The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-31
New Developments al.
LiIIiston Hearing.
THE DECISION TODAY
An Unknown Lawyer Was lndiscreet
in Court and Caused Sensa-
ton by Tampering With the
Witnesses of the Defend


ton and Clark, the Fair fakirs on
trial as concerned in the killing OF
Charles G.. Smitht, of Petersburg, Va,
during their pistol duel in the Union
depot here Saturday of Fair week.
took sensational turn outside ,ths
direct testimony yesteday.
This came as the trial was just
having Il second hearing yesterday at
noon, and the argument lasted till
half after one o'clock. 1t was sprung
by city Attorney Snow who brought
out the charge that w. c. Abercrom-
bic, reported as lawyer of New
DIRK, who says he is here in the in
teIeaI of the Smiths to see that the
murder of their brother is punished,
had gone back and forth and had
convey the testimony of States VIII
nesSes from the court room to wit
nesses Tor the defense who with all
witnesses had been excluded from the
court room and had gathered in Met
ropontan Hail, part of the city
Hall. The charge was denied by Alb
ercombie. and Col. 7. M. Argo. Of
counseI for Lilllston by his consent.
Before making his statement, Mr..
ed into the court room and this was
done. Abercombie, a tall, clean
shaver man, possibly thirty years old
soon arrived and Mr. Snow made his
statement. which nettied Abercombie,
VINO in his statements questions and
actions extremely nervous and an
cry. denouncing the author of the
charge as untruthful. the charge as
absolutely untrue. He was getting
vigorous in his language when JUS
tice Badger told him that he must not
use such language.
Mr.. Snow stated that he had been
informed by the three reliable wit
nesses that Abercrombie, during the
examination on Saturday, had repeat
ed evidence given by the witnesses for
Lillston, and that he seemed to be
going back and forth between the
court room and where the witnesses
were gathered in Metropolitan Hall.
Abercrombie was gingery in his re-
marks. He admitted being in the
auditorium where the witnesses We're,
but stated that he was getting affi-
davits on an entirely different line,
and for another purpose from this
casts. He said he represented the
family of the dead man, and was here
in their interest. trying to find the
guilty party and to lift the stigma
from the name of Sharles G.. Smith,
to show he was not pickpocket. He
said the charges were absolutely
without foundation, false, that Il
brand them as false and the author
as wicked and atrocious liar" Here
it was that Justice Badger intaer-
fered
Col. Argo certified to Ambercombie
being a lawyer and good one. To
prove his charges Mr.. Snow called as
witnesses DR.. w. G.. Horton, P. j. Wat
kins and NJ. r. Glenn, all of whom
are witnesses in the case.
DR.. Horton said that he saw Aber-
hi n hn Iyrh a
witnesses We're during the examina-
ton on Saturday. and that he came
and went several times: that the
States witnesses were at the front
end of the hall and that Lillistons
witnesses were at the back of the
hall and that it was with these that
Abercrombie talked He was cross
examined by Mr.. Abercrombie who
asked him if he heard any part of the
conversation. The witness said no.
Said while Abercrombie was talking
he had a piece of paper in his hand
and seemed to be writing down
something.
This was about the same evidence
as that given by Watkins and Glenn,
none having heard any conversation.
A. M. Smith. brother of the muir
dered man was then placed on the
stand by Abercrombie to testify. He
said he had Mr.. Abercromble mere
as q tdWyef ana Il ITleuu " ASSIST INN
i'm finding the murderer of and to
look into the matter of whether q
cetain newspaper here was not liable
for aspersions cast upon the charac-
ter of the dead man in saying that
he was the same man that was ar
rested as the pickpocket.
Mr. A. n. Parker next testified he
told what Abercrombie was saying to
him back at the end of the hall dur
ing the hearing this being that ADJ
ercrombie was getting his statement
as to the whereabouts of Smith so as
to prove that he was not the pick
pocket.
Mr.. Snow then asked Mr.. Aber-
crombie If he was here prosecuting
both the defendants The lawyer
said that he was. Then he was ask
ed why he had long conversations
with the defendant Lillston in his
cell Said he wanted to find out
all about the matter and interviewed
Lilliston because he had been friend
of the dead man. Mr. Snow then
asked Mr. Abercrombie if at all times
when he was discussing the matter
with the States attorneys that the
question of whether certain papers
were not guilty of libel and not come
up
Here Abercrombe bitterly said he
had been rebuffed by the States at
torneys while desiring to aid them