Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1913-11-27
The WiIson Trial.

given by the first witness. Then fol-
lowed the evidence. of DR.. William
Neil for many years the physician
in Miss Turner'S family. His testn7
mony described the condition of Miss
Turner after the assault. An attack
of nervous prostration had required
him to visit her at intervals for two
months the past summer.
Drs. ]. M. Miller, c. L. Skinner, and
R. E. Venning were the other ply
sicians who testified for the state
the testimony Of all of them beng
descriptive of the injuries sustained BY
Miss Turner. corroborating DR.. NeiH.i
A long debate in chambers Friday,
which tied mp the case for practically the
entire dav. was occasioned by the efforts
of attorneys for the defense to rule out
tue evidence of Rev. H. M. Moffett. Of
tn. Charles Town Presbyterian Church.
and Rev. Dr.. F. NJ. Woods, pastor of
the Martinsburg Presbyterian churcl,
and father of Judge John NJ. Woods, who
is presiding at the trial. Mr.. Moffett is
the pastor % Miss Turner, and to him
she conf led the story of the alleged as
slult, DIR. Woods became connected
with the case when he was called in con-
su't4tipn bv Wilson's aged father ana
visited the prisoner at the Jail.
The attorneys for the defense contendI
ed that the evidence of neither of the
ministers vas admissible. ON the ground
that the disclosures to them by the par
ties was Of priviled nature, and as such
cca'a not be regarded as competent testi-
monv. Judge Woods supported the view
sof the defense, and ruled that the testi-i
moav Of his father and Mr.. Moffett
Should not be given. This was an i'm
terestinR and unique incident of the case.
The accused himself took the stand ON
Saturday in an effort to controvert the
testimony already given by Miss Turner
and other witnesses. He declared that
he had purposely misled his wife as to
the events OF the day on which he is
charged with assaulting Miss Turner,
but now that ne was willing to tell the
whole truth. He declared that any rela-
tons there may have been between ham,
self and Miss Turner were entirely by
her consent. He denied that any; as
sault had been committed,
Upon their return to his house Wilson,
said he had retired to his room to take
nap. Miss Turner left an hour later,
calling CHEEKY good-by to him as she
LETT,
His examination by his attorney, John
Lee. took about as minutes, and the cross
examination was taken up and most
rigidly conducted by Col, Fo'-
Erest w. Brown. Wilson asked to be ex-
cused from answering one question, and
the attorneys retired for consultation and
upon their returnsthe question was PIT
in different form.
Mrs. Wilson. wifefof the accused. fol-
lowed him ON the stand and told of tie
drive aud the return of her husband and
Miss Turner. She stated she noticed
Miss Turner s face was somewhat flushed
and her hat disarranged
Monday number of witnesses We're
heard some of them not VERY material.
Drs, Mcclure and Allen, of Winchester,
and DR. Sperow, Of Martihsburg. testi-
mony was heard. Miss Turner was re-
called and emphatically contradicted
some of Wilson's principal testimony.
The attorneys submitted their instruc-
tons to the judge Monday night and
argument in the case began Tuesday.
On Tuesday the whole forenoon was
consumed in reaching an agreement as
to instructions to the jury. These
were of the usual nature in such cases
and twice as many were asked for by
the defense as by tneState. The Court
instructed that, to sustain charge of
assault. complaint must be made inn
medlately. unless reason for failure to
do so be gwen
L
Attorney George D. Moore opened the
argument for the State. presenting
the facts adduced in manner fair to
the prisoner and the State alike He
made an excellent impression. He was
followed by Attorney Jack Lee for the
defense, who held the audience which
cr0udod tbe, Hoa1,% ,.o,,y,o - ~, * -: L..
as has no similar legal effort in recent
years. 1t was conceded by the local
bar and other critical auditors to be
masterpiece in conception and delivery.
After adjournment for supper Hon,
Marshall Mccormick followed for the
defense and sustained his reputation
as one of the South's great trial law
yers. No ADLER presentation of his
clients case were possible. During
the delivery of his argument the court
room was packed to suffocation. At
the termination of his speech the case
for the State was closed by Col. For
rest w. Brown. During the trial he
had shown his ability to hold his own
against the very able legal talent rep
resenting the defendant and in his SUM
ming up and final argument for con-
viction he fully upheld the States con-
tention. At the close of his argument,
the casa was given to the jury and
court dismissed until 9 o'clock We'd
nesday morning.
AS we go to press the jury has just