Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1899-07-18
CASE OF W.D. BURGE
On Trial for His Life in the
County Court.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Fight to Have it Continued. The DauRl,-
ter on the Stand. The Jury VIII
Probably be Concluded To-
day. Other News.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


was called yesterday morning. and at
ter a heavy legal fight the testimony
of the girl was partly heard before the
hour, of adjournment arrived.
When court convened Mt 10 O'Clock
the attorneys for the commonwealth
and the defense were present. as was
also the venirc of sixteen men sum
monetl as jurymen. and everything
looked as though the case would soon
be gone into but it was not To ne. ana
"A spirited legal battle was made for
continuation Of the case until the next
term.
THE PRISONER ENTERS.
Just after the opening of the court
the prisoner, accompanied by sheriff
Curtis entered the courthouse. Burge
was attired in q dark suit Of clothes.
and Wore a dark calico shirt. turned
down collar, but no necktie. He APP
pearetl to he little nervous as he took
his seat just behind his counsel. now
and then chewing away at great rate
on 4 large mouthful Of tobacco. He
showed evidence OF his COMMITMENT i'll
Jail. but endeavOred to exhibit u per-
fectN uncOncernel manner all during
the day.
WANTED THE CASE CONTINUED.
Judge Lee announced that the court
was ready to go into the trial Of the
case and asked the counsel Tor the de
Tense if they We're ready. Mr.. Marquis
Jones. who is assisting Mr.. trausey as
counsel for Burge. arose and moved
that the hearing be postponed until the
next term, saying that they had been
unable TO secure two witnesses-Mrs.
Abbott. Of Newport News and Rev. j.
o. Mass. Of FOX HILL. the latter being.
Mr.. Jones said. i'll. Mr.. Jones spoke Ut
some length, and endeavored to inn
press the court With the idea that these
witnesses We're very material ones To
the defense.
Commonwealth Attorney Montague
was emphatically opposed to having
the case continued. He claimed that
the gentlemen for the defense had al
ready had sufficient time to prepare
themselves. and that this WAS a case
that should be given a speedy trial.
Ee, however, said he wanted to take
no undue advantage Of them, but
thought it was imperative that they
Should go into the hearing at once.
For about an hour there was a warm
discussion. and then Judge Lee put a
stop to it by announcing that he would
adjourn court for two hours and send
an officer after the witnesses.
AT II o'clock the officer had not re-
turned, and the court took a second r..
cess unII 2:1O o'clock
WITNESSES ARRIVE.
When court reconvened after the
dinner hour the TWO important Witness
es had been secured by the officers, and
the counsel for Burge announced their
readiness to so into the case.
THE JURY.
The work of empanneling a jury t.
sit in the case was next gone into, it
requiring nearly two hours TO complete
The first man called was Mr.. II. NJ.
MinoS:, who had expressed an opinion.
and was not an acceptable juror Mr.
a. J. Gilbert was sure he could give
the prisoner a fair trial and was ac-
cepted, as was also Mr.. w. L. Council.
Mr.. j. 7. Bentley had made UP his
mind and was not accepted, Messrs.
HS. 1T, Roach, Henry Whiting, L. c.
Savage and w. d. Kahn were all sure
they had not expressed opinions and
We're confident they could give the pris-
oner a fair trial. They were accepted
Mr.. r.. l.. Tennis was also accepted
as a juryman. as he had never express
ed an opinion. Mr.. H. N. G. Carson
had made up his mind. and was reject
ed. Then came Messrs r. S. Tennis, w.
u. D.
uing. neither of whom had discussed
the case or expressed an opinion re-
garding it; they We're accepted. MI.
Clay Marrow was rejected. as he had
previously expressed an opinion. The
last gentlemen called were Messrs w
}. Boone. l.. a. lslake, Phillip Linden
berger and T. T. IleWelen. all Of whom
were found acceptable jurors. This
completing the panel of sixteen, the list
containing their names was given
Budge's counsel to strike off four, and
the names OF Messrs. e. w. Roach. w.
D. Kahn, w. S. Vaughan and r. T..
Tennis We're dropped. the acceptable
gentlemen being as follows: Messrs.
"a. j. Gilbert w. e. Council. Henry
Whiting. T.. T. Savage, IT, s. Tennis, ].
c. Wade, UT. C. Topping. w. J. Boone,
L. A. Blake. Phillip Lindenberger ana
T. T.. Illewellen.
TIME COURTHOUSE CLEARED.
AS soon as the jury had been sworn
by the clerk, the prisoner was told to
stand up. while the warrant charging
him with serious crime was read.
This completed, Judge Lee instructed
Sheriff Curtis to clear the courthouse
while the young girl was giving her
testimony, of everyone, with the excen-
ton of the members of the bar, stem
ographers and representatives OF the
local newspapers. This seemed to BE-,
a great disappointm to the large
crowd of spectators present. who all
seemed anxious to have a look at the
girl. However. none refused to obey
the order, and in a few minutes the
building was comparatively empty.
THE GIRL T'ESTTTIES.
ADA Burge. the girl upon whom the
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