Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1899-07-13

II.
llth Of March, 1899. The shooting was
caused by the contest for a seat IN Con-
gress between General Walker and W. +.
RLea, into which contest Hamilton had
obtruded himself as volunteer counsel The
contest and the difficulty in which Hamh-
ton was shot we're the fruits of the most
vicious canvass for Congress made by
Rhea last Fall.
1t will be remembered that General
Walker, because of the known ill feeling
created at Bristol by Rhea and his subor-
dinates, asked for change of venue, which
motion was denied by the Hastings Court
of that city, though sixty afidavits had
been secured, setting forth the fact that
General Walker could not have fair
trial in that city. A motion to have
iury from another county was granted by
the court. which kindled hope IN the
breasts of General Walkers friends that
Justice would be done him, though sur
rounded by the partisan hate OF Rhea ana
his followers. 1t seems that the active
work Of Rhea's followers, such as DAVIS,
the fellow who shot General Walker when
his faced was turned, to compel the trial
TO be held at Bristol caused considera-
BILE reaction in sentiment in that town.
Liberal men we're astounded by the meth
ods and the men that were used to force a
man to have his trial at a place where be
did not desire it and where he did not be-
lieve he could secure justice. Such con-
duct could only be revolving to liberal
minds, hence the reaction of sentiment In
Walkers favor.
On Monday morning, the 9rd inst, the
trial began in the Hastings Court OF the
CITY of Bristol, Judge w. S. Stuart presid-
ing. An excellent jury, composed OF
twelve representative men from Mont
comery county, was sworn to try the issue
of the Commonwealth vs.. James A wal
ker. The political complexion of the jury
was rs follows Seven Democrats, three
Republicans and two Populists. They
were good and true men, and we doubt IL
anv one of the twenty four men who were
brought from tine county of Montgomery
as a venire from which to select the jury
4, would not have promptly said mot
ouiltS" after hearing the testimony
There was one incident, however, which
transpired during the impanelling OF the
Jury which was calculated to arouse th'
suspicious of any disinterested person
James A. Stone, who is clerk of the court
and bitter Rhea partisan. was calling TIT
list of Jurors. When he reached the nam
of the sixteenth man, the last to be called
he skipped that name and called the name
of the seventeenth man. Strange to say
the sixteenth man was Republican ant
the seventeenth man on the list partisan
Democrat. General Walker, who was o.
the alert and justly suspicious of Stone
had list of the venire in his hand, an
Immediately called the attention OF hi
counsel to Stones conduct. Counst
called upon Stone to make the correction
which he did, by returning to the nam
ofthe sixteenth man, and without one pal
ticle of explanation of how or why h
called the name of the seventeenth an
skipped the nameof the sixteenth mar
Under ordinary circumstances this thin
would be considered accidental; but !
view of the surrounding circumstance
disinteresled persons will question the il
tegrity of Stones conduct. -
General Walker was very ably defende
by Col. Fulkerson, Capt. ]. H. Woo
and Nessrs. Daniel Trigg, D. F. Bale
John Z. 3urson and Thomas l.. Moor
the latter being the late Commonwealth
Attorney for Montgomery county II
defendants counsel, though earnest al
AGGRESSIVE, were cautious and painstakin
They made no mistakes in the conduct
their side of the case; but frequently,
arp,,ing questions that arose during Il
nrocress of the trial, demonstrated the
mower to discuss questions of law and fat
and in many instances showed concl
sively thst the court was in error in
rulings.
The Commonwealth was represented
G Ashworth, Commonwealth Attt
nev for the city of Bristol, assisted by
n Winston, Jr., Judge Thomas Cur
and P. ]. Davenport, the latter bel
Commonwealth's Attorney for Washir
ton county. The last three were emplt
ed by private persons 10 assist in the prt
ecution. They had bad case and it
conducted with great lack of dlscretit
mart of the counsel seemed to thi
that il was the duty Of the Commonwea
To obstruct and prevent the introduct
of any evidence that would throw Iii
,,non tie transaction and excuse Gene
walker for shooting Hamilton. II
seemed especially anxious to prevent
introduction of any testimony that wo
throw cloud upon the conduct OF Il
and his immediate friends who were
nected with the difficulty. To that
thew we're fortunate in securing favors
rrl;nos fcom the court, but not enough
prevent the jury from being impre'
withlthe belief that Walker was not
justified in shooting Hamilton, but
creating in the mirds of nearly all
loo,d tho evidence firm conviction
diabolical plot had been formed to I
der General Walker. Perhaps the pr