Hertford, Nov. 9—The fate of young Raymond Jordan, charged with manslaughter in connection with the fatal beating he administered his brother-in-law, George Moore, on the streets of Winfall on Saturday morning, October 2, will be placed in the hand sof a jury in Superior Court here some time today.
Jordan, through counsel, admitted the killing, but claimed he acted in defense of his father, whom Moore had pinned to the sidewalk, and whom he thought Moore was about to kill.
Solicitor Small, last to speak in the case, closed his argument at about 1 o’clock, and court recessed for dinner. Judge Nunn opened his charge to the jury immediately after court re-convened, and the probability was that the case would reach the jury late in the afternoon.
Attorney J. C. B. Ehrighaus of Elizabeth City was the first speaker in the morning, making a powerful appeal for the acquittal of young Jordan on the ground that his act was justified by Moore’s attitude toward his father, his alleged threats, and the position in which he found the two when he reached the spot when Moore was holding the elder Jordan helplessly prostrate in the street.
Charles Whedbee and his son, Silas, both Hertford attorneys, spoke yesterday afternoon, paving the way for Mr. Ehringhaus’ dramatic conclusion of the defense arguments today.
Testimony in the case was conclude yesterday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock. J. C. B. Ehringhaus, of counsel for the defense, immediately moved again for the privilege of opening and concluding the argument, and again Judge R. A. Nuss overruled his motion. Mr Ehringhaus had made it on his original contention that, inasmuch as young Jordan had admitted the act charged by the State, the burden to justify the act lay with the defense and therefore the defense was entitled to the privilege of opening and closing, ordinarily according the State since usually the burden of proof was on the State.
Judge Nunn held that young Jordan’s plea did not alter the situation materially in that respect, since it was still the burden of the State to prove that the defendant was guilt as charged.
Assails Widow’s Story
Solicitor Small sprung a surprise late in the afternoon, when he produced a witness whose testimony was quite at variance with the account of the morning of the tragedy given by Mrs. Moore. That witness was Harry Smih, middle-aged resident of the Winfall section. He declared he went to Mrs. Moore’s home on the afternoon of the fatal beating of Moore, and offered sympathy and assistance. He said Mrs. Moore told him that her husband was all right except when he was drinking, and then related the hectic events of the night before.
Then, Mr. Smith declared, Mrs. Moore told him her husband was all right that morning; that he had treated her all right; and that he had gone back to Winfall to have their two little boys’ hair cut. She added, he said, that she had warned Moore against going, fearful lest further trouble develop between him and her father.
The witness testified positively that Mrs. Moore told him nothing about Moore having struck her on the head that morning, as she had stated while on the stand yesterday morning.
Mrs. Moore denied the foregoing testimony vehemently except as to Mr. Smith’s visit to her home. She declared she entered into no discussion with him.
The last witness heard was Edgar Bundy, superintendent of school in Perquimans, who was called by the defense to introduce a school census record setting forth that Raymond Jordan, son of A. Jordan of Winfall, was born February 17, 1910. While Mr. Bundy was on the stand, and before he testified, court was delayed a few minutes by the successive departure of Mr. Ehringhaus and Solicitor Small
Judge Grows Impatient
Mr. Ehringhaus went out to answer a long distance telephone call, and in the interim the solicitor stepped out to question prospective State’s witnesses. Judge Nunn grew a little impatient over the delay, remarking that the individual who put in the long distance call showed little consideration, since he kept waiting the court and jury and some 300 spectators. He explained later that he meant no reflection upon either Mr. Ehringhaus or Mr. Small.
The opening speech yesterday afternoon was delivered by young Silas Whedbee, son of Charles Whedbee, who is appearing with his father in defense of Raymond Jordan, with Mr. Ehringhaus associated with them. From the fact that the attorneys are allowed unlimited time for the arguments, it was impossible to forecast early today when the case would reach the jury, other than that would occur some time during the day.
Testimony tending to show that young Jordan long had harbored enmity against Moore was introduced by the State at the opening of the session yesterday afternoon. Kramer Nixon of Winfall told of having heard Jordan curse Moore and say that he would like to knock his brains out. Nixon’s testimony, however, was ordered stricken out by Judge Nunn, when it developed on cross-examination that the alleged statement was made some four years ago.
Thomas Jessup of Winfall told on the stand that he had heard Jordan say, in answer to a question as to Moore’s condition shortly after he had been knocked unconscious, that he had not heard, but hoped to hear that Moore was dead. He said Jordan’s mental condition apparently was normal.
Sentiment with Accused
Public sentiment in Perquimans is strongly with young Jordan. Many in and about the courthouse can be heard to declare Jordan did what any other youth properly would have done under the circumstances, and the prediction is voiced on all sides that Jordan will be acquitted speedily by the jury in the case.
On the other hand, general regret is expressed of the fate that overtook Moore. Apparently the dead railroad engineer was almost universally popular in both the Winfall and Chapanoke communities in which successively he and his family had made their home. On every hand, Perquimans County people voice regret over the failure of the little knot of bystanders to pull Moore off the elder Jordan, and thereby avert a tragedy which must leave indelible marks upon two families, regardless of the outcome of the trial.
From the front page of The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C., Monday, Nov. 9, 1926
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