The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-03-23
RICHESON REFERRED TO
IN DEFENSE ARGUMENT.
Star Witness for Plaintiff Bitter
ly Attacked by Attorney
McCamic.
Friends of Arnold Regard the
Verdict As Sufficient
VindicatiOn.


secretary of the West Virginia Sun
day School Association against B. +.
Hodgman. president OF the First Ma
uonal bank. of Moundsville. for s25.-
900 damages for slander and libel. re-
turned a verdict in favor OF the plain.
tin for 5000. Following the verdict
OF the jury. the defense made a mo-
tion for a new trial which will be
argued later. The verdict was:
I'VE, the jury. find for the plain
tln and assess his damage at
$500" Paul Dechan, foreman.
The history OF the case il well
known. Last December. Mr.. Arnold
and his wife entered the Big Store.
OF which Nr. Hodgmnn Is general
manager. and started looking over
some gloves. MIR. Arnold later re-
ceived n letter written on the Big
Store letter heads asking him 10 re-
turn three pairs of gloves II he wanted
TO avoid scandal. He asked for an
apology which was denied him and he
then Drought the suit.
This case was one OF wide interest
throughout the state. II was bitterly
fought by both sides.
The Pleas.
Attorney Martin Brown opened the
pleas for the plaintiff and bitterly at
lacked Mr.. Hodgman for his methods
IN writing the letter. He assailed
Harry Hathaway. the star witness
for the defense. who testified that he
saw Arnold steal the gloves.
Attorney Charles McCamic opened
for the defense. and he bitterly at
ssgF 49,
I'm. Rev. Mr.. Rhoads. pastor OF the
First Methodist church OF Mounds
vile. The attorney pictured the cases
OF Rev. Richeson. OF Boston. a minis
ter. who is now being tried for The
murder OF his sweetheart lie alse
pictured the case OF Rev. Mcfarland.
! Of Pittsburgh. convicted of commit.
ting a criminal operation on his sten-
: osrapher These illustrations were
made to show that the' evidence OF n
preacher should not be regarded any
/ stronger than persons testifying that
are not ministers
Representing the defense, Attorney
Charles A. Showacre made an elo-
Quent plea 10 the jury. He cored At.
/ torney j. Howard Holt. counsel for
\ the plaintiff. "He claims TO be a
Christian gentleman" Mr.. Showacre
said. but evidence S!rcn by sevSral
] Witnesses tends TO show that he sew
oral times used language such as "a
damned low-lying and cowardly s. OF
I b"
Hits Preacher.
/ The attorney covered the case brief
! ly and said that the evidence given by
/ Rev. G. X. Roads was acuated in every
statement for the plaintiff. Mr. Show
acre. said. 81 viii not say that Rhoads
wiIfully mis-stated anything. but be-
lieve that he was biased in his opin-
ion and he told only what was OF bene-
flt for the plaintiff
we never even asked anything
about the reputation OF Mr.. Arnold.
and II II not disputed in any manner.
Every man is supposed 10 have q good
reputation until he does the first evil
act. Mr.. Arnold. lost his good repu-
tatin when he took the gloves and
shirt from the Big Store"
The attorney then compared the
reputation OF the defendant and plain
til. saying We know nothing OF A.
T. Arnold. before he came here three
years ago. Although we have learned
where he came from. We have learned
nothing Of his life. Mr. Hodgman. on
the other hand. has resided In Mounds
Vile for the past p years. and Is
known throughout the city as one Of
the best and most respected citizens
Hodgnsn Truthful
The plaintiffs own Witnesses de-
ciared on the witness sand that if
HodRman would do nothing else he
would tell the truth.
Mr. HodEman knew nothing % the
letter. a. his own statement Vill
show Mr. Showacro ender vored To-
SHOW that the plaintiff hal boz no
way been Injured by the spreading Of
tie stoJ
Hoirs Closing Pisa.
The closing plea was mais hv A.
toruey Holt for ne plaintiff and De-
made one OF the most eloquent ad
dresses to tha jury ever made bob the
Marshall county court room SIR
Hof i1 opening denied fhat hc had
ever uttered the words that ui.nrrscs
testified Thar le did af fhc BIz Store
lle said counsel for the leiruse had