The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-12
IS IT POLITICAL PERSECUTION ?
FRIENDS OF AL. MARSHALL ESQ, THINK
COURSE OF PROSECUTION UNFAIR
position to Drag to Trial
For Counterfeiting In surprise
Party. fashion to Weake His De-
Tense Uncertainty now as TO Place
and Time ofTriaI.

Captain John r. Williams. agent for
the Wilmington office of h Southern
Express Company returned last night
from Raleigh where he was summoned
TO appear before the grand jury Of dhe
federal court in the ease against 4. j.
Marshall, Esq. Of this city charged
with counterfeiting, the Messengers
having, it will be remembered, an
nounced in yesterdays issue that a
true bill had beer returned in the case.
Captain Williams was seen last night
by a member of the Messenger staff
and asked in regard to h status Of the
case and the probable course of the
court in the matter of bringing the case
to trial. He said that it was absolutely
impossible for him to find out anything
about the matter. the prosecuting OFF,
Gals seeming to- have 70 fiye3 plans or,
if they have, being very reluctant about
making them public.
1t seems hat it was with considera-
BILE difficulty that he ~ascertained yes
terday that h case would not be call
ed for trial Tuesday on Monday in Or
der that he might beside whether or
not to come home to spend Sunday.
Now that he is here he will not return
until he is m again by the
court.
POSITION OF DEFENDANTS
COUNSEL.
Marsden Bellamy, Esq, chief coun-
sci for Mr.. Marshall said yesterday
afternoon that no official notice of the
finding of the grand jury has been
served upon eithe Nh. Marshall or his
counsel. He has no idea that h case
will go to trial at the present session
of the court in Raleigh. But declares
that whenever the case may be called
he has ample evidence with which to
prove the absolute innocence of MI.
Marshall and also to make it very warm
for several parties who have and are
figuring in the prosecution >of his client.
He said that from the very inaugura-
tion of the case i'm this city several
months ago Mr.. Marshall has as it were
begged and pleaded" for a speedy
trial.
FAIRNESS OF PROSECUTION
QUESTIONED.
Quite a number of Mr.. Marshall
| friends here, and they are legion, ex-
| press the opinion freely that there
seems to be a disposition on the part
of the prosecution to, as it were take
the defendant and his counsel una
/ WARES dIlu DI1llS III W lI1dI, IL pO0SAOAN
unprepared for the presentation Of his
| defence i'm it's strongest light. There
are many also who declare unhesitat-
ingly hat political prosecution is the
secret of the %strange n mysterious
| course which the prosecution is persu-
| ing. Mr.. Marshall having as every one
hereabouts knowns, been for a number
of years especially active and effective
in work for the ascendency of democ-
racy in this city and section.
1t has been suggested with what de-
gree of foundation it could not be a
| ~certained, hat the case may not be
tried at it'll Raleigh or Wilmington
! but transferred instead to New Bern.
MR.. w. A. FARRISS' STATEMENT.
In speaking of his recent trip to Raj
eigh Mr.. w. A. Farriss made the fol
| lowing significant statement to a mem
Der of the Messenger staff:
IT was subpoenaed to Raleigh by
the government last Tuesday as a wit
ness to go before the grand jury in the
case against A j. Marshall, Esq, ]
obeyed and went to Raleigh. When
it was found that I knew nothing
| against Mr.. Marshall, but what I die
know was against their chief witness
the Greek Theodore Darkley, I was
told that I was not needed and allow
ed ito prove my attendance and return
H.