Evening star., 1923-07-30
GARRETT TRIAL BEGUN
WITH NOT-GUILTY PLEA
Continued from First Page. }

that jury be brought in from an
other county. The motion was over
ruled, and Attorney Bonifant moved
to quash the venire.
A recess of fifteen minutes was al
lowed at IL o'clock for the defense
TO prepare to meet this argument.
The two brothers We're very calm
when commanded to rise for ar
raignment. They seemed rather bored
by the monotonous reading of the
acting clerk. before entering their
plea OF not guilty.
Prosecuting Attorney Bonifant then
moved to sever the cases. and 1t was
ruled shortly afterward that Larkin
Garrett would be tried first
Several court officials this morning
expressed the belief that the jury
would be impaneled within a few
hours. and that the afternoon would
be devoted to the opening addresses
of the attorneys TO the jury, clearing
way for the introduction of evidence
beginning tomorrow. The majority
think the whole day will be consum-
ed with securing a jury.
One hundred and twenty men. Sc
Ilected by the judge. had been sum-
moned or were being summoned as
this message was sent. Due to the
checking Of lists of veniremen, court.
scheduled to open at 10 o'clock, was
delayed.
New Bail to be Asked.
At the ending of the session the
defense will make a determined ef-
fort to secure bail for the accused
men. The $4,000 bond required for
each expires upon the arraignment
While 1t Is customary in murder
trials in Virginia to imprison the
defendants until the verdict is
found. 1t is entirely unnecessary.
Pointing TO the affiuent and impor-
tant positions which the brothers
hold in political. business and social
Cumberland, they will claim that
there is no possibility of the Gar
retts escaping and becoming fugitives
from justice while awaiting the ver-
dict which may legally restore them
yers will call attention to the fact
that men Of their position (Robert
lis court clerk and Larkin. is a COM
missioner of chancery) appreciate
Prosecution Attorneys Milton P.
Bonifant. George B. White and Rich
ard Evelyn Byrd. are preparing to
insist that the men be put In Jail.
They will direct the attention of
Judge B. D. White to the fact that
the practice of imprisoning defend
ants in murder trials Is almost in
variable. .--
Hard Work on Venire.
Judge White spent last night at the
Prince Edward Hotel. in Farmville.
He has been working tremendously
hard since the trial began. Night
before last he said he was up until
2 am. preparing the venire from the
county record books.
The fifteen Lynchburg, Petersburg
and Portsmouth policemen assigned
to assist the county officers in main
tanning order during the trial and
who were sent home over the week
end arrived in Cumberland in auto
mobiles about 9 o'clock this morning
They reached Farmville yesterday at
ternoon and night and spent the night
at the Prince Edward Hotel.
There are evidently not many suf-
fragettes in Cumberland. or at least so
one would judge from glance at the
crowd. Every available seat is filled.
but almost exclusively with men. This
is not a case of ladies first 1t reminds
one of childhood days. when one was
forced to wait for the second table If
there was much company. Women
here. being children in politics and
court matters. are forced to wait for
the second table" Of court. which. of
course, is never served except through
the columns Of the newspapers, and
the account of their man folk.
Politics In Relegated.
The human element will feature the
trial, according to statements of de-
fense attorneys. Politics. which held
the spotlight during the last four
days, when the change Of venue motion
Of the prosecution was being bitterly
contested, will go into the background.
Papers for Incorporating the Citi-
gems State Banuk Of Cumberland. Va,
Of which r. o. Garrett is named secre-
tary and Larkin c. Garrett treasurer,
have been filed with the state COR
poration commission. The new bank
Is to be located at the courthouse and
will be opened in the fall. il nothing
prevents.
Every member of the board of d.
rectors Of the proposed bank will be
a witness in the trial of the Garrett
brothers on a charge Of killing Rev.
e. 8. Pierce, which begins Monday.
The bank will have capital of
Ear.raVillA. ia fa har nrASideuf.