Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-09-15
TR0UBLES0F MAFFAO
Describes Graphically How lie
Was Imposed On.
THE STORY OF HIS WOES
when Man Is Dry He Has Got to Bave
Something to Drink. Argument of
the Motion In the williams
Murder Case.

| In the Corporation Court yesterday
| morning the counsel for Richard VIII
| liasns. iessrs. 3. b. Semmes and w. l..
| Ilillyer, made desperate fight for a
| new trial Tor their client, the motion
at the same time including. of course.
the setting ASIDE, of the sentence dc
creeing that Williams shall hang On
the 29th of this month
The attorneys for the condemned
man represented TO the court that they
not only had new evidence to introduce,
| but That Williams had not had every
opportunity to prove his Innocence, as
the I,,w ccMteunplates. That this was
| largely the fault Of the prisoner him
| self. was not denied: but it WAS urged
| that he did not realize the gravity If
| his situ.'ticn: that he had no counsel
| at the trial and did not know how 10
! defend himself; that he was forsakcE
by his friends and relatives and was
practically helpless in The hands OF the
| law. -
Commorwealth's Attorney Newton
DID not make any especial fight on the
| motion, contentinE himself With a
statement cf the facts leading to the
conviction of the prisoner.
At 1.-THE conclusion of the argument,
| Judge Rar!rain took the matter unJer
| ADJUSTMENT, and Will This morning an
nounce his decision.
This morning then, Williams Will
| knox whether he is to die fourteen
days hence. or whether he is to have
another chance for his life.
LOUIS MAFFAO.
Judge ia ri,am has reversed the usual
order of things and has taken up his
| n.:sdeTeanor docket at the first of the
term instead of the last.
The first case was that Of Louis Maj
! FAC. a Twcnty-third street saloon
keeper. who was UP on two appeal war
| rants, one charging him With carrying
concealed weapons. the other charging
the sale Of liquor on Sunday.
Judge Earham confirmed the decision
of the justices court tining MTaffao 500
| and costs on the first charge.
In the afternoon the second charge
was taken up. Maffao, VINO is 4 good
| natured sort of an individual. came into
| coulie after dinner smiling. He was
| asked if he wanted 4 jury trial.
what for do 1 want q jury?
amt done nothing he said. The pris-
| oner conserving, Judge Barham dis
charged the jury until this morning
| and tried the case himself.
There We're four witnesses against
Maffao, but only two could be found
and they, women, knew nothing about
| the case, though they guessed a good
| deal.
Louis. put on the stand, in his own
defense. testified graphically. also,
convincingly. He declared that lie
never sold on Sunday and with the
gravity of {. Dutch comedian explained
how the officer who arrested him at
| tempted to impose on him.
He came there" said Louis. "and
served this warrant on me. ! said to
| him, Officer l wish you'd splain this
warrant to me. I amt done nothing
He said Just so down to the Police
| Court and say you sold beer on Sun
day that's all you've got to do. just to
swear you sold beer on Sunday now
by golly. what kind of way WAS that to
TALK" asked Louis of the judge, conf
dentially.
NOV l tell you how it was. Judge
he continued II might some times give
away a little beer to my friends; at least
! did till seine one told une it was
against the Raw. just like 1 would give
you or Mr.. Newton some if you We're
to come to my place dry. When a
| mans dry he's got to have sonlething
to drink. But l don't even do that now
| that's straight. l amt stuck on this
business anyway, and as soon as I ca n
J sell out I am going TO start a shoe
shop"
His Honor dismissed the warra Mt
| against GMaffao, it being unprovcn.
The following gentlemen are on the
Ghisdeameanor jury.
j. *. Cree, Albert Mcmahon, l.. r.
| Richmond, Percy Porch. ]. J. Burke,
| l.. CT. Joynes J NJ. Saunders, J w.
McSsprr, j. Fl. Noonan. w. w. Lear and
! Robert Bailey, Felix Hordinave.