The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-16

Tho trial Of James Penrose Carter is
well under way at the Herrico County
Courthouse and the defence has, in part
at least. revealed the line of action
which, they confidently claim, will result
not only In saving from the hangman
moose the slayer Of CHARLES Fox Moore,
but in restoring him TO the bosom OF his
family a free man.
The defence claims, as was stated by
Mr.. L. q. Wendcnburg before the tah-
ing of testimony was begun, that the
death Of Moore was preceded ny an actloh
on his part which not only Justined Car
ter In Killing him, but rendered IL MS
duty so 10 do. and That when the testi-
monv of witnesses shall have made the
matter plain. his acquittal will at once
follow.
a portion OF their plan, as revealed by
their actions during the course of the
trial yesterday, is 10 set up a plea Oh
self-defence, though as yet nothing mas
been brought out to justify that clainl'
FORGING A CHAIN.
The Commonwealth, on the other hand,
has a we'll defined plan of action. From
the very outset Of the trial its purpose
was plain and the chain OF evidence
being forged was plain to the least
practiced aye 1t started with Septem-
ber 22d, two days before the tragedy when
the quarrel over sand took place at the
unfinished building which Mr.. Moore was
building for Mr. Siegel, the passing OF the
lie: MoOre's ordering Carter never 10 set
foot on the place again. and the latter s
reply that he would keep coming untii ne
got the SO due him; Moore's failure to
pass Carter's house the next day In his
buggy, having gone TO his work by the
Lakeside line: Carter's failure 10 go 10
Richmond on the succeeding day, Which
was Saturday, contrary to well-estab-
l,shed custom: then the terrible tragedy;
his visit TO a neighboring field willie his
victim lay dead in tho road. and his at
tempt to secure the negro, William WINS
ton who was plovirg there, as a witness
that the deed was done In self-defence;
his admission to tie negro, imperfectly
brought as yet, that the dispute oyec
money due him for sand had something
TO do with the deed: the well-tiled pistol
from which the shots were tred-all these
constitute links in the chain OF evidence
slowly being formed, While every inch OF
ground is closely contested by the de-
fence.
II cannot be denied that links are yet
missing in the chain-links that may be
hard 10 supply because Of the absence
of testimony along certain lir es from an
INTELLIGENT source The hidden card held
by the defence Is also, of course, an un-
known quantity. and what the result may
be after their witnesses have been heard
cannot now be predicted
ATTORNEY-G GENERAL SECURED.
The array Of legal talent on either side
assures a sharp fight 10 the finish Mr..
Conway r. sands. commemorative At
torney, opened the case yesterday morn
Ing. assisted by Mr.. Roy Lewis. but yes
terday afternoon he received an acces-
sion OF strength in the person of Hon. A.
J. Montague, the brilliant young attcr-
general. who ranks high III the list of
successful lawyers.
The prisoners interests are well look
ed after by Mr.. l.. o. Wendenburg and
Mr. Smith.
Not In many months has trial In this
vicinity excited the interest that has at
tached TO that Of ]. PenrOse Carter, and
long before the hour set for the begin
ming OF the proceedings yesterday the
court yard and building were well filled.
The courtroom was not thrown open
until a few minutes before II O'Clock,
and at that time the hall was denseiy
packed. AS the doors were opened the
crowd flowed in and every seat was taken
while many stood around the walls and in
the aisles.
Promptly TO the minute Judge Wick