The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-12
Morgan BilIingsley Admits
He Was Unbalanced Dur.
ing Scene at Bank.
MUCH MIRTH PROVOKED
The Famous Billingsley
Cane Is Presented to the
Jury as a Souvenir.

VI
Morgan Billingsley as the champion
of the oppressed with an earserer
open to the walls OF poor widows and
orphans. is a new phase in his long
and interesting career which waa de
veloped when the aged capitalist was
on the stand, this morning to sdefand
himself fromAthe charge fSalander.
al said some things,that j wouldsnos
have said had 1 notsbeensmad. had
been very nervous-in had health for
two years and threw me OF my bal
ance," said the defendant.
Mr.. Robinson had approached s16r.
Btllmgsley. 'P never would hrve
spoken to him II he had not approach
ed me-" insisted Mr.. ,Billingsiey.
Business business, ,',twas. expiain-
ed as the reason for his getting -off
his balance.
The very small cane which, Mr.. Bill.
ingsleg carried with him 70 the stand.
light stick, was probably the same
one he "brandished" on Charles w.
Robinson. 1t was either this canelor
another one, no heavier. Congress-
man Neely thought the. canesongiit to
be an exhibit" In the case-th -thattthe
jury ought to see it.
They can have it," exclaimed 1dr.
Bflingsley.
Mr.. Billingsley stated that he was
past ninety" and that he had been
in 'ill health for the past two years
suffering nervousness, a bad ankle and
poor use, of his hands.
II did not want him meddIing with
things which were not HIS business"
explained Mr.. Billingsley and when At
torney Shaw attempted TO show malice
which the old man had had toward Mr..
Robinson, he further said. Il didn't
have anything against Mr.. Robinson
and haven't now
In his testimony the settlement OF
the estate of the late John T. Snider
was introduced and 1t developed that
Attorney Harry Shaw who is now rep
resenting the plaintiff In his SANDER
suit for $4,000. was the lawyer to
whom Morgan Billingsley had gone
and conversed the possibility OF enter
ing a suit for Mrs. Snider against the
executor of the estate, Charles W.
Robinson. Attorney Shaw objected 10
the conversation between he and Mr.
Billingsley being used as evidence in
this case and the objection was sus-
tanned.
A letter was introduced In which
Mr.. Billtngsley was accused BY Mr..
Robinson OF interfering in the John T.
Snider case. The letter was objected
to as evidence by Attorney Shaw due
to the fact that evidence did not show
that It was actually mailed
Mr.. Billingsley stated that he knew
the provisions OF the John T. Snider
will. How much was Mr.. Robinson
to pay Mrs. Snider," asked the attor-
ney for the defense" Here Attorney
Shaw objected on the grounds that
this did not have anything to do with
the controversy between the defendant
and the plaintiff.
Mr.. BIllingsley explained that he
was in the bank when Mr. Robinson
came in and approached him, asking
about this wall" He had his cane in
his hand and might have used 4 this
way (motioning his cane in the air)
but never threatened him.
Then Congressman Nicely asked the
defendant II he had armed himself
i
Bfllngsley explained that he was old
and in the habit of carrying his cane
with him.
When cross-examined by Attorney
Shaw, the old man answered each
question with little hesitation. only oc-
casionally stopping to refresh his
memory.
Did you ofrer an apology" asked
Attorney Shaw.
mo, nor he didn't offer me no apol.
ogy," the old man interrupted.
You have never spoken to him
since that day?' said Attorney Shaw.
''He hasn't either answered Mr..
Bnlingsley.
"And you have passed him on the
"He passed too added Mr. Bill
ingsley. At this point laugh was
heard from almost all In the court
room and Deputy Sheriff Slack called
silence"
Mr.. Bfilingsley said that he might
have said something about $500 that
day IN the bank, because he conldn not
exactly remember what he did say.
Attorney Shaw asked the defend
ant what he was worth in money. and
while the old man was thinking. Con-
gressman Nicely interferred with "Ob-
lection to that explaining that the
question concerned reputation and not
the amount of money which Mr.. Bill
fngsley had. The objection was aua-
tanned by Judge Raymond and then
Attorney Shaw asked the old gentle
man what his reputation for wealth
(Continued on Page ,Four)