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

fense testified. General Walker related
the incidents connected with the shooting
in a manly frank way, that bore the stamp
of truth on every word uttered. Catee
and Hickman we're both splendid wit
nesses, and stood whitening cross-examina-
tions in such way as to show that every
statement they made was from honest
conviction. When it became necessary
to place Mr.. John E. Burson on the Wit
ness stand it was evident he went there
reluctantly, and only from sense OF duty.
He related how Hamilton had met him a
few hours before the shooting. and In a
conversation told how he (Hamilton) and
others intended to provoke General Wal
ker into a row, and what they were going
to do for him; how he (Burson) had
warned Hamilton not to provoke diff
Guilty, urging that General Walker would
hurt him. Mr.. Burson, soon after the
shooting, related the conversation to friends
of Hamilton and to Hamilton also. tie
was sent for by Hamilton, who tried to
employ him as counsel in his suit against
General Walker for damages; but Burson
declined to act as counsel in that case,
giving as his reason this knowledge OF
Hamiton's intentions to provoke row
with General Walker, which resulted in
the shooting.
We are informed that the counsel fol
the Commonwealth were very severe on
Mr.. Burson, one of them calling him
Judas Iscarot. That attorney was as far
off from moral truth, in comparing Burson
to the betrayer of the Saviour Of the world,
as he was from the legal truth in trying
to secure the conviction of General Walker
Judas betrayed his Lord and Master, the
embodiment of truth. Burson told OF a
wicked scheme, that had been diyulged to
him, to injure gallant and distinguished
citizen. lie told how he had been urged
by two men, one in one of the honorable
professions, the other at the head of large
business institution in Bristol, to suppress
what he knew about Hamilton's declara-
tions. Mr.. Burson told who those men
we're, and they did not come on the wit
ness stand to contradict him. The prose-
cution declared after Burson testified that
they would-both contradict and impeach
him. They did not try to impeach him, land
the effort to contradict him was so feeble
that after two witnesses were introduced
the Commonwealth rested its case.
As before stated, there had been great
reaction in General Walkers favor before
the trial began, and it was testified to by the
seeming Withdrawal of sympathy and sup
port of the better element of Bristol tor
Hamilton and Rhea. 1t was no intre.
ouent thing to hear gentlemen, who were
hostile to General Walker politically, ex'
press their sympathy for him in his
trouble, and disgust for those who had
created the trouble and were engineering
the prosecution.
The evidence in rebuttal was concluded
by the Commonwealth on Friday after
noon, and instructions asked for. by both
tile Commonwealth and defendant, were
submitted with arguments on the night Of
that day. On Saturday morning the ar
guments began. Messrs. Davenport, Cur
tin and Ashworth spoke for the prosecu
ton, and Mr.. Moore, Capt. Wood, Hon
D. F. Bailey and Hon. Daniel Trigg fol
the defendant. Of course the efforts O.
the prosecuting attorneys could not be
otherwise than weak. Two of them hac
already expressed, privately, the opinion
that the Commonwealth case had beer
butchered and had gone to pieces.
There has been nothing but words o
praise for the speeches of those gentle
men who represented General Walker
Armed with truth and justice, their blow
were hard and effective. The argument
were all so fine that it vas hard for friend
or enemies 10 determine which did tn
best. General Walker and his friends WI
never forget Col. Fulkerson, Capt. Woot
=, Dan Trigg, Dave Bailey, Messrs. Moor
y and Burson for the fidelity and efficlenc
> with which they performed their duties
= the trial.
:. At a little after s o'clock on Saturda
night the case was submitted to the jur.
i, and in less than half an hour the verdi
o of not guilty was returned, There wi
never difference of opinion among tt
4 Jurors as to what they should do. II
o verdict was a righteous one, and was
~ great rebuke to those who had plotted
# ruin General Walker. 1t is astoundll
n that Rhea and his advisers would pers'
&c in the prosecution of General Walker WI
,s the knowledge of the developments tn
,t would be made at the trial-developmer
# that have covered band of conspiratc
ID with disgrace SO lasting that it will neV
ID be removed.
as General Walkers triumphant acqult
n, was confidently expected by his frien(
ill but this did not prevent its being hea
of with the profoundest pleasure by all go
of men in the Ninth District, in Virgin
al, and throughout the Union.
&C. INCIDENTS OF THE TRIAL.
III Dave Bailey had new pronunclatl
H. for res gestae He called it OR hea's jester
To -,
or The conspicuous absence Of the publi'
nj er of the Bristol News during the trial
IN. remarked upon.
to 1t was demonstrated that General Wa
he er had some as true and brave friends
ed Bristol as eyer walked the earth.
are Hon. s. IL. Walker, of Augusta coun
lev IL J;ctinV,,5obol 1nf