Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-19
NEWPORT NEWS.
Or Trial For His Life in Court at
Hampton.
A Dramatic Halt C.;IIcdt n Cclc.
brntcd Case The Kcarsnr-c.,Trtni
"Trip Way He DeInyed-Thc Yrnrnn-
ION Murder Cnsc.
Especial to virginian-pllo..)


Newport News. Va, July lS.-Thc
proceedings in the case of William d.
BurSe. which were begun in the Eliza
beth City County Court yesterday
morning. were brought to a dramatic
halt this morning, and all day the at
torneys i'll the case have been holly con-
testing the question as to whether they
shall proceed with the hearing at this
time or continue 1t to the next term of
the court.
When court convened at 10 O'clock
commemorative Attorney Montagu
announced to the court that Ada Burge
the witness on the stand at the ad-
journment yesterday, was unable to APP
pear again, owing to the premature
birth of Il child this morning at S
O'Clock. The girl, he said, was very i'll.
ana 1t was doubtful when she would
be we'll enough to resume her testi-
mony. This announcement came as .
thunderbolt to the court and jury and
the large crowd Of spectators in the
courtroom. The young girl WAS placed
on the witness stand Yesterday and
when court adjourned she was undergo
ing severe INSTRUMENTATION al the
hands OF Burgess counsel. From the
courthouse Miss Durge went to the
nome OF her sister. in East End. where
she Is now lying critically i'll. and, it
is said, may die at any moment.
y HOT LEGAL FIGHT.
Commonwealth Attorney Montague
asked that the court preeevtl-with the
nearing or the charge, claiming that the
witness had virtually told all she knew
III the matter and that there was no
heed or her temperance on the wit
ness stand. lie, however, suggeste ted
'nat the court take a recess until IL
O'Clock in order to allow the counsel
time to look up the law in such cases
which he claimed he had never heard.
MI Jones, of Burgess counsel, objected
ana claimed that the defense would in.
sist upon the witnesses being placed
upon the stand before they would pro.
ceed further. The attorneys argued the
question at some length and Judge Lee
decided to accept Mr.. Montague's sug-
Sestion to adjourn court.
THE LAW ON THE CASE.
At IL o'clock the matter was still, n
mystery 10 the counsel, as there has
never been such a case reported in any,
courts that could be found by the ot-
torncys.
Mr. Montague said he thought Il
would be perfectly proper for JUDGE
Lee TO go on with the evidence and the
case. MI Jones opposed 1t, claiming
that II was not constitutional for n
nan's life to be placed i'll jeopardy. I'M
less he had been given the right r.
risidly CROSSE examine the person nre-
ferring the charges
The commemorative Attorney then
requested the court to issue n summons
LOT Dr. W. ~. Picker. who had attend
eu me Sirl, so as to make IT plain 10
tne jury ana court why 1t was impos
: S,pie lot the witness to he in court
rms was excepted to by the dernrea
but the subpoena was issued ana Dr.
Picker was soon on the stand 10
sara tha', In his opinion, i. would no n,
least one month before the girl would
De apie to testify. and perhaps longer
Court then adjourned for dinner
wnen the argument will be concluded
Judge Lee Will render his declsion
tomorrow morning.
THE KEARSARGE'S TRIAL TRIP
some time ago. 1t will be remembered
1T was announced that the trial trim of
me patt!eship Kearsarge would fake
place during the early part of June
nut at the shipyard that il could MOI
be made until all the big guns for tho
warship had arrived and had bcnn
placed in their position on the vessel
Two or these big rifles. it Is under
STOOD, nave already reached here. but
the rest have not as yet even been shin
PED from Washington, where they are
being made. OF course the trial trim
cannot take place until the guns have
arrived and are on the new warsnip.
1t is learned from n reliable source
that 1t may be some time yet before