The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-04-24
MORAY ACQUITTED
Close OF a Trial in Which Much In.
tereSt Mas Taken.
ARGUMENTS Of COUNSEL, ETC.

Mr.. Purvis. Of the Piedmont Real
Estate Agency, gave Il history % his
meeting MeCray aud his going to look
at farms, etc. Said hcCray was not
drunk
Mr.. Ellerbe W. Carter met McCray at
Mr. Lee J. Graves office on Friday
FEB 2G. Saw no Indication uf McCrsy
b-ing drunk; considered him Intelligent
ind a good talker
Mr.. Oryiile Woods. who was brought
here by Commonwealth from Cowgirl
Mo, testified that he was 81 years old:
had been living 10 ind around Cowgirl
Tor years; had known prisoner for ,
yea =; considered him a sharp. shtevd
fellow; had business transactions with
him. lie commenced to cite what these
transactions were when Mr.. Goodrich
objected. This brought on an argument.
10 which IL was charged that the prose
cution OF hcCray was being done by
Farmers and Merchants State Bank here
instead OF State. This was bitterly ~
sente6 by Mr.. Swift The testimony
Was ruled out. Ga being asked WHY be-
sIns here said, Mr.. Swift wrote and
said II came all my expenses " ould be
paid This brought on another tilt. In
which Mr.. Swift said counsel for defense
were trying TO create the impression
that the Farmers and Merchants Bank
were behind the prosecution; that said
charge was false aud that the State
would pay all expenses.
Mr. Harrison OF Western Union. pro-
duced telegram sent by McCray 70 Cor
don. stating farm had been purchased
for - 900. IL developed that no reply
was received from said telegram, except
Shat party ecu 4 not be located. Ii
was als) developed that telegram had
been sent to telegraph office from Pied
mont Real Estate Agency, money &c
cOmpanying same.
Mr.. J. ". Allison WAS recalled aud
stated that catalogue had been issued
by Piedmont Real Estate Agency before
hcCray came here. This was 90
counteract the testimony of Mr.. Graves
that he thought the catalogue was not
out until after AcCrsy's appearance. He,
Graves. said he might be mistaken, how.
ever.
Mr.. Graves was recalled and said be
~snted 10 explain the discrepancy be-
tween the Catalogue price ofiarm g., 900,
aud the price OF IS, 500 quoted To Nc.
Cray that II was t. Topographic error. as
the iarm was to net Judge Embrey
s. 900.
The jury was then retired and instruc-
tiOns submitted to court by counsel.
Mr.. Swift opened for prosecution. He
gave history OF the coming Of McCray.
his operations, "a deep laid scheme after
big game, aud " hen lac was foiled Ia this
to get all he could out from the little
fellows and skip" He ridiculed the IN
sanity plea. said the evidence showed he
had been an active ,shrewd, sharp business
man, had made money, then lost it. that
he had systematically laid plans tn de.
fraud. but had overreached himself aud
en caught, that To allow this man 20
20 Tree was giving Il license to Others to
p ny the same game and that Justice
would be ioiled.
Ar.M w Butzner, for d tense. made one
OF the ablest speeches ever hea q here. He
told ui AcCray a. a youth. Of his early
successes in HE. ~ his lOss ia the panic Of
1907, OF his Effort to recoup those losses
oi his breakdown and depression, cAus-
ing him 90 contract the drink habit. OF
his leaving home and wandering around
the world. of his being heard from 10
Shanghai. China, OF his arrival here. of
his actions here In connection with desire
To buy out real estate business, oi his
transactions In buying land, OF his draw
ing drafts, Of his Offering strangers seats
on grand stand 10 Washington during
inaugural ceremonies, OF his liquor
excuses, all as acts of "a man whose
reason was overthrOwn.
His appeal TO the jury IN consideration
oil these conditions to let him go back
under the care OF his old father and re-
cuperate In q sanitarium was especially
iorceiul. When he finished he was
heartily congratulated.
Mr.. Goolrick's speech was also an able
one. He dissected the evidence OF the
witnesses and laid special stress upon
the insanity plea, citing the hereditary
strain OF insanity evidenced from that Of
two uncles incarcerated 10 a lunatic asy-
ium, an aunt demented, OF q brother In a
sanitarium, OF his dead mother, weak
from nervousness, In care of nurse for
ten years OF the boys downfall, followed
by bis habits OF strong drink ,overthrow W.
iDg his reason, OF his fathers knowledge
OF these conditions and his soiicitude and
coming here after him. OF the magma
nimity OF his friend aud former partner,
Mr.. Watkins, OF the expert evidence of
DIR. Barney that prisoner was irrespon-
sible Tor his actions, caused by strong
drink, and that his place was In a SAM
tarium instead OF prison. His plea for
acquittal was pathetic.
Mr. Swift in his reply ridiculed the
claims of insanity and demanded only
justice and conviction as a lesson to law
breakers who cover up their misdeeds
under this plea
The case was given to the jury at D
IN. They were out an hour and a rumor
reached the court room that the jury was
hung, standing 10 for acquittal and for
conviction
At 7:15 they filed in the courtroom
and IN the presence of an enormous
crowd, the foreman announced "A verdict
OF mot guilty"
Then scene was enacted probably
never before seen in the courthouse here
Men waved their hats, cheers re echoed
through the building, and notwithstand-
ing the call to order by Sergeant Ciches-
ter and rapping by Judge Goodrich, con-
tlnued Tor several minutes When order
was restored Mr.. Goodrich of defense
asked that nolle pros be entered in sew
eral misdemeanOr cases pending Attor-
ney Swift replied that he would take the
matter under consideration until IL q
m Thursday. Judge Goodrich said that
he would advise this action Attorney
Swift said: DO | understand the court
takes the matter out of the hands OF the
Commonwealth Attorney"
The reply was: mo, not now. We
will allow it to remain over until tomor-
row morning"
Then AcCray and father and Mr.. Mat
kins were surrounded by many of the