The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-04-25
Especial to The Messenger


was continued.
Collins. who .ook the witness stand
on yesterday evening at $50 O'Clock,
n told OF his actions and doings be-
fore and after the boys disappearance.
was again en- the stand. His testimony
Of yesterday corroborated in many re-
spects that Of some Of the states
witnesses, such a. a conversation he
had with them PRIOR To the boys dis
appearance about the boys misconduct,
his actions at the mill pond when the
boy was found and the notifying ~
proper parties was testified To by nttny
and they all bore witness that he was
Oh and deliberate on these OCCASIONS
Today his testimony WAS given IA
as clear N deliberate IN as en-
yesterday. Thoggh being on the stand
III all nearly six hours. ne never par.s-
ed for answer To any question askci
by attorneys.
Just before nool Collins was turned
over 10 the prosecuting attorneys AM
for more han two hours he was sub
jected TO a most rigid cross
ton by Solicitor Lyon. lie vas COIL
PEELED 10 go Yer again everything toat
transpired from the day before the
boys disappearance UP 10 the time CT
his Arrest. His every move and action.
his conversation with neighbors a.
friends all had to be accounted for. Hn
stood the test well and in all his .. g.
timony remained unshak.n.
Defendants COZ nsel then introduced
j. ". Flynn, a half brother of the lie
PENDANT and a magistrate OF Ransom
township. He il was, that went With
Collins 10 looE fci the boy after Col
Inns had reported TO a number of neigh
bo-s Of the boys disappearance. lie
told OF tracking the boy towards the
mill, CT padding ont Ia q boat win
Collins, and OF their finding the boya
body about 20 feet from the slide of
the mill in six feet OF water, though
the boEy was only three feet under the
water. being support Il b. a stump
They notified others, ami in the prcS-
ence of three neighbors, the body was
taken from the pond. His testimony
as to the position of the BODY AMI OF
the white foamy substance issuing
from the mouth and nose corresponced
to several other witnesses. He sad
there were no bruises on the body.
Counsel for the defense then read "A
paper, which was as follows: we, the
undersigned. having examined the body
of jeff Davis. find that the body is tree
from bruises and that the deceased
came to his death by drowning.
tSigned.) !
IS. B.. King, ]. p.
j. w. Flynn, J.. p"
Then followed what may prove m
important piece OF evidence. Flynn tes-
fiSaI SEnt he Ipaur thu ynnH narfanfIr
that there was a log about three feet
under the water and about two iect
from the slide; the log extended down
the pond within two feet Of where the
body was found. Cross examination
he said the end near the slide rested on
a pole and the other end rested on "a
tusk or stump, Inc end neat the boy
was higher.
DIR. T. S. Burbank and DIR. r. J.
Wood of Wilmington, who had been
subpoenaed as expert witnesses for n
defendant, were examined at the con-
clusion of the testimony Of J. w
Flynn, a defendants witness
Both DR.. Burbank and DR.. Wood
we're cxhausiively examined by M.
Bellamy, Of counsel for the defense
They made most excellent witnesses
Without going too far into details, hut
summing ii up i'm a few words, they
testified III reply to the numerous ny
pothetical questions ~propounded 20
them by Mr.. Bellamy. that in their
opinion the deceased JEFF Davis was not
dead at the time mis- body entered the
water, but that his death resulted from
drowning. The clear, exhaustive and
able manner which they testified made
a profund impression on all presen-
and seemed To convey conviction I'D
all the room. Doctors Burbank AMI
Wood were present when Flynn was
testifying.
Upon the conclusion Of their evil
dence. the judge charged the jury as 10
their duties and adjourned court until
$50 Monday morning. when the de-
fense will resume introduction of wit
nesses.
From present Indications # looks AZ
though this case will o 20 Il the jury
before Wednesday evening. Both sides
the prosecuting and defense seem conh-
dent.
1t is understood that Mrs. Collins
will testify on Monday. The defe1-
dant's counsel bank heavily on her tes-
timony and il Is thought she is the
star Witness
Ever since the trial began b has
been present sitting by the side OF her
husband. She has listened al the EVIL
deace coiled around hira: has heard
her husband testify; heard the terrible
fire of questions that sho. from Solicit
tor Lyon on the cross examination and
yet with all this, enough 20 make the
bravest tremble, che has sat with a
70 m shat xvaC nn1ru vns rr~avyarn NSxf
a fortitude that was her oEa. No car
Is quicker TO catch the testimony OF
witnesses than hers. No eyes scan the
faces Of those twelve men who are to
decide her husbands fate more than
hers.
In rebattaI the state will Introduce
about ten witnesses, most Of whom
will be character witnesses as to Others