Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-12
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tord said he was there in the interest Of
MS uncle. The witness said he was in
the city to get things for his marriage
and was present quite by accident. He
mad no intention of testifying when ne
| came to the city and did not wish to
lnJure either Of the officers.
The witness stated further that Mr..
Shorter was present and told the wit
ness that he thought Officer Crafford
was doing wrong. Mr.. Curtis started
to tell something about Officer Shorter
interfering between Officer Crafford
and the witness in an alteration
! which they had on the date referred
! to-
The officers objected to the evidence
and MIR. Wilson sustained the objection.
Mr. stuart argued in favor OF hearing
ire whole story and Mr.. Wilson finally
agreed. The remainder of the story
was, However, uniunDortant. Mr.. Shor-
! ter on the occasion merely told the Wit
| ness that no two men We're going to
jump on Brown Crafford There was
no scrap nor any danger of scrap,
nor did the officer draw weapon.
Officer Shorter took no part in politics,
as far as he could see.
| The Witness being questioned. stated
that he was there to see fair play for
! his uncle and he'd be -- if he was
net going to do it.
| Mr.. Curtis did not think Officer Graf
ford had on his uniform
WAS A DEMOCRAT.
! The next witness was Mr. j. c. Cur
tbs. who saw both officers at Warwick
Courthouse at the meeting of the 2Sth
ult. He saw Officer Crafford on the
J,(. -
couldn't speak for being howled down
lie heard a gentleman named Green
say that no two men were going to
jump on Brown Crafford. The witness
saw Officer Shorter there at the meet
ing. but did not see him take any ac-
tive participation in politics. He
heard Officer Crafford, in his speech,
say something about being a Demo-
crat and about dividing the crowd.
MIR. J. III Madison followed with a
statement to the effect that he saw
Officers Crafford and Shorter at ths
| meeting. He saw Officer Crafford on
the platform two or three times, appa-
rently trying TO quell the uproar He
,could not hear what he said because Of
the noise. He did hear Mr. Crafford
say That he came up there to see jus
tice done
Witness said he heard Officer Shorter
say he was u friend of Officer Crafford
and a brother policeman, and no two
men We're going to jump on him.
Witness did not know whether officer
Crafford WAS in his uniform or not.
! Mr.. Mackay wanted to know if the
witness saw any political stars flashing
! from the eyes Of the officers on that
occasion.
! Mr.. Madison appeared a little dazed
by the inquiry and said he didn't know
Mr. J. H. Parrish testified that he did
not know Officer Crafford and did not
remember seeing him at the meeting.
He saw Officer Shorter in the grove
but did not see him in the house
County Officer John Williamson was
the next witness. We saw both officers
f, at the meeting. He also saw Officer
Crafford get up on the platform and
try to make a speech. Officer Shorter
was walking around shaking hands
| anything else.
| In reply to questions. the witness
said he did not see Officer Crafford
take any active part in politics." nor
cid he see Officer Shorter take any
part at ALL
/ THE CHIEFS STATEMENT.
] The chief Of police was sworn and
J deposed that on the morning Of the
convention Officer Crafford came to
him saying he had received a message
summoning him to Warwick Court
| house. He thought he was a witness in
! some case ard let him go. Officer
Shorter asked to so and permission
was given The chief said he thought
no more about it until that afternoon
when some one told him that the Off
GERS We're UP at the meeting making
speeches.
Mr.. MacKay interrogated the chief
at some length with the apparent pur-
pose of showing that he had no bust
ness permitting the officers to so to
, Warwick Courthouse. He did not sue
coed in his intention, however.
In the course Of his testimony the
Chief showed how the prosecution of
the two officers was instituted by Mr..
day after the mass meeting and ques-
toned him about tine officers being at
Warwick Courthouse.
THE DEFENSE
MIR. C. AC Crafford, deputy corpora
ton clerk. was the first witness for the
defense. He said that on the day of
the convention he received phone
message from Frank Kirk, stating that
Mr., Smith said to tell officer Crafford
to come to Warwick Courthouse at
once. and to hire an officer at once.
1 Col. j. c. Baker was sworn and tes-
| titled that ne had never known an Off
! Ger more efficient and able in the dis
| charge of his duty than Officer Graf
ford was during the recent quarantine.
AT the conclusion Of his testimony,
Colonel Baker took charge Of Officer
Crafford's case.
DIR. J. Fl. Crafford, uncle Of Officer
| Crafford. testified that lie did not see