The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-28

by T. T. Hicks Tonight Major VIM. A.
Guthrie finished his argument for the
plaintiff
JUDGE WINSTON SARCASTIC.
At last nights session of the court
Judge Winston continued his argument,
taking UP the testimony of Mr. Gattis, Mr.
Boone and Mr.. Beckwith and others print
ed in the pamphlet. Commenting on Mr.
Beckwiths testimony he said
Mr.. Beckwith was sent to South Caro-
lima to take dispositions. He fails to get
dispositions, and what do we find? When
he comes back the board taps him and
he shows great willingness to testify
The speaker then described the methods
he said Mr. Beckwith pursued in getting
evidence:
why, he says he actually spent four
hours in Greenwood, and he was never
there before. Did you ever see a mail
train rush through a small town, put out
an iron arm, grab mail bag and rush
on? That's BeckWith in Greenwood and
he comes back full for utterance. Make
way for me. B. C. Beckwith, l know more
about it than the whole State of South
Carolina This elderly gentleman, Mr..
Beckwith, who had grown gray in Green
finds out more about DR.. Kilgo than the
Governor knows, than Senator CIR
bishop knows, yes more than anybody else
lnows-the merchant. the baker or the
candlestick maker, or anybody. That's
Beckwith."
MIR. Gattis' testimony before the Clark
Kilgo investigation was read to the jury
and Judge Winston commented on parts
IL ,
added:
And vet Mr.. Cattis says he and DR..
Kilgo had always been friends Is it pos
sible? If there's one thing that makes
mans heart sick. it's when he finds the
man that he considered his friend going
back or him..
Judge Winston claimed that the evil
dence disproved the charge that DR.. Kill
go was a gold bug, but showed that he
was a prohibitionst. and favored the gov
eminent ownership of railroads and tele-
graph lines. He also denied the truth of
the charge in the light OF the evidence,
that DR.. Kilgo had played the sycophant
to the Dukes. Then he went on to say:
IF by your verdict you say that these
words are both false and malicious you
will not only condemn DR.. Kilgo and the
other two defendants but every member
of that board
And the strangest thing about it all is
that Mr.. B. n. Duke didn't open his
mouth in that meeting from beginning TO
end. He didn't say he'd gum it. or do
anything else. And as far as l know Mr..
Odell was equally silent. Why didn't
they sue Mr.. Oglesby? They charge that
he was a limber-iack fellow, chosen be-
cause they wanted a weak man. and not
satisfied with his weakness they sent him
OFF to Virginia on vacation TO keep him
from preparing his case"
After arguing the law in regard to
malice in privilege publications. Judge
Winston concluded with brief summary
of his contentious. and added:
We argue that the charges made by
DR.. Kilgo are true; that he has sus-
tanned every one of his charges. We
argue that Dr. Kilgo is not "a wire-puller
and manipulation, as charged We argue
that the evidence shows different. We
contend that Gattis is the original
slanderer' because he told these things
to Judge Clark. We contend that he
gossiped too much. and his sharp tongue
was turned against a man who considered
him 2 friend.
you'll hear a great deal tomorrow as
to why Kilgo and Duke and Odell didn't
go on the stand. Thatll be only second
to the gum it. Let me ask why didn't
they put Judge Clark on the stand? This
entire controversy is between Clark and
Kilgo, and it's the strangest thing in the
world that neither Clark nor his deposit
ton is here.
Wouldn't you, gentlemen Of the jury,
have done as much as DR.. Kilgo did under
the same circumstances? To have done
less he would not have been man. A
mans character IS his all. and he comes
here asking yndication at your hands.
BY any other verdict you cast a reflection
on every member Of the board of trustees.
'The plaintiff has not minced his words.
He comes here, where Badger and Gra-
ham and others have stood. and he tells
you that everything done in the Clark
Kilgo trial was farce and a sham. He
does more. He traduces, maligns and
ISLANDERS his mother church and its col
lege. And for what? A few paltry dol
lars. You might fill his pockets to the
very bursting point, but it can never do
him half as much good as harm has been
done by his statements on this stand.
It's the Jingle of the guinea that helps
the hurt the honor feels"
Judge Winston finished his speech
shortly after 10 o'clock. having spoken
for more than six hours. His speech was
much complimented by all who heard it,
On its completion, court adjourned till
$50 o'clock this morning.
Last night, for the first time since the
trial began, the jury was kept together
and will not be again separated until their
verdict is rendered.
FRED L. MERRITT.