The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-17
MEREDITH'S SPEECH TO JURY
IN DEFENSE OF RATCL IFFFS

was a common design OF two or more
OF the defendants. and they must
prove that the design was carried out
by concert of action, and for the
purpose OF doing an act of Ill will
How Walker Donstcd.
Tho honesty OF the motive of the
parent towards his child must be pre-
sumcd. Tor the law presumes that his
motNe is good one. That he ~ in
spired by bad motive must be proved
IL Is necessary for them to overcome
the presumption OF q worthy motive
IheN must not only overcome the pro.
p"nderancc OF evidence in the favor Of
me defendants, but they must also
overcome the presumption or their IN
nocence. The burden OF providing
malice Is on the plaintiff and If that
De true, where In all the evidence Is
mere suggestion that there was NAL
Ice? Was the plaintn not treated
Kindly during the sixteen or eighteen
months he was visiting Mrs. Walker,
DID he not boast on the stand of mis-
intimacy with the Radcliffe family, and
say mat n plate was regularly set
ASIDE Tor him ut tho table? Is there
anything In that suggestive OF malice?
- not inc boast OF the plaintiff him
sell proof that there was not malice
nat man was kindly treated. IIc fire.
qNentlN partook OF tho hospitality or
that family. That was the Treatment
before marriage. What was IL after
marriage? Up To the morning OF Anril
70 not a member OF that family bnd
any Idea OF their engagements The
eifi had spoken to the mother of tho
proposed engagement but had told her
| walker would have TO make good be-
/ iore she would accept him
Must Know Where they stand
Let us soc from the facts If thcrn
can be any Inference OF conspiracy
on Hpfil 20 TO break up the MARRIAGE
there were any malice then
against walker Is there? Must they
not get disjointed facts togther to proyn
their charge OF conspiracy? Ntust mo-.
not tel ua where the conspiraov he
gins Let them put finger on IN.
sp"t where II begins and tell me where
me conspiracy begins. want to know.
the fact where two people came to-
gether and formed a common dcs,yr
70 bring about this thing. Until I
khoW where YOU stand" he said. od .
crossing the attorneys FOR the plaintiff
cannot follow YOU. pfrcr mo som.
PROOF where two people mnde som.
concert Of action The family knew.
ho'hinR about the marriage. being CON
"nP"'.eu, ana The marriage took place
without their knowlcdge
isn't II proved beyond a sh.dou.
or uuhht mat her mother was shocked
mo hystcria when she heard the news,
ISM that proved 10y the TESTIMONY .,
pom sides? Didn't they Introduce thai
tNi"chce by thetr own witnesses? 'Thnv
tpIH ~ on the stand themselves thar
Mrs walker tolcphoned her ,notbor
"nd that her mother screamed. Didn,t
they Introduce ii into evidence tbnrn,
selves that she was card scrennine
l"V ieet away: I'm not mtroduclng H.
cut on. I'm a cons pirator. Dldu', tbov
put Mrs Ratclitfcs husband and q no.
le'man oil the stand 10 prove tina, sbo
Was shocked AZ soon as they g.
iah!isA that point the charge OF con
! spiracN fails
Had " Right TO Beiicvc II.
Ihat proves the condition or ~,
laiiS among tho family tina; day and
tneN had right TO believe that Mr.
F',ellue was IA danger. Her children
MAO % lisht TO be guided by what thev
50" ne inct that She received a Sc
llouS shock has boon proved and all
she could say was To- exclai,n on
h"tty' and scream She startled IN,
whole nelgnborhood by her scrcauin,
IN "iheer had 10 20 to the house 10 So,
ne was not needed Then iudg,
'nt" rs YOU would Judge yourselves
uHu"I those circumstances Tho idca
OF there being a conspiracy INNS, IL,
proved fairly and placed on some evi.
"fiow ala the officer ma her? nj,
hol 'hsN t"Il you tina, she was WALKING
up ana down tie floor SCREAMING lil,,
"a 'r"]y person bidu't her old lus
nand l"i! INC truth when he said h,
q p'cFod her up ana carried her into m.
: nous 'o"S INIT prove conSpira,.,.
g ASH ~ f" natural thing to do Til,
r Is no scheme. 1t was The natural nh,
e !" go" Was that old man consplrin1
s win Ills wife when She exclaimed IN,
sorrow occasional by the news OF he
daughters wedding? Is il poc.ss.ry ;,
"'S'"sS thai point That that wasn't