French Broad hustler and Western Carolina Democrat. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1915-1916, 1916-01-20
Case of Unusual Local Interest; Mrs
Fuller is Leading Witness for
State: Strong Array of Legal
Talent Fight to Finish.


Charles A. Carlson was found guilty
in Superior court last Saturday on the
charges of obtaining $4,000 unde:
false pretense. The jury Cemalned
out less than 10 minutes.
The judge, after strenuous efforts
moved by the defense in arrest OF the
Judgment. overruled the pleas and
sentenced the defendant to serve i've
years in the state penitentiary. A mo-
ton was made to allow the defendant
rrtil March 1 in which to prepare pa
pers for an appeal. The state was al,
Lived thirty days after March L IN
which to answer.
The trial began Thursday morning
before his HONOR Judge j. w. Adams.
The court room was crowded Win
SPECTATORS, an array of legal talent Oh
both sides and a number of witnesses
Very little time was lost in selecting
jury.
Mrs. Fuller on Stand
Mrs. Fuller, the wife of the late Df.
David J. Fuller, of this city. was the
first to testify for the state. She prov
cd to be the star witness and it was
uron her testimony, lalEely, that the
the State secured conviction. Her ex-
animation was begun by j. +. SPAIN
hour. one of North Carolina's best
criminal lawyers, who assisted Dlstrlct
Solicitor Michael Schenck in the case
She told the story, of DR.. Fu1lers nrSt
meeting Carlson and their later rela-
tions, in a asclear voice and IN pleas
ing manner using a wonderful Vocab-
=
Mrs. Fuller told of hearing the VerS
bal agreement between her husband
and Carlson that each were to invest
$4,000 in the Hendersonville Traction
company which was to cost $4,000
She stated the company actually cost
SIS 600 and she was later corroboratee
by U. G. station, former president and
grantor of the option to the defendant.
The cross examination OF the wit
ness was conducted by W. A. Smith,
leading attorney for the defense
Throughout the severe griiling she
never lost her self composure and
ways gave direct and forceable an
sWers. An effort was made to show
tEat the witness had been criticised
since living in HendersOnyille, but
without results as was later substan-
tiated by character witnesses includ-
ing Mrs Charles French Toms, MIS-
W. R. Kirk and others.
Mrs. Fuller leaned over on her Ell
bow for a second during her cross-eX-
animation when Attorney Smith asked
her quickly if she was sick. YES
said she, 81 am a very sick woman.
am suffering from diabetes brought or
by worry and anxiety, caused by your
client, ia my efforts to bring him to
Justice
e. G.. StatOp Testifies.
I. G. Station was the next witness
He told of his business dealings with
Carlson in which after several visits
On the Dart of the defendant to his
office he gave an option on the local
railway stock for 900 Of which ST.
500 were to be cash and the assump-
ton CT g. S7,50G mortgage to be made
TIE option was granted for the sum o
$50. Mr.. Station told Of 1oaning MI
Carlson. later his duplicate of the con-
tract of the sale OF the company and
his many efforts to secure a return OF
same. He stated that he was unable to
this day TO, get the copy. He identified
il in the court when shown among the
exhibits.
The state rested.
Asks for NOn-Suit,
Counsel for the defendant asked his
honor to non suit the case upon the
grounds that the state had failed to
make out a case of false pretense
against the defendant. The judge de-
cided that there was enough evidence
to continue the trial.
Defendant Takes Stand.
C. A. Carlson was the first witness
to testify in his own behalf. He is
largely built man, has pleasing ap
pearance and seemed to be man OF
wonderful self control. He took the
stand with a volume of files and pa
pers under his arm. He was examined
by nis attorney, J. e. Shipma1 He
stated that he lived in New York,
Brooklyn, New Jersey and Washington,
D. C. He is. 81 years old and me-
chanical engineer by trade. He told
of inventing a number of parts to Z
gasoline engine and is the owner OF
number of patent rights which were
being manufa ctured by the Carlson
Motor Company of New Jersey.
Mr.. Carlson denied ever telling DR..
Fuller that he paid $4,000 for the
Hendersonville Traction company. He
said that his first visit to Henderson.
H.