The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1922-03-11
ARGUED TO JURY AS BLACK
MAILING SCHEME FOR MONEY.
Defendant Was Represented by E. j.
Gex of Bay St. Louis and r. c.
Cowan and Joseph Mize, of Gulf
port Fifteen Minutes to Argue.

Cowan and Joseph Mize, of Gulf
port Fifteen Minutes to Argue.
Federal court at Biloxi Thursday
was the scene of a trial of $780,
10000 damage suit in which J. n
Wisner, of Bay St. Louis, was the
defendant.
Sometime during October of last
year, Mrs. Emeline Gish, who, with
her husband, sometime previously
had been in the employ of Mr.. j. N.
Wisner on his home premises in men
ial capacity, filed this suit on the
grounds that attempt criminal as
suit had been made while in his en-
ploy and at his place of domicile.
The trial occupied one full day
Court convened at 9 o'clock and at
10 o'clock the jury had been selected
and the trial under full sw Y. AT
1920 that night the jury returned
verdict in favor of the defendant.
Mr.. Wisner was completely vindi-
Gated at the hands of the jury of
the charge of assault. Mrs. Gish, the
defendant. failed to substantiate al
legations of declaration, while many
witnesses who have known Mrs. Gish
nearly all her life testified that her
reputation for chastity was bad and
that she did not bear the reputation
of a woman Of chaste character.
There were no witnesses who cor
roborated the testimony of the plain
tiff. On the other hand there were
a great number of witnesses, includ-
ing some of the most prominent men
of this community, testified as to the
good character of Mr.. Wisner and
coroborated him in his testimony.
1t was argued to the jury that the
case was conceived and brought into
court as a blackmailing scheme; to
extort money from Mr.. Wisner, be-
lieving that would pay large sum
of money rather than suffer the
notIiety that such case pro-
duce.
The plaintiff and@h her husband were
the only two to take the stand in
behalf of the charge. There were a
few character witnesses from Pass
Christian. where the Gishes resided a
short while.
One witness testified that Mr..
Gish, the husband of the plaintiff
stated to him that he (Gish) was
going to threaten Mr.. Wisner with a
law suit. and that he (Wisner) would
pay large sum of money before he
would allow case to be brought to
court in order to avoid publicity
that he was prominent man and
had lots of money, and would pay
almost any price to prevent suit
being brought against him.
Mrs. Gish was represented by
Bowers & Bowers, of Gulfport, and
Farrar & Wolfe, of New Orleans. Mr..
Wisner was represented by Emile
J. Gex, of Bay St. Louis; R. c. Cow
and Joseph Mize, of Gulfport. The
case was hard fought on both sides
and every effort that might bring
bearing as to the result was exerted.
Judge Clayton, of Alabama, was the
presiding judge.
While no one who knows Mr.. Wis
ner for a moment ever believed the
story Of the charges, yet there was
feeling of general satisfaction in
the community yesterday morning
when it was learned that he had won
his case and that jury had exon
Grated him of the allegations. No
man stands higher and is more re-
garded and has more friends than
j. N. Wisner. A resident here OF
some eight years, he has been best
known for his liberal spirit, generos-
ity of heart and his daily activities
in all benevolent and charitable en-
deavors. A man who has been known
for a character above reproach, re-
presenting ethically and in practice
the accepted code of best morals.
In arguing to the jury the three
attorneys for the defendant were
only given fifteen minutes each. Mr..
Wolfe was first for the plaintiff and
was followed by Mr.. Gex for the de
fendant. Mr.. Gex was generally
complimented for the able manner
in which he handled his part of the
case, reviewing the days testimony
is so short of time. A recess for sup
per followed. After this Messrs
Cowan and Mize followed with Is
minutes each. Mr.. Bowers for the
complainant consumed 80 minutes
This gave As minutes to lawyers OF
cash side.