The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-04-22
M'cRAYS TRIAL
ms Is.tImsm Of Mtn...... &c.

McCray Tee venire 81 i1t...n was call.
III aud all We're PRESENT except scott
Berry. n. D. kins~y was substituted
ruie was entered against Mr. Berry fnr
non-appearance. The jury was sworn
aud examiued. Mr.. s. T. Eastburn was
objected 20 by Counsel GOoIr,ck and
bOtzner Tor McCray, on the ground that
ne had taken affidavit Of X G.. Bufiing.
ton, who sold McCrRy the rifg involved
Va the tsial aid for which rvquisitiOn had
been made on governor OF Virginia for
hcCray. Judge Gpolri.k nyerruled the
objection. Mr. f. &. Ninde stated he
had expressed an opinion, had discussed
the case and was a stOckholder In the
farmers and Merchants state Bank ON
which AcCray had given bogus checks
Excused Mr.. e. 5. Hunter WAS excused
because he had discussed case aud ex.
pnrssei an opinion. Messr-. John A.
white and Eugene BOzsl were added 20
the Jury Ia place OF the two excused
Mes-rs N. q. Willis. Jr.. s + EastburD.
Michael Mcdonnell, J. ID. Boulware were
struck OF by counsel for defense. The
jury IL composed a. follows: Messrs.
Dun Green, r. +. Portch W. n. BunnelI.
G.. l.. Black, Geo W. Garrison. o NJ.
Armstrong, N. b Kinsey, J. NJ. Gold.
smith, Jacob Boner, Arthur Brown, J.
n W hitt, Eugene BOLei.
The jury being sworn, the trial COM
menced by an extended statement 81 the
case by Common wealth's Attorney q r.
swift He was followed by Mr. q
OConor Goodrich FOR defense, who made
plea oil hereditary insanity. He also
stated thot AcCrsy had been a man of
means aud had been caught In the panic
of 1907, and suffered so heavily that II
had Impaired his mind and instea d OF no
Ing to the springs, as stated WREN he lett
home, that he was found ia Shanghai
China. twelve months later.
Only two witnesses were called before
recess TOR dinner. Aessrs x q. Butfing.
ton, OF the Norris iswelry firm. aud Cor.
don GouldmRn. of Farmers and Mer
chants State Bank. Court reconvened AT
3 d clock.
When court recoDvened Tuesday alter
noon ia the McCray trial the Common
wealth continued its examination Of
witnesses. ID Gordon Gouldman, a,
sistaDt cashier Farmers and Merchants
State Bank. testified that McCray came
into the bank on Feb. 26th, and that
without Introduction from anyone re-
quested him to cash check Tor $40
which he did on the strength
d McCrsy having deposited two
drait-. one for $500 drawn on
ON J. I. AcCray, hie father, at Higgins
Vile. Mo, This father lives at Cowgirl
Mo- and one for $25 on the First Ma.
tional Bank OF the eame place. Mr..
GuuldmRn on cross examination admit
ted that hcCrey was "a stranger TO him.
but be was impressed with his appear
are and gave him "a bank book with
the drafts. lees the $40 credited therein.
Mr.. John r. GOuldmsn. Jr, cashier OF
the bank, testified that he cashed n sec.
oud check OF $40 Tor McCray ON the fol-
lowing day and ALEC that later the drafts
were returned unpaid
Col. Lsughlin. OF the Exchange Hotel.
testified shat he caehed two small checks
Tor hcCray. All stated that they had
been repaid since.
A bank examiner from the office O,
Comptroller Of the Currency In Washing
ton swore that there was NO such a
bank as the First National OF Hlsgins
Vile, but that there was such a bank at
owgill, the defense bringing out this
tst point presumably toshow that Me
ray 10 drawing on his father simply got
the two places confused, being intonI-
Gated at the time
Lee J. Graves. called for prosecution.
testified that he regarded ncCray az a
shrewd capable business man. That he
fret met him Feb 20. ? pm in M.
Office here, McCray stating that he reprr.
ssnted a Mr. Gordon. Of Kansas City
and wanted IA 1000 acre farm. Sent
him out with Mr.. Purvis on Saturday
TO see the Crouch place 10 spotsylvania.
hcCrsy seemed pleased and dictated A
telegram 10 the supposed Mr.. Gordon
Informing him that be had found a suit
soie farm wanted 20 close deal for
$1,000 when he heard from Gordon.
Saturday night McCray came 70 bis
house. stayed an hour and wanted IN
close deal, giving draft for 81. 500. and
wanted 10 borrow 81 900 from him on
the place. Being suspicious OF strangers.
he (Gravesl declined Saw him again
sunday and invited NcCray TO accom-
pany him TO church Mr.. Graves was
the last witness for the prosecution. ON
cross examination he said that at 2
O'Clock Friday. when McCrey first came
30 bis office, that he was entirely sobey.
be observed no eigns OF LIQUOR.
Mr.. John NJ Griffin, postmaster of
fredericksburg. for the defense. testified
that between one and two O'Clock The
day referred to by Mr.. Graves. he saw
hcCray and that be was plainly under
the influence OF liquor. Mr.. Graves testi-
He'd that McCray was entirely sober
when at his house on Saturday night
Aessrs. l.. g. Roach and l. NJ. Jones. for
the defense, swore that he was very drunk
on Saturday, Mr.. Roach testifying that
at four O'Clock Saturday evening and
again that night between seven and nine
he. AcCray, was so drunk that be de-
elined to sell him liquor and begged him
not 20 drink any more. Roach said Nc
Cray ali day Saturday aud SATURDAY.
night was IN q totally unfit condition To
transact any kind of business. Messrs
+. l. w. Green, Arthur Concknn and A
b. Bowcring testified to strange acts on
the psrt of AcCray.
L: l.. Matkins, Jr., friend and former
business partner OF McCray in Kansas
City, was the last witness examined for
the defense before adjournment until
wednesday, and produced a good i'm
preston on jury and audience He testi-
ned that he Is business man Of Kansas
City, had up to eighteen months ago
been In business with McCray; that Nc
Cray had been one OF the most successful
young business men of that CITY. had
been connected with various COMPANIES.
had organized the First National Bank
OF Cowgirl, the Great Western Land Co
OF MO. and had been secretary of the
humboldt Portland Cement Co of that
city; that he had made to his knowled0e
forty or fifty thousand dollars; that t6s
panic OF 1907 hit him hard; that the
strain told on his health, and that in
Oct 1907, he began to drink heavily ali
kinds of liquor, including absinthe: that
he hired one OF the Baltimore Hotel bows
as his private secretary and another az
his valet; that he gave this bell boy a
power of attorney; that he demonstrated
with him but with no effect, and finally