The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-05
THE DAY IN COURT.
The Courthouse Stor1ned b.
Anxious Crowd.

s.5.f.s I. n !
The last day in court broke dark and
gloomy The air was raw and damp and
not a ray Of sunshine penetrated the
clouds.
The stor,ning Of the courthouse began
early. The greatest crowd yet assembled.
gathered OH the green and rushed for
the doors as soon as they were opened.
Within five minutes every seat In the
building was taken, and every available
inch Of additional space was in the hands
of two hundred men and women well
content to stand for hours If they were
only permitted to see and hear. still
they came. -
BY the time the court bell rang not
another man could squeeze in. and the
stream still pouring in had to be turned
back.
The courtroom was a perfect babel OF
chattcring voices. Three, times as many
women as usual We're present.
A perfect cloud Of negroes darkencd the
right gallery On the outskirts Of the
black crowd was a line of white faces
who regardless of tho proximity of the
negroes had pressed In on the rear.
Within the bar twice as many people
as 1t could hold had packed themselves.
Officers OF the court and some OF the
attorneys could find no seats. Tho court
finally la lto take Il hand. "The admin
istratiol of JUSTICE declared Judge
Morris, lis more Important than the
curiosity OF people, lie ordered the
crowd back, but suffered some relaxation
OF his rules for the benefit Of the throng.
In return he demanded the most per-
feet order from the people, and warned
them against demonstration of any sort
This statement nc repeated later.
The Prisoner Enters.
McCue came In about 10 O'clock, accom-
panied by the officers AS he forced Ills
way through the bar he bent and kissed
his sister and his children. Then he sat
down, lifted his little girl to his knee
and placed one arm across the shoulders
Of his youngest son. tl1 81
Tho preliminary proceedings dof the
| court were dispatched with great cell
Gritty ana then the crowd sat back fri,
| cNLeGtntion, The court raped vigorously
for order ana then called upon Mr. Ice.
| The great Lynchburs lawyer the leader
OF the defense side, arose from his sen
| where lie had been porting over q bundle
OF papers Every eye was fixed upon
HIM ne stood straight and tall as he
FACED tho jury. His powerful, resonant
| voice penetrated TO every corner OF the
| courtroom,
Last Speech for Defense.
IF Your Honor please, ana gentlemen
of the jury" said he, 'the longer | live
and the more nearly ! approach the last
| stage Of human existence. the more I
feel myself impcled TO believe in a des-
tiny over which VIC poor mortals haze
but little, II any, control, II somctmes
seems TO me that tho moving finger Of
destiny writes, and having writ, moves
on, and that all our power cannot lure
II back. As We move through the serious
4 ways Of life, how uncertain, gentlemen.
are our footsteps. AZ We conc 10 Tie
! cross roads, without sign-hoard TO indi-
cate whittier they lead what IL It but
fatality or destiny that makes us choose
tho one or the other way, Between vice
and misfortune there is a difference hut
1t g an underlying difference in many
cases, II does not always appear upon
the surface, 10 be read OF all men. The
results Of the two are frequently iden-
ItiCal, and 1t is extremely difficult to de.
tcfn1ine In many cases which has led to
given result, Now. gentlemen, when
say that to YOU, men of maturity ant
judgment, feel confident that. you can.
not fan to apprehend my meaning
How many men on this Jury, In tht
days that YOU have put behind you for
eyer, and which you can never recall
have topnd yourselves placed In the mo s
embarrassing and awkward positions
positions repusiye 10 every fibre OF YOU
mind and your bsing-and yet yol