The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-03
Did the Prisoners Ask for a
Compromise.
PURGE THE JURY BOX
Mr.. f. S. SpruiII Tells of The Conditions About
The Famous Trial for the Murder Of
the Arkansas insurance

mess, and left last night to join his wife
at Cleveland Springs. From all quarters
in Wilson comes praise of his speech IN
the celebrated trial at Wilson last week.
He made the closing speech for the prose
cution and it was wonderfully eloquent
and powerful effort-pronounced by many
the most eloquent ever heard in that
court house which has been the scene of
many hard fought legal contests in which
giants were engaged.
Mr.. Spruill, in speaking yesterday to a
reporter OF the News and Observer said
that the conduct of Judge Shaw through
out the whole trial was marked by an EVIL
dent anxiety lest he should do some in
justice TO the defendants. Although he
must have been convinced OF the guilt of
the defendants as indeed were forty-nIne
out of every fifty men who heard the trial.
yet his ruling were, if they leaned either
way, favorable to the defendants. He
desired to give them the faIrest trial and
to leave nothing upon which an appeal
could be made. He was seeking to nave
justice DONE.
Mr.. Spruill said that one of the many
dramatic phases of the trial came about
when the Luther Barnes incident occurred.
This was when the statement Of Barnes
or the stand was different to that given
to him in the presence of other counsel.
He says that the act of Judge Shaw in or
dering Barnes into custody was instru-
mental in securing full account OF the
Lawrence Morgan hat episode, but, said
Mr. Spruill, 1T was of far more imDor
tant consequence. 1t made the remaining
States witnesses that were reluctant to
tell what they knew. speak candldly--
openly. Witnesses had not done this be-
FORE but when it was seen that Judge
Shaw intended to have things told
straight, then the States case strength
ened and the truth began to ooze out
Mr. Spruill." said the reporter, 1T is
being whispered and rumored that there
was some packing of the jury. What
about this rumor?"
"As to whether the jury was packed or
rot, he replied, Il do not know Having
very little if any acquaintance with the
people of Wilson county, did not have
anything to do with the selection of the
jury There is a queer coincidence. how
ever, in the fact that Juror Lilies. who
admits that he received a message from
the Defendant Morgan before he was
drawn as a juror, should have voted all
the time to acquit / am told that he
would not bridge an inch, and though the
jury at times stood 10 to as well as
to he was always and all the time for
acquitted"
Continuing, Mr. Spruill said: zone of
the most incomprehensible things about
the trial, and about the failure of the
jury to agree as to either defendant is
the fact that John Allen admits that he
was shot in Jones' room and that when
he recovered consciousness he had hold
of a bare foot. And yet the jury didn't
even convict him.
What about having had the police to
guard w. W. Barnes, the defendant who
turned States evidence? Was he really
in danger at any time?
To this question Mr.. Spruill replied
most earnestly. He said:
81 verify believe that unless w. W..
Barnes had been protected from violence
by a platoon of police the night after
he had told the story of the crime he
would have been killed His fear of be-
ing killed betrayed itself while he was in
the witness chair He looked as if he
feared for his life even them
facts limited at by the reported consulta-
ton of the counsel on both sides before
the close of the trial The impression
had gone out that the defendants were
willing to submit to the Indictment, pro-
viding that Judge Shaw would make
their sentences light ones Bearing this
in mind this question was asked of Mr..
Spruill.
Il observe from the newspapers that
during the progress of the trial, and after
all the evidence was in except the testi
mony Of the defendants themselves,
conference of counsel for State and de-
PENDANTS was had. to see what terms of
Imprisonment could be agreed on in case
of submission. 1t that true?"
Mr.. Spruil looked at me and then a
quizzical expression worked up about his
eyes. All l could get him to answer was
this:
CAS- to what transpired in that confer
ence / am not at liberty to tell you
Suffice it to say it resulted in nothing"
1t will be seen that Mr.. Spruill did not
deny or affirm. Is the ruInor true, Il
wonder? Did the defendants offer to say
yes, we did it. but let us off light?
Talking further with Mr. Spruill about
a future trial. he said that great trouble
in Wilson county, as in other counties
was the condition of the jury list. lie
said that in too many counties mems
names were on the lists which ought not
to be there, and that many good mems
names had been left off. In regard to the
condition in Wilson, he said this
"A revision of the Jury list is badly
needed in Wilson county. and after it is
so revised conviction of the defendants
will almost certainly result. The lethorgic
condition of the people of Wilson county
as to the crimes committed within her
borders can all be accounted for upon
the theory that juries have heretofore
failed to do their duty
In closing this most interesting inter-
view which had sought, / asked Mr.
Spruill which of the speeches of the coun
sci for the defense he believed to be the
best. To this question he replied:
Decidedly the strongest speech for the
defense, was made by Mr.. f. A. Woodland. .
Mr. C. II. Collins qualified yesterday
before Clerk of the Court Russ as executor