The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-24
Sentenced to Pay Fine Of $500 Each and
Go to Jail for Six Months.
Is JOSEPH CANNON JR. ALSO GUILTY Of BIGAMY /?
The Man With Rope-FIal Failed to Get Bai-Prosecu-
ton Will Now Press the Felony Charge.


purest motives. but she was indlscreet
She had never seen Hall before And
this man, who has been painted as such
disreputable character, does not in all
that time make any effort to accomplish
her ruin. 1t seems surprising strange
that such a man. if he Intended her
ruin, didn't attempt it. Suppose lie
hadn't vet received his 5000 as stated,
would that have caused him TO delay
the carrying out Of Il purpose such as
he had been charged with being com
monty guilty Of? Suppose Eastwood did
hear the words "two hundred in the
conversation between Smith and Hall?
Is there any proof that 1t had reference
to pay in the conspiracy affair? How is
Smith connected with the conspiracy?
The evidence doesn't show it. Grant
ing, for the sake Of argument. that they
had an independent plan to accomplish
such crime, where is the evidence that
they merged their plans into con-
Spiracy? We have the evidence Of Mr..
Mariner that Smith told him that he was
employed to work up a divorce case.
What is wrong about that? That is
legitimate. Eastwood was doing the
same thing. Mr.. Mariner says that
Smith told him that they were to take
MIS-. Cannon away on q steamer and
catch her in a stateroom with some one
We are not charged With a crime Of that
character. We arc charged With con-
spirncy to debauch her. Besides, Mrs.
Cannon says she did not know when
She was going away But Smith is
| charged with saying that he was going
| that night We are entitled to the ben
eft OF every reasonable doubt In this
case. The evidence is not sufficient. IT
| doesn't do more than create Il suspic-
| ion.
l 4
Now as to Smith What evidence Is
there impllcating him in this conspira-
cy? lie only carried a box for Hall to
r. store-except the statement Of the
witness Mariner The evidence fails
absolutely to show the independent
guilty intent. Now as 10 that convcr-
sation with John Mariner. What is
| there TO show Smiths connection with
| the conspiracy? His statement to Mar
| iner that Mrs. Cannon was 10 be found
| in a compromising position or Il boat?
! We are not here 10 answer that charge,
| but the charge Of debauching and de-
| filing her. ] submit again the evidence
| Is not here to convict these defendants.
! Give us the benefit OF every reasonable
| doubt. The evidence submitted Is only
| strong enough to excite suspicion.
Mrs. Cannon's statement that all she
| did was voluntary negatives the charge
i
| proper for me to ask Il charitable con-
| struction of their acts. but I may ask
| that they be tried strictly by the evil
| demce.
MIR. SHULTlCE SPEAKS.
| Here Mr. Shultice rose and said that
| Mr. Heath had covered the ground SO
! fully that he would merely endorse all
! that he had said. He only asked that
! the case be decided on the evidence pre-
sentcd. and that the accused should be
| given the benefit OF every reasonable
| doubt.
MIR. RANDOLPH'S ADDRESS.
MIR. Randolph then rose and said, in
part: I'VE now approach the end Of the
| most sensational case ever heard in
! Norfolk and l doubt if any Of the coun-
sci have even participated in like
| cause. We are not here to be tried by
a. sensational press. Journalism IS here
! to excite the public mind that is what
we SHOULD fear, hut we do not. Pub
lie opinion, what is 1t? y heterogcne
| Gus conglomeratIon. You will never
get from public opinion a fair adjudi-
cation if It be a crime. especially q
| heinous one. The press in this case, as
in others. had inilamcd rather than di-
| rected public opinion These accused
| must he convicted OF a Conspiracy" to
| dcbauch. but has 1t been done? We
| nave 'Dcen surrounded Dy NerllaDle
| cloud Of witnesses by the prosecutions
! For the past few days they have brought
| witnesses from Norfolk. Portsmouth
| and even from the Eastern Shore Of
| Virginia. n regular drag net.
! Cannon has q right to apply for 4
divorce if he thought best and he had
| a right, as is done every day, to en-
Dloy Il detective to secure evidence
THE EVIDENCE RECEIVED.
AT this point Mr.. Randolph briefly
| outlined the testimony Of the witnesses
accord and stayed to suit her own con
venience. Laylor said that Mr.. Cannon
would give 5000 for a divorce. and East
wood heard Hall ana Smith talking
abou. "two hundred" but Is that sutli-
! cicnt 10 convict them fthis nefarious
crime? Joe Cannon says to Annie
| Wakefield in a brothel on Wolfe street
| that he didn't love his wife and was
going to sc. rid Of her but is there
| anything in that on which TO base the
| charge of debauchinG her? Then comes
that mighty band box containing Mra.
| Cnnnon's clothing. which the prosecl,-
| ton thought was a strong link in the
! chain Of evidence). Is there anything
in that? 1t only Shows that Joseph
| Cannon wanted his wfre to have her
| articles Of clothing if she desired them.
| Mrs. Kings evidence shows no con-
! sDracy. We are all sorry for Mrs.
| Isan. the afflicted mother OF Mrs. Can
non. hut her evidence doesn't bear on
| The charge. Laylor, the speedy wit
ness. on whom we Yainly tried to nut