The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-24

N Or1Olk, In the homeS, OH the streets
and in the business places. It has, in
deed. become q "cause celebre," as
the telegraph wires have spread the
main features Of it everywhere.
Yesterday was the fourth day Of the
legal investigation into the charge Of
conspiracy by Joseph Cannon, Jr., T..
Guy Hall and Willie Smith against Lii
liam Cannon, the child-wlfe Of one Of
the accused. Before 8 o'clock a. IN. q
large crowd OF people had assembled
around the Courthouse, not all OF whom
could ever crowd into the court room.
The petit jury of the Corporation Court
was there In answer to j summons to
report to-day, but was adjourned for
the term.
The crowd was so dense that the law
vers in the case and the members Of the
press had TO enter the court room by
the windows. When the court room
doors were opened the crowd surgcl in
like an irresstable tidal wave, and
those in front wefe shot in IKE wreck
age on the seashore In Il storm. There
was some wreckage, too, as was sEown
by torn clothing, wrecked hats and
other evidences Of the excited crush.
( Cannon was the first or the accused
to appear, then Smith and lastly II all
was brought from jail. Mr.. EcnH bic
was the first Of counsel to arrive, then
followed Judge Nicely, Mv. Shultice, Mr.
Randolph and Mr. Cole Messrs. Thom
and Duncan came in afterwards.
HUNDREDS CROWDED OUT.
Il At 1925, two minutes before the time
set for opening court, Judge Tom.ia or
dered the doors closed, and about 500
people were excluded. These gathered
around outside, most of them remain
ing until adjournment, any person
left the court room he was q once seize Il
upon and eagerly questioned as to the
status of the case, what he thought Of
the result and all that was going on in
the court room. Hall. as usual, sat
apart from his fellow prisoners and an
anxious look clouded his face. Cannon
twisted about uneasly, while Smiths
face was flushed and his eyes lad a
hunted look. He had n silk handllar-
chief around his neck, tucked under his
collar.
.~ HEATH OPENS THE DEFENSE
Mr.. Heath opened for the defense ard
said that the accused were there 10 an
swer to certain definite charge. That
charge was not, as Mr.. Duncan had
said. conspiracy to compromise Mrs
Cannon. but a conspiracy to dehauch
her"
we are. said he, to be tried here by
the evidence. Much has been said about
public opinion in the case. l am not
unmindful OF the sympathics in such
case. but public opinion Is as apt to
be as wrong In its Judgments as IT is
right in It's Instincts. Any prisoner is
fortunate not to have 70 answer before
the tribunal Of public opinion, hut be-
1ore q, tribunal responsible to It's oath,
and that will try thc accused accord
ing to the evidence presented. Let us
examine the elements that constitute
this crime. It Is not sufficient to show
that Cannon wanted q divorce from his
wife or wished To have her deilcd In
order to furnish him grounds for
divorce
1t is not sufficient to show that Cam
non. Hall and Smith purposed the de-
Element of Mrs. Cannon, but It must be
shown that they came together and
merged their independent plans into q
common plan-not only that Cannon
wanted his wife. dcbauched. that Hall
Intended. to do IL and Smith purposcd
The defllement Of Lillian Cannon--but
must be apparent that they merged
their several plans and made all one
Joint plan AS to Cannon. it is not
shown that he actually Intended to have
her debauched-not whether he was In
difrerent as to it-lbut whether he ac-
tually intended it? Is the fact that he
attempted to get evidence for divorce
sufficient to prove that he intended to
get the separation by fair means or
foul?
E / SoilteHa Hot. AS regards the re-
mark Of Cannon that ne would get o
divorce by fair means or foul. even by
force. don't understand It. The only
way l know of to get n divorce is in q
Chancery Court. There Is nothing so
Tar that casts any suspicion that there
is anything that Is guilty on the part
OF Cannon. AS to Hall he Is supposed
to be the man with the deviIish .p;,r
pose in his heart to ruin this yo,,nr
woman. Lillian Cannon.
Joseph Cannon introduced Hall to his
consin MS well as to his wir.. II no
had intended the crime with which he
is charged would he have openly bro
claimed ut, as the witness, Laylor
SAYS he did? Crime doesn't invite pub
licity In that way.
THE OCEAN VIEW TRIP
Mr.. Heath laid stress upon the fact
that Cannon allowed his wife to go To
Ocean View with Hall, but it is IN evil
dence that long before that he had taken
steps 10 get divorce SO 1t would, un
der these circumstances, have been un-
natural for him ito have exercised that
care about his Wife which has been
suggested by Mr.. Duncan as his duty.
Hall met her on Sunday afternoon and
she consents at once to go with him to
Ocean View. She meets him the next
day. and instead Of going back to hei,
husbands house, she allows Hall to get
her boarding house and sees him
every day During that time there Is
no evidence Of Halls having made any