The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-11-29
IT'S A DEBATE OF GIANTS
Argument by Montgomery, Boone,
Burton and Graham.
GUTHRIE AND BURToN's FINE SPEECHES
RoYsler, Watson and Ayc,ck Will Speak Today
in the Event That Judge Hoke Does
Not Suspend Court For
Thanksgiving.
Especial to eNws AZ

Especial to eNws and Observer.)
Oxford, n. c., Nov. 2S.-As court
closes tonight the Gattis- Kilgo damage
suit is four speeches nearer verdict
than it was last night. Three more
speeches, then the Judges charge and
it will go to the jury. Today's speeches
were made by Messrs. Montgomery,
Boone, Burton, and Graham. The
speeches still to be made are those of
Messrs. Royster, Watson, and Aycock.
Mr.. Royster will deliver his argument
tomorrow morning; Mr.. Watson will
speak during the afternoon and Mr..
Aycock will speak at night; in case
Judge Hoke decides not to suspend for
Thanksgiving, this will send the case
to the jury about noon on Friday
Today's legal battle has been bril-
liant one, not a weak or dull speech
has been made. 1t has been debate
of giants, fiercely but fairly fought
But it is to the contest of tomorrow
that all eyes are turned. Two of the
most noted men are to be pitted
against each other-Charles B. Aycock
ON the one side and Cyrus b. Watson
ON the other.
Judge Montgomery devoted the first
half of his speech to reply to the speech
of Maj. Guthrie, delivered last night, and
in doing so he quoted often from the Bible
and made some very apt hits at Maj.
Guthrie's expense. Then the took up the
Clark Kilgo controversy, and said:
"The action of Judge Clark in this mat
ter cannot be defended. l don't care
what he heard about John Kilgo, or from
whom he heard it or to whom he repeat
cd 1t. He had no right to do it, and any
sensible man would have acted just as
Kilgo did in the matter
but Mai. Guthrie says this was Kilgo's
fatal mistake; that when he faced the
great Caesar, Judge Clark, he had bit off
more than he could chew
He read DR. Kilgo's first letter to Judge
Clark and asked:
Nov what is there offensive about
that letter. even if it was sent to Cae-
sar?"
The rest of the correspondence was
read and Judge Montgomery continued:
What had DR.. Kilgo done to provoke
this TRADE of abuse? Was he doing any,
thing else than acting in self defence?
Judge Clark was a member of the
board when Mr.. Dukes gift was accepted.
He was there when Mr.. Duke was thank
ed for it. Why didn't he object them"
NOT JOHN CALHOUN" KILGO.
Judge Montgomery argued that this
suit was an attack on the whole board of
trustees except Dr.. Creasy-and he's
dead"
The judge wanted the jury to know, he
said, that DR.. Kilgo's name was not John
Calhoun Kilgo, but that it was John Car
lyle Kilgo.
"Oh the sneering in the voice of my
brother Hicks as he rolled the name un-
der his tongue-John Calhoun Kilgo
had thought that Granville county people
had been good Wings. but as the argu-
ment proceeded l began to think there
must be some Tories and deserters on the
jury. Oh how he did abuse John CAL
houn in applying the name to Dr. Kilgo."
He thought Judge Clark ought to have
had the evidence in hand when he made
his charges against Dr.. Kilgo
Instead of that he asked for thirty
days time in which to get up the evil
dence. Character is too sacred to be
treated in that way Going around SLAM
dering man and then when confronted
with his words asking for time to get
evidence to substantiate them"
He said it was solemnly resolved to
publish the proceedings of the Clark
Kilgo controversy forty three days be-
fcrc it was held
eat this time nobody knew that Mr..
Gattis had the slightest connection with
the matter
WHAT KILGO HAS DONE.
Taking up Judge Clark's challenge to
the jury, Judge Montgomery called it "the
most remarkable document in all legal
or church history"
dence that he challenged the jury. Oh
no, I'm not going to be tried by any such
set of rascals as you are Well, if not
by them. then by whom? There was no
other court that could try it,.
The speaker then turned his attention
to DR.. Kilgo. He said:
Poor Kilgo, poor Kilgo. He is the son
of poor Methodist preacher. Like
Jacob, he crossed the Catawba down here
with nothing but his staff. Not yet forty
years old, and yet what has he done? Why
they say he's a manipulation, and he ma
nipulated the whole board of trustees.
manipulated the conference manipulated
the American Tobacco Company Trust-a
thing no man ever did before Poor
Kilgo, amt he a giant. If it wasn't so