The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-09-29
VERY LITTLE PROGRESS
in THE LABEL CASE"'
ATTORNEYS CONSUME TIME IN
NUMEROUS TILTS.
Senator Christensen Principal Witness
in Case Against TOWill, Boykn
and Tatum.

Columbia, Sept. 27:-The court to-
day, by legal argument, spent about
five hours in getting about half an
hours actual testimony. In other
words, about all the testimony that
was presented to the jury in the label
case' if offered continuously would
hardly have consumed more than half
an hour. The remainder of the time
was spent in argument, more or less
acrimonious, as to whether this line
of questioning was proper and wheth-
er this or that evidence or record was
admissible to evidence. Counsel sug-
gested that if the matter kept up that
there was danger of getting into a
debating society on the rules OF eV1-
dence, but with it all Judge Wilson
was patient and heard arguments pro
and con and then brse1y decided the
issue involved. All of this means that
the case is being, hard fought and
that is no doubt right and proper, but
it is slow work in reaching the Ver-
dict. Up to this time the real and vital
issue involved has not been touched
upon in any way by the evidence.
There has not been scintilla of EVIL
dence of wrong as yet Today practl-
cally the entire session was devoted
to the Identification Of the famous
Niyison-Weiskopf labels, with a few
moments being given to several min
or matter THAT were necessary in the
development of a case that is being
contested to the shadow Of an inch.
The Real Issue To-day. -.
The question wa~ asked today:
''How far has the case progressed"
and the reply was that it had Just
started. Tomorrow will be the third
day of the trial and perhaps then the
real heart of the matter will be reach
ed. ......, p.
During the morning Mr.. Jno Bell
Towil came into court with members
| 70 his family. 49,. .-..-.....
The court worked from 9 until after
2 o'clock today and then adjourned ula-
til tomorrow.
Tits Between Counsel. = 4
In less tt IAN thirty minutes after
court opened this morning there were
half a dozen legal Tits between legal
counsel. The chief issue was wheth-
er Mr.. Thorpe, the States witness
could testify as to Mr. ". O.. Tatum's
good character and reputation for hon i
esty and integr rity. .......@
Mr.. Thorpe testified that Mr.. Ia
tum's characte was good from what
he had heard, and he reached this
conclusion from his own dealings.
DR.. VIM. J. Murray, former chair
man of the winding-up commission
testified that he turned over to his
successors all the records of the dis
pensary. .-..-> -.
Mr.. Edgar M. Thompson, secretary
of the present winding-up commission,
was recalled for the purpose OF lden-
tifying a letter from Governor Blease
to Attorney General Lyon. The letter
was not read in court, but is supposed
to be the letter requesting the "lmmu- i
nity'' list. j..
Senator Chris stensen Testihes'
Senator n. Christensen, of Beaufort
who was so activ e and diligent in the
legislative investigation of 1905, mod.
est1y described his part In LOOKING IN
to the label trans saction. He explained
how he secured samples Of the labels
and had Walker, Evans & CogsWell
and the State Company make estl-
mates on the various sets of labels and
incidentally he has kept a complete
set of the labels since 1905, when ne
undertook the comparison OF prices
on the labels and to know why. Tne
labels we're offered in evidence, where.
upon Col. Nelson said this was hear
say evidence and that neither Walker
Evans & Cogswell nor the State made
the estimates themselves nor were the
labels really wanted, but the inquiry
was merely for information. This ne
gathered from the testimony from the
printed record.
Mr.. Christensen said he knew the
labels offered in evidence were tne :
Nivison-Weiskopf labels himself fron
CONTINUED on PAGE 81.