The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-01-07
The CRISMOND TRIAL
Judge Waller Declines TO Postpone
the Case.
TAE TRIAL GONE INTO
Sharp Thursts Pass Between Messrs
Ftxhush and Gordon, Opposing
Counsel - Greet interest Shown,
Etc

7
Fitxhueh and Gordon, Opposin
Counsel OBJ Greet interest Shown
Etc
A very large crowd. composed OF IN
[ beet element oi the citizens OF spotey
yania, assembled NJ SpotsylyRnia Jour
House Tuesday 10 be present At ia
opening Of the Crirmonl ease, which
exciting great interest, hot only IN IN
county. but thrnul ut the State
Mr. Il. Lindsay Gordon, of Louisa, Ia
been retained IA counsel Tor the Com
mon wealth by a number OF citizens @
the county. who are DESTROYS Of seeinl
ex Clerk j. =. II CrismOnd yigOTOusl.
prosecuted on the eight indictment
pending against him.
When the ease Was called Iuesda,
morning Mr. Gordon made an elOqnen
appeal TO the court Tor a continuance %
the case, alleging that he had been a low
ell so short "A time since he entered th'
case that be was not prepared 60 pro
coed with il, because be had nOth had tim'
to make that examination 81 the com
mittee's report as would ensure Tree
fair. full and successful prose'uti n o.
the caee
This motion WAS met with strong op
position from Ne ST George X tiiE
hugh. counsel iorex Clerk Crismond wno
stated that the whole prOse 'utiOn Was
directed by man who could not ct an
Office which he sought and who had
adopted this vindictive method 20 az
complish his end, that he had employed
Mr. Cord N 20 further this purpose tie
further stated that this was one OF the
many ruses adopted 10 get the case from
county TO Circuit court.
Mr.. Gordon replied that he was sur
prised at the statement % Mr. FitfhuRh
and asked who was the man 20 whom
Mr. i r tered
Mr. +. said The man Is lee J
Graves
Mr. Gordon said. 81 have never been
employed by Mr Graves, but by a doE n
or more reputable citizens # the county
who desire 70 zee the law yindicated"
Mr. F-"Will you please name them
Mr. Gordon will They ARE VT
MsDlius Waite and Dr. J Pulliam
Just a. ! thought, said Mr. f. only
two. with Graves behind III, "a
Gordon replied There are others.
have never used the Commonwealth To
further the ambitions or vent the pri ate
malice OF any man, and II thought
was doing 80 IN this ease ! would re Ire
At once.
MIR. F.-"Well, il that is 90. you bad
better retire now"
Mr. q No, ! DO not view 1t IN the
light named aud shall not retire, but " III
prosecute the case to the extremity OF
the law"
Mr. Gordon then made an appeal tor
the continuance Of the case. saying be
had absolute confidence 10 the iateg rity
OF the court, that ignorant men had said
be would not give fair trial but be
lGordOn) believed he would do so
Mr. F.-"Do not say ign0rant men,
say bad men You had Judge Waller
summoned ~ a witness in the case. 'lnis
j. another sDbtefluge 10 have the case
carried TO the Circuit court
Mr. Chat ls not true had
Judge Waller summoned because be had
received letters from Mr.. Crismond " hiie
away and ! wanted those letters AMI re-
plies u there were any 20 be PLACED in
evidence
Mr.. F-"You shall have those letters
and any thing else you may want 70 help
your losing case
Mr.. Keep your temper, Mr.. +
whom the gods destroy they fret make
mad
Mr.. FL never was in better humor
in my life
Mr.. Gordon then resented the state.
ment of undeFhended methods and ap
pealed 10 the court that 10 It's last hours
II leave an untainted record by giving
him time Tor preparation
Mr.. FL appeal To your honor TO
have this farce ended
Mr.. 6 81 have right 20 preseat my
case
Mr. F.-"That IL true, and the eour;
has given you that opportunity. but you
have no right 20 tire the patience OF the
people and consume the entire day
Mr. Gordon asked that Judge A T.
Embrey and Henry Holiday be put on
the stand and say whether he was not
justified under the circumstances IN ask
ing for a continuance.
At this the court said. u have a high
appreciation OF the opinions OF Judge
Embrey and Mr. Holiday hut the court
has an opinion Of IT'D OVID, and We vii
now go into the trial 81 the ease. "
Considerable time was then consumed
in empAneling the Jury and calling Wit
nesses. The jury was selected a. follows
r. Y Harris, j l. Carter. VIM. Poole, ;
/. Powell, h. J Oswald, J " Hogan
Frank Tompkins, ! L. Eubsnk, ; l.
Lewis. Joseph hart, j L Hieks, +. L
Payne, l. NJ Thompson, " II. Holmes
r " Bowling and + +. Carter.
Mr.. Fitzhugh said 10 Mr. Gordon -
have the right to strike OF the ilu
names of the sixteen empaueled, but
will accord you the privilege OF stri'i n'
OF two"
This was gracefully acknowledged b.
Mr.. Gordon, and Messrs harri', Poole
Holmes and f :. Vsrter were strichel
of
Mr.. +. said; Il know no preference
They are all good looking men, and ell
want is Jury, trusting 70 the merits q
my case.
A recess was then taken for dinner
When the court asse IA bed Mr.. Gordo
announced that Mr.. Lee ] Graves hA
been taken suddenly I'll and was bein
attended by two physicians.
/ Mr. Fitshugh ssid. Il predicted thi
/ two weeks ago"
Mr.. G.--"I think that statement ls 20
right and entirely gratqitous oa the par
Of Mr.. FiIzhugb
Mr.. F.-ol know you think so, but
do not doubt but that Mr.. Graves WI
continue in bed for at leset tAirty day
II thereby be can geGaRe a continuance
this case.|
Dr, I. ". Dew then came into coal
and stated that Mr. Graves was sUiie
ing and would not BE- able 20 come int
court at once. bat said he might Oe 80
TO do 80 10 two hours,
On motion OF NJ. Fiizhugh the con
adjourned Tor two hours.
AZ four O'Clock Mr.. Graves had n
physicians with him, and on motion u
court all iurned to 10 q. u Nednes q
morning
ATTORNEY UpRnON wlTHnRAWs-AsAi
ron POsTPoNEMENT,W WHICH WAS DENIl
COUNT ORDERED THAT TRIAL rRocEl
.oN ANOTHER INDICTMENT.
Court convened at 10 a. m. Wednesda
Common wealth's Attorney Graves co
3 tibues very i'll Attorney Gordon ask
that the case be continued. Mr.. FitzhDl
opposed this motion, and aaked I
court to withdraw juror and dism
q the panel and 90 into the trial OF anott
Z l.-J.o+rra,t 4, v.ybteh NJ Cravpa WAS n