The leader., 1905-05-17

MISSISSIPPI.
Franklin county grand jury when
that body meets at MeadviIle next
month, the regular May term hav-
ing been. deferred thirty days on
account Of the indictments pend
ing in the Federal Court, coupled
with the illness of Judge Wilkin-
son. who presides over that dis
trict.
All Of the Franklin county citi-
zens left the capital last night for
their homes and the parties under
indictment seemed to be thorough
III satisfied with the action that
had been taken, many Of them de-
claring that they had never had
any active connection with the
white capper organization, or par
ticipaJed il The outrages, and that
they would keep their skirts clear
of it in the future.
The county officers who were in
the list of parties indicted declin-
ed to make any statement concern
ing their cases and have returned
home to resume their official du-
ties.
Judge Niles stated after he had
announced the continuance of the
cases that the action of the court
did not mean an Abandonment of
the prosecution; that the indict-
lnents would be called for hearing
at the next term of court, and the
action he had taken was without
prejudice, the continuance being
granted simply on the ground that
the defense was not in readiness
for hearing.
Owing to Ignorance of legal
terms many of the defendants left
the city last night under the i'm
preston that their cases had been
finally disposed of and that there
would be no further prosecution.
District Attorney Lee states, how
ever, that the attitude of the gov
ernment is in no way changed,
and all of the defendants will be
expected to appear at the next
term of court.
Although it did not manifest
itself in overt acts, there was con-
siderable ilIfeeIing between the
two Franklin county factions be-
fore the members left town last
night, and some rather intemper-
ate utterances were indulged in.
When the News closed its re-
port Of the white capper cases in
the Federal Court yesterday a
plea in abatement had just been
fled by the attorneys for the de
fense, and was being considered
by the court.
Hon. G. All. Williamson stated
that he was not in readiness to ga
into an immediate hearing of eYi-
dence on the plea in abatement be-
cause some of the testimony on
which the plea is based could not
be offered at once, the witnesses
being absent; that the defense also
desired to prove some things that
happened outside the door of the
grand Jury room, as well as irreg-
ularities on the inside, and partic.
ularly desired to have testimony
of the negress, Julia Bass, wife
of the negro alleged to
have been driven from a govern
mmb homestead, who seems te
have disappeared, the defense be-
ing unable to find her.
Hon. r. N. Miller suggested
that counsel for the defense sub.
nit in writing what ii expects to
prove by Julia Bass, stating that
the prosecution would doubtless
be willing to admit ii without
controversy. Mr.. Williamson
then retired to place his statement
concerning the negress in writing.
Senator McLaurin, Hon. e. II.
Ratliff, Judge j. Fl. Price, Hon.
Ben Ell. Wells and Sheriff Newman
also retired from the count room
and several minutes were spent il
conference.
AT 3::45 O'Clock the attorneys
returned to the court room and
submitted a signed statement from
Sheriff Newman. Clerk Moseley
administered the oath to the
Franklin county sheriff and The
paper was duly fled, its contents
being as follows:
Personally came before the
undersigned, clerk Of the United
States Court for the Southern dis.
trict Of Mississippi, a M. New
man, who makes affidavit that be
expects to prove By Julia Bass, an
absent witness, the following
facts, toWit: That Julia Bass was
subpoenaed as a witness before The
grand jury at the present term oi
lcoult, and that she was sitting
just outside the grand jury room
laWaiting her turn to be called as 4