The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-08-14

uJdIlS III fnlnO InaC ne naO DGSn cOrTOD-
Grated not as TO facts but simply as to
what he said and did after the tragedy,
which made a big distinction.
Edmondson, he said, had motive in
turning states evidence, which motive
was, no doubt, that he should go free.
His surroundings in JAIL" Mr.. Bel
lamy declared" were contemplate! Ev-
cry note he wished sent to anyone was
carried to Mr.. Schulken's Office
d. j. Lewis Esq, took exception to
this remark and asked the court to in
ternose.
Colonel n. A. Mclean consoled Mr..
Lewis by saying, Let him go on" and
Dir. Bellamy continued. He said he
spoke like he felt in the matter and
that he did not believe that the jury
would disregard the law and evidence
in the case and permit counsel to vent
their spleen on defenseless prisoners
in Jail. There should be no wreaking
of spite on the innocent he said, and
that every man should be given a trial
according to the evidence. Mr.. Schulz
ker, he said, cried aloud for blood,
blood, blood
After discussing the alibi, which he
said was complete and Of the strongest
nature. Mr.. Bellamy closed by fervently
asking not for charity, but for justice.
THE LAST SPEECH.
To the lot of the brilliant Colonel N.
A. Mclean, Of Lumberton. fell the
closing argument for the state and the
closing one in the case. This un-
pleasant task he performed in his usual
peerless style.
On the very offset Colonel Mclean
nOlrtoOnSlV
what he said had been a savage at
tack on the local counsel who had been
associated with Solicitor Lyon and that
himself in the case. He further stated
that there was no evidence that Mr..
Schulken had shown any spleen or
spite in the case and that he had heard
no one say that Mr.. Schulken had any
enemity towards Buck Register. Mr..
Schulkep disclaimed these allegations,
he said, and was only doing what he
was doing-his duty. That it had been
their duty, he further stated, their
sworn duty, and sense Of duty well
performed was the sOftest pillow Of all.
Mr.. Schulken, Colonel Mclean de-
clared, docs not cry for blood, but for
justice" Then he added, "Howeve1,
he needs no defence before a jury OF
Columbus county,
Il congratulate Mr.. Bellamy,' he
said, upon making a very strong
speech in a very poor case"
Colonel Mclean commented graph1-
cally upon the cowardly and secret
manner in which Jesse Soles and jim
'Staley had been shot down. Then, he
spoke of the unfatherly manner In
which the old man Register had reared
his son in crime, and said that the pity
of it all was that under the law the
son would be the only one to forfeit
his life.
He thoroughly analysed the testi-
mony and showed the utter improba-
bility of an alibi.
His closing remarks were touching
and beautiful. He said:
Il ask you in the name Of the good
people of Columbus county, in the
name of the women and children not
only of the county but of North Caro-
lima, for the eyes of the state now look
upon you as the guardians Of the prop
erty, aye more, the protectors of life.
to say by your verdict that label Reg
lister is guilty of murder in the first de-
gree and shall be hanged by the neck
until he is dead, dead, dead; and that
H. B. Register shall be imprisoned for
the term of his natural life. I ask You
to say this in the name Of all that is
good, true, pure and noble and in the
name of justice. I ask this and Will
stand ready to meet you and them In
eternity and defend my actions then if
need be-
AN ABLE CHARGE.
Colonel Mclean concluded his argu-
ment at 1850 o'clock and then for
over an hour Judge Moore delivered
t. the jury what was considered by
counsel on both sides to be one Of the
most able, impartial and clear charges
ever made. 1t was delivered in a care
full and earnest manner.
His Honor read briefly the evidence
in the case and cited the law. Inter-
estings parts of the charge We're as fol-
lows:
You are also the sole judges of the
weight of the evidence and of the
credibility Of the witnesses. You must
carefully distinguish between the sub
stantive evidence introduced IN this
case and that which was introduced
for the purpose of corroborating Or
impeaching witnesses. The evidence
as to statements alleged to have been
made by the witness Cross Edmondson
to the witnesses Bowen, Thompson and
SOles was offered and admitted as cor
roborative evidence. In the same way
the evidence Of statements alleged to
have beeen made by the witness Nell
son Toon to the witnesses Smith, Herr
ing and Richardson and the evidence
by the witness Best to the witnesses
Henderson, FormyDuval and Barefoot
was offered and admitted only as cor
roborative evidence. You are to say
whether the testimony offered for the
purpose Of corroborating the state
ments Of these witnesses, or any part
of it. is to be believed and how far it
corroborates them.
Many questions were asked during
the cross examination Of some OF the
witnesses for the purpose Of impeach-
ing them. These related to the past
conduct Of the witnesses or to charges
Of crime or other misconduct heretofore
made against the witnesses. Evidence
Of this character thus ELECTED, should
be considered by the jury for the pur-
pose of enabling them to properly de-
termine what weight and credit should
be given to the testimony of the wit
nesses.
Evidence of the general character
Of witnesses is introduced for the pur-
pose Of aiding the jury in determining
what weight and credit should be given