Evening star., 1923-07-28
FEAR CLAN CLASH
AT GARRETT'S TRIAL
Cumberland Courthouse Un-
easy When Defendants
Win Point.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CUMBERLAND COURT HOUSE, Va,
July 28.-A lull of reaction after a
week of tense feeling pervades the air
of Cumberland Court House, signs of
the great legal struggle in which the
state of Virginia failed to remove the
trial of the Garrett brothers to some
other point to hear the charge of
shooting Rev. E. s. Pierce on the morn
ing of June S, are visible on all sides,
but the town is almost devoid of hu-
man activity.
Shooting Expected.
Last night also was tense Both
sides of the feudal factions which
have precipitated the present crisis
kept to their houses for fear of an out
burst following the decision of Judge
White. Every one concerned in the
controversy packed" a gun IL he had
occasion to leave the house after dark.
but from close observation 1t seemed
that the highways and byways were
completely deserted. No one ventured
far from the front doors after dark.
Milton P. Ronifant. commonwealth
attorney for Powhatan, who is actin q
u
He is staying over the week end, and
will be here when the case Is opened
Monday morning. All of the other
attorneys left yesterday afternoon.
Police to BE Returned.
The special police Gordon which
has been guarding the courthouse
will be brought back Monday and
encamped on the green. Judge White
announced that the same rigid pre-
cautions to safeguard the trial from
interruption will be observed. Every
cne entering the grounds will be
searched for weapons, and any one
found intoxicated will be put in jail
and kept there for the duration Of
the trial.
The Garrett brothers were up this
morning and about their business.
Larkin at the store getting things
put to rights. and Robert in the in
courthouse attending to his duties
as clerk. While he Is not occupying
his clerical position in connection
with the trial. he is looking after
routine matters pertaining to the reg
ular docket and other records. Both
CARROTS appear very much gratiffed
at the result of the case. Neither has
made any statement except that Civ
en- out last night Dy OIL the
attorneys, which stated that they felt
Judge Whites decision vindicated
their position in the town and county.
They are not worried about the re-
suit of the trial, believing that they
will get fair hearing and that when
all the facts are known they will be
restored to their position in the COM
munity and state.
Other Faction silent.
Not a word has been heard from the
other faction in the case. In fact.
few of those who are aligned with
the McRae faction have appeared.
The case is not being discussed
No decision has been reached as
to whether the Carrots will be tried
singly or together. The facts in
both cases are Identical. the same
witnesses being summoned and all
circumstances. both attending the
actual shooting and events leading
up to It. are the same. The Gar
rets say they have not discussed
this matter with their attorneys and
will not go into 1t until Monday
morning or probably later.
on Monday will be summoning a
large venire from various sections
of the county. 1t is believed that
Judge White will not use the pres
ent venire list, but will quash 1t
and make selections of his own from
scattered sections. 1t Is understood
that the first panel to be summoned
will consist of 120 men, and If this
is exhausted without obtaining the
necessary jurors another hundred
will be summoned.