The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-05
Charged With Offering to Ac-
cept a Bride.
HIS MINIMUM WAS $500
srsss.. l. - - agsg.F
WITH THIS PAID HE WOULD
ISSUE BAR LICENSE.
HE CLAIMS THAT IT WAS ONLY A JOKE
rs-srpS.sEssssJ

T. HENDERSON, HDi6 SOutISei VII DUH SiuCo- -
Moss Republican and Much Con-
demned by His Own Party Men.
Henderson. N. G., Aug. 4-(Special.)-
The Moss trial came off yesterday here
The warrant against DR.. ]. r. Moss
charged him with receiving or offering
to receive a bride in the discharge Of his
duty as commissioner of the county"
At the last election DR.. J. r. Moss,
with another white man and one colored,
was elected county commissioner for
Vance. DR.. Moss, with some assistance,
has domineered and controlled the board
since, and it is generally understood that
what he says goes" In January they at
| first refused to issue any liquor licenses
until compelled by the courts. Again on
July / they refused to recognize the
| Democratic commissioners appointed by
the judge and the two white commission
ers. Moss and Houghtaling, voted against
license and the colored man for eli
cense." The liquor men charge DIR. Moss
with offering to license them for con-
sideratiOn, and have talked some time Of
| indicting him at court, but the matter
was brought to a climax on Monday by
the swearing out of this warrant. The
| fight promises to be pretty one, and no
doubt is somewhat warmed up by the
feeling already aroused in the fusion"
ranks in the county.
/ Mr.. A. G.. Zollicoffer appeared for the
prosecution and the defendant, Moss, is
represented by r. II. Hicks, A. J. Harris,
I. M. Pittman and j. Y. Eaton, colored.
The defendant files an affidavit and 3.
III. Allen, esq, transfers the case to W..
A. Belvin, Esq, who now takes charge
of the trial
The following witnesses are sworn by
the State: s. S. Written, J. II. Bridgers.
Y. r. Garrett. u. B. Duke. w. FL.
Hughes. D. TT. Gill (C.S.C9, G. w.
Finch, d. l.. Falkener.
| On motion of counsel for defense the
witnesses are sent out of the court.
EVIDENCE.
s. s. Whitten-Know DIR. Moss. He is
chairman of Board of Commissioners OF
Vance count. Up to July 1, 1897, was a
Honor dealer on Main street in Hender-
son. Had conversation with DIR. MOSS III
regard to issuing license; asked Dr. MOSS
| If he had talk with w. IL. Hughes-
that Hughes had come to hlm (Wnltteh'
saving that he Moss would issue LICENSE
for $500. Moss admitted the conVersa-
ton and said that he would 90 SO
Written said he would see whaI 'ne
"boys' could do. Afterwards sd" MOSS
and told him that he boys couia no.
raise the money, when Moss sald that IL
no (Whitten) would put up the money he
| (Moss) would issue license TO Whll'eii
alone or to any one that Written named,
Moss was anxious to have matter decldeo
as early as possible. Written was cross
Iexamined by defendants counsel as 10
whether he had violated the law IN re-
gard to sale of liquor and as TO Whether
he employed Mr.. Zollicoffer or not; ad-
mitted that he helped pay Mr.. Zolllcoffer.
State rested here.
The defendants counsel insisted that
mo case had been made out, but put the
defendant. DR.. Moss, on the stand. Moss
admitted being a commissioner ana
chairman of Board. Denied the state
Iment made by Written. Denied that he
lever sent Hughes to the whiskey men or
offered to have license issued for 5000.
THAT he was an old prohibitian man and
Iagainst the sale Of liquor.
DIR. Moss was cross-examined by pros
Iecution and many questions asked as to
Ithe mast life and acts of Moss. Defend
ant said he knew Written, but did not
know his character; said that all that he
said on the subject was in a "jocular
way.
Mr.. J. H. Bridgers (witness for State)
asked DIR. Moss if he could give any as
Isurances that licenses would be ISSUED:
He said that he coud not, but that if
$500 was nut in good hands license would
be granted. Told yr. Moss the amount
could NOT he raisI; said that one bar
: room man could s4ford to pay the amount
and get the licease himself alone. | was
not intrusted With the matter since July
I and would ,ot have indicted DIR. Moss
; myself. I dii not offer nm any money.
Did appear for liquor men before list of
July.
d. III. Gill, next State witness, and
: clerk a. Superior court, heard DR.. Moss
in nv office say in reply to question as
to what vas going to be done about issu-
ling Hcerse that he only got So day for
his services and that was not money
enough for him. That 'the longest pole
voald get the persimmon." Did not think
DIR. Moss was joking. Thought him in
dead earnest.
w. III. Smith, next witness for State
An sheriff of Vance county. Heard n
part of the conversation in ellis office;
heard Moss say ''the longest pole would
get the persimmon."
After speeches by Harris, Pittman,
Elton and Hicks, counsel for defendant.
ami Zollicoffer for the State, the justice
bond DR.. Moss in n bond of $500 for his
appearance at next term of Superior
lco,rt.
there is much excitement here. Much
divaion of sentiment. The Republicans
and Populists are especially angered