Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-06-23
NEARING THE END
Evidence in the Eastman
Finch Suit About In.
ROUGH Y ON BRICKLEY
Attorney Il NJ. lett Testsfies Tina. This
Man Said IKE Was Going to Play
the Case for All There
Was In IT,

Was In It, ..
The taking of testimony in the East
man Finch dan'ag.. suit will proba biz
De concluded today. as The evidence in
chief for the defense Is all in and the
jury is now hearing witnesses in rebuff
tai
Yesterdays session Of the court was
consumed by counsel f.u- the defend
ants in examining witnesses, and il
was not until late IN he afternoon that
the last witness left the stand Ihes.
the attorneys called Lawyer r. NJ Leu
to contradict MIR. q. =. Buckley, who
stated that Mir. NJ. j. Eastman haI OF
fered him bride to testify il. his be-
half 80,
BEN GOODMAN tCoLoRED).
Ben Goodman tcolored) was the first
witness called to the stand yester-
day by the defense. Witness stated
thai la. worked on the Finch building
and that Mr.. NJ j. Eastman came to
him and offered him SIS to testify III
Cross examined by Mr. r. c. Bick-
ford witness said that Mr.. Eastman
made the offer not knowing what he
twitness) knew about the case or what
he would say when he was put on the
witness stand.
N. H NEEDHAM. ..
Mr.. Needham who said he was
general contractor, was called as an
EXPERT to testify as to the general Gus
tom in regard to building scaffolds.
lar man build the scaffold. and that
The br'ckiayers and laborers usually
raised the scaffold.
DAVID ATlllNS. tCoLoRED>.
This witness stated that he worked
on the Finch built1in" some DAVIS before
the accident: that Mr. Walter East
man ''bossed" the brick work and that
he had helped him to raise part of the
scafrold. Witness was not cross-exam-
ined
ALEX. SMITH tCoLoRED).
Besides corroboratins the preceding
witness Smith testified that on the
morning OF the accident he passed the
building and saw the workmen raising
the scaffold.
j. D. MARSHALL tCoLoRED).
Witness said he was a plasterer bv
trade. but did not work on the Finch
building. However. witness passed
the building and saw Mr. Walter East
man raising the first tier.
WILLIAM cox (COLORED).
Witness stated that he was a car
penter by trade. worked on the Finch
building the day preceding the acct
dent and that there was plenty of ma
terial around the building. ss#s.E
MI q. :, .n, ~. . Z, =, -, l., - 49,,
lenburg county, but formerly a carpen-
ter was next called. Witness stated
accident, that he saw Mr. Eastman
raising part of the scaffnld and that he
saw Mr- Eastman put in the putlock
that broke. Witness was cross-exam-
ined at the opening OF the afternoon
session.
JAMES BARKER
Witness said his present home was AT
Primers Point: that he was a carpen-
ter by trade and worked on the Finch
building: that the day before the acct.
iy.s1, hi 70,
build a scaffold under direction If Wal
ter Eastman. and that Mr.. Eastman
told him that he wanted the scaffold
we'll built.
On cross,examjnation witness test'-
fled that the only direction given by
Mr.. Eastman was the level for tha
ledger board: that he made a statement
in Mr.. Bickfnrds office: that Mr.. Finch
was the general superintendent of the
work: and that he (witness) did not
know whether he put in the putlock
that broke or not NJ
When the witness left the stand At
torney Garrett stated that the defense
had another witness. but this testimony
would be cumulative.
r. NJ LETT
The first witness put in rebuttal by
the plaintiff was Attorney r. NJ Lett.
who stated that Mr.. G. B. Brickley
came into his office some time after
the accident and made statement;
that some months after that he met
Brickley in front ofthe Whey building,
and that Brickley said to him:
II realize that am the only man
who knows anything about this CASE
and if these men are going to law am
going to play it for all 1t is worth;
Clarence is better business man than
/ am and has advised me to do this.''
after that" continued Mr.. Lett. II
met Brickley in the street and we had
another conversat ton. said to him:
'Brickley don't believe you would
perjure yourself for the sum OF $500.
on the stand and tell the truth
'Brickley then said to me:
We have a heal on hand with Finch
and must play 1t for all 1t is worth
''Brickley came into our Office one
evening afterwards and had him
make written statement in the pres
ence Of Colonel Boyllin.'
Mr. Meredith. conducted the cross
examination, asking among others the
following questions:
Q. Why should we offer Brfckiey n
bride. Mr.. Lett?
A. At that time 1t was understood
that Mr.. Finch had concealed the brok-
en- putlock and Brickley was said to
be the only man who knew the piece
OF timber had knot In 1t.
O. Didn't we produce the putlock:
A. Not until Mr.. Finch was called to
the stand yesterday and it was asked
for. C"That is because we forgot it,"
added Mr.. Incredibly
Q. What evidence Is there that deal
was On between Finch and the Brick
leys?
A. Deeds from Finch to Clarence
Brickley that were. admitted to record
about the time I had the last talk with
Bricfley.
@. Did you know Bricklev was pay
ing ner cent. on that deal?
A. No. sir: did not know Mr.. Finch
was quite that usurous.
@. Why did you summon Brickley?
A. For several reasons that probably
would not be admissible.
O. What are they2
A. Because 7 wanted to see him
suuirm; because thought perhaps he
might tell the truth. and because I
wanted to show the character Of some
Of the defenses witnesses. Let me
add Mr. Meredith dnr,t halia1ya col7s,.