The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-28
HIRED TO MATCH PITT i.
Strange and Sensational Episode In the
Cannon a|l-Snlth Cas6.
LILLIAN CAAROH's UNCLE SaADoWED.
Remarkable Declaration rIado to
ThM Gen'Icm"n by n Young sHnn--
Runorcd That an Attempt VIII DO
Biadoto NcIi ct On tho Young
WiTo's Good hume.

For the past day or two public ex-
element over the Cannon case has
quieted down, and vii! probably remain
so until Friday. when the argument
comes up on the motion of the prosccu-
ton 10 indict the three defendants on
The felony charge OF abduction, cIc.
one of the rumors current Ia that m
effort may be made to prove that Lii
sian Cannons life prio; to her marriage
was open to criticism. The object OF
this alleged move as nearly as can now
be seen, is 10 mitigate the punishment
In case OF the conviction Of the defend
ants on the charge of abduction. etc.
SMITH SAID TO BE WEAKENING.
1t Is said that Willie Smith, the young
est of the three conspira tors, is getting
sadly tired Of the whole affair, and Is
waverlng whether TO continue efforts for
n new trial or submit; to the compare
lively light sentence given in The con-
Spiracy case. There Is no sympathy cx-
pressed for any of the trio, but, on ac-
count of his youth there Is perhaps less
public sentiment against him than
against the other two.
That the plot would have been emil
ncntly successful if Smith and Cannon
had been as knowing as Hall, seems
quite probable. Hall was careful IN the
whole affair not to drop Z word that
could not be construed by his defense
without dctrlmcnt TO him. Cannon and
Smith, by thrfr open boasttng and fool
ish words, MS given In the testimony,
proved themselves the verest amateurs.
,, Their damaging words were fails, OF
wrath In the hands OF the prosecution.
ana hot Goals (and the hot end OF 4
| polrr) IN the hands Of the defense.
CANNON -\TrTIoE JOHN PITT.
The next movement Of the trio and
their defense Is unknown, but certain
| facts leaking out, indicate that some
| thing j.. on foot. On Monday night
! Alex. Runalduc, an intelligent white
| boy, went with his father to the resi-
| dcncc CT Mr. John Pitt uncle OF Lillian
| Cannon, 1t No. 23l Charlotte street.
] Tho boy said to Mr.. Pitt: Zoe Cannon
| hired mo TO play the part of spy and
| watch you, ana because he didn't pay
me. l thought 1t best 10 come TO you
and let you know"
Young Runalduc's father states that
| Pitt had discovered that his son had
sricd upon his movements on the day OF
Cannon's arrest. That day. he claims,
was the only time Pitt was watched.
ana the youngSter was To receive 81
from Cannon to let him know if his
| wife went away.
Yesterday MIR. Pitt was qucrcd
in regard to the matter. and
said it was true that lie had
| paid visits TO his niecc'a (Mrs. Lillian
Cannon's) house in Portsmouth, and
| Cannon, evidently fearing the worst,
was rcsorting TO desperate means in or
! der To get out OF the sentence Justice
Toiilin imposed upon him last Friday.
| 1t is said that Hall has in the past few
! days been frequently seen 1T the Can
| non residence.
ARE OTHERS IMPLICATED.
There Is n very we'll defined suspicion
| in some quarters that the three persons
| convicted are not the only ones connect
| cd with the onepiracy. There arc some
| indications connecting Others, but the
proof Is not yet strong enough To war
rant more arrests nj present. Mrs. Ly
| dia Balm. mother of Lillian. openly
| charges Mrs Cannon. ST., with being a t
the bottom of the whole plot.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings on the felony war
! rants on Friday will probably consume
! the entire day, and may even run oven
| into Saturday. 1t is quite possible that
| the witnesses heretofore on the stand
| will again be called upon to testify as
| well as several not yet known to tho
public. The prosecution has not been
| idle. and it is whispered that the links
| OF evidence have been forged into yet
more formidable chain.
!
| THREATS TO KILL.