 1T has
been said that the Almighty has mark
ed MS all, some for scoundrels and some
for honest men. The only difficulty is
that-all men cannot read the marks
IT we could penetrate the Judas Is
CARROT face that has lurlted in the court
room during the trial, and SEE through
the soft tiger-lke tread Of the scoun-
drel who perpetrated this wrong, we
would have been able to put our hand
upon The villain. But the State has not
done so vet.
PUT Up OR SHUT Up
Solicitor pou in commencing his
address to the jury stated that all
during this trial and that Of Sattcr-
field there had been mysterious sug-
gestions coming from the defence that
some person other than the defendants
some very prominent person.Svas ini-
piicated in this great crime.
Now" said Solicitor Pou. II wish
TO say once for all that if any person
Will put me in possession Of facts suf-
ficient 10 convict / will send bills a
gainst every person connected with
this yllainy, no matter what the posi-
ton Of such person may be, no matter
how rich and powerful or how hum
BILE or obscure. / promise you, gentle
men of the defence, that ] will use my
best endeavor TO see that he IS tried
and convicted. And promise you that
every means placed in my power by the
law of this land shall be used to ac-
compiish this result And if you know
Of any person who should be prosecut-
ed you will perform public service
by disclosing his name"
He defended Miss Branson, and said
the jury would not hesitate a moment
about whom they would believe when
the contest was between the lady and
Brown.
He made fine argument, tracing the
bin from its beginning to enrolment,
and back again.
And strongly appealed to the jury
to do their duty.
The judge charged the jury. and
shortly after dark they took the case.
The jury is composed of: w. G. Lowe,
T. Il. Rollins, J. T. Glenn. Isaiah Hall,
w. ]. Hobby, y. s. Belts, Sidney Scott,
J. II. Gattis w. NJ. Utley, Geo. y.
Young. ". II. Johnson, j. ID. Riggan.
Up TO 2:30 O'Clock this morning the
jury in the Brown case had not render
ed its verdict It has been out since
$50 O'Clock
DEMOCRACY ON TOP IN STANLY.
There is no perceptible change in
the political situation in my county
since the last election" said Smith, of
Stanly, who returned home yesterday
afternoon. THE Democrats will car
ry Stanly as they did last year, and
there is little doubt that the Senatorial
distrint l.ninnnsn1 Of G1anlA and "a