The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-06-30


q rifle.
Gentlemen, you vii get the law from
His Honor, while the evidence you got
from the witnesses. It is important that
you punish crime, but the liberty OF the
defendants is important to them. They
are entitled to and Will receive at the hands
of this jury a verdict Of justice, and unless
you are satisfied beyond 4 reasonable
doubt that they are guilty you viii, /
know, render your verdict accordingly"
Mr.. Woodard's speech was an able pre-
sentation of the case from the defendants
standpoint. He quoted during the prog
ress of his speech some points of law per
tanning to circumstantial evidence which
were clear cut and to the point.
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Woodard's
speech Judge Shaw allowed a delay of a
few minutes IN order that the jury might
have a few moments rest.
ARGUMENT BY Mr.. CONNOR.
Mr.. Ct. w. Connor followed for the de-
Tense. He said III part:
Il will not go over the evidence which
has been 50 ably lone by Mr.. Woodland.
There is not a lawyer in Wilson who does
not deplOre the killing Of Percy Jones. 1t
was either due to a deplorable accident
CT 1t was a murder. The knowledge came
on the morning of the 14th day OF May
that a horrible crime was committed in
the Friar building in the center Of the
town. There was Indignation over the
killing, and well there might have been.
On the night OF the killing a crowd gather
ed around the scene of The killing. The
mayor was sent for and he set his nets for
the perpetrators, and before morning all
those who were in the vicinity were ar
rested. What is the evidence in this case2
There has been too much theory. What
you want are facts, not theory. There
has already been too much theory brought
forward. What you form your verdict
from gentlemen are the facts. What are
the facts? The first claim by the State is
was that there was a conspiracy, a horrible
conspiracy to undermine the law. The
State places It's argument on the drunken
mutterings of Geo. Whitley. The State
has produced nc witness to prove that
Geo. Whitley got up a conspiracy to whip
any one. The State has not proved that
any OF the other defendants knew that
drunken Geo. Whitley was going around
making threats. The could not prove
this, 50 an effort was made to show that
these men congregated on Goldsboro
eliCtb oh lit lilSHI previous 10 lilc SHOOT
ing. This is a natural condition. these
men work on Goldsboro street, and it is
natural for them to be there. The State
has accused Rich of having black jacks,
when the evidence is that he did not take
the black jack because they were too
large. Rich did not deny any of his move
ments on the night of the killing. The
State seeing that their case was losing on
occ0upt nf tho lo0E of nxidanoa 70 bnoot
up their theory decided that they must
have more evidence. They found this at
ter promising that Bill Barnes would not
be hurt. In Barnes they found tire man
they wanted. He wanted to get out OF
jail and had the tale to get him out al
ready when he approached.
THE question then, gentlemen, is who
shall you believe in this case. Whether
you shall believe a man like Bill Barnes
or w. H. Rich. a man who has friends
from far away towns to come here AND
testify to his good character. There is not
a single one of Rich's statements. whicf
is not probable and possible. Gentlemen
you are not here to convict men on theory
but on facts"
Mr.. COnnor made a short speech, only
half an hour being consumed. His efforts
were devoted for the most part to defend
ant Rich and made a good impression.
ARGUMENT BY MIR. UZzELL.
Mr.. j. r. Uzzell followed for the State
He said in part:
The defense have told you that tn,
eyes of Wilson count are on you. Thi
Is true. About one month ago Their,
was committed in this county one Of tn,
most horrible crimes in the history of tn,
county and they are looking to you to Sc,
justice done for the killing of Percy Jones
You now represent God Almight on earth
and to you the decision of justice to tn
State and justice to the defendants mus
| leone. ! would not put prejudice IN you
boSoms. l would have you throw asid
all prejudice and judge these defendant
according to justice. This j
what we want. and nothing more. TIL
State of North Carolina is too grea
TO say anything detrimental t
any Of these defendants, lay aside ri
prejudice, all inclinations to mercy an
deal out to these defendants justice, &C
cording to the evidence taken here
grand jury drawn by your commissioner
: have said on their oats that these mel
2 are guilty. What is the evidence in thi
l case? Was there a conspiracy? Wa
? Percy Jones murdered? Who is response
t. BILE?
t ''From the statements of these men then
selves and from reputable witnesses W,
have evidence of a conspiracy. We hav
/, evidence from whitley, who said: w
r are going to run the damn s-b out o
town before morning or kill him. Or
several other occasions Whitley mad
threats, saying: We will run HIM out Q
town Does his not show the presence
Of a conspiracy. The defense tries t
make you believe that Whitley's threat
were the muttering of a drunken man
But when he asked Snakenburg, If Jone
I is hurt and | can prove where | am cal
5 they hurt me- by his own admission h
! was sober.
2 "In Aliens bar-room Wiley Frank Dlxol
4 tells you that he heard Rich making re
marks about losing his pistol when he wa
answered.. 1t does not make any differ
: ence, we have pistols enough Is tins no
evidence Of a conspiracy.
g "Mumford tells YOU that Rich took
black lack from Nichols pocket and CAV