The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-21
ACQUITTED or 1Hr CHAass.- III

| ACQUITTED or TIE CHARGE The
Mayor spent about I've hours yesterday in the ex.
| animation of GEORGE ". ToDD, charged with fs.
ioniousy knocking down WILLIAM TuoM, in
Broad street, on the night Of the 10th inst, and
| r0bbing him of 81 in money, and a certificate of
debt on the City Auditor of S35.42. There were
| some twelve or fifteen witnesses examined in the
case, the substance OF whose testimony We append
below. A. Judson Crane, Esq appeared for the
defence, the Mayor conducting the examination on
| the part OF the Commonwealth.
| HVliam Thom testified that on the afternoon of
the 10Th inst, he walked down Main street, to 90
| 60 the Abingdoa Telegraph ofice-that on reach.
ing the corner of 18th he tall, light haired
man of whom he enaured the way to the Office
That person volunteered to show him, bu: instead
of doing so, took him into the Alhambra, whore
vitress proposed 10 treat. The light haired man
then introduced witness to the prisoner an DIR.
jones' and witness was indisposed the Doctor
| promised to prescribe for him, telling him that
his office was under the Exchange Hotel After
drinking two or three times witness said he must
60 TO the telegraph office. Or. Jones started ont
to show him the entrance, but instead Of doing so
took him into the alley directly south Of the All.
hambra, and through that into a rear room on the
hrst door, whore ten or fifteen persons we're gam.
ing. Prisoner proposed that they should Join
in the game. Witness declined. Prisoner pull.
ed out roll OF money, said he would fuA
d0lge and began to play. Witness looked on some
ten or fifteen minutes, and then left the room. rea
| turning to the Alhambra for another drink. As
witness passed In, prisoner came behind him, and
demanded five dollars - his portion Of the losi.Ss
rsmarking that he (prisoner) had lost SIS. Wit
ness refused to pay it Lgh,.aaired mau, told vii.
ness he ought to pay it. Witness refused to do co.
~ he had no interest in the game, but offered 10
treat all hands Several persons Ia the room drank
to pay for which witness put down s. note, Soon
after witness asked for his change Ths bar keeper
said DIR. Jones had taken the note for the deb, due
| him. Witness demanded his change, and bar.
| keeper gave 1t to him. About Z O'Clock Wit
ness left the Albanbra, passed up Lomhar.
dy alley, down Virginia street and up Cary
TO Ann Stephens bouse, where he remained
| until nearly 10 O'clock, bot had no occasion 10
take ont his pocket book though he then felt IN
| his pocket He then star ted to the theatre tuek
out half dollar on the way, so as not to expose
| his money, and went up The gallery steps. but
| failed to get ill.,. As he came down. he mat the
prisoner, hailed him the Doctor and said he was
going into the theatre. Tho Doctor tsid him IL
was too late TO &c in, and invited him TO take
driak. Witness declined to drink, and giving
| up tho idea Of entering the theatre, told the
Doctor he would walk with him az far q
| schadd's. The two started across the street.
and whom about midway, witness looked
| around and saw three or four others following
| them. As the Doctor and himself got nm.
der the elm tree, at the North corner Of 7th and
Broad streets, the Doctor gave him . violent blow
In the face knof ked him down, tore his pants took
ness was not drunk. lie knew what be Was about
did not go into the theatre--had gotten up when
| the Watchmen came to him-waiked homo with
Ewo OF them--aUd could not be miatake en- an 10 the
| identity of the man that knocked him down and
robbed him.
Messrs. T. Williams, Mccarthy, Kinney and
Kelly, testified TO seeing Thom inside Of the thea
tire with Todd, and his being under the influence Of
| liquor.
Four witnesses testified to being in the Alhau.
bra whea Thom came Into prisoner's leaving
| within few minutes thereafter and not return
tng-to Thom's being drink, and treating evefy
body in the house several times--to his goiug out
| with young man named Morton, and crossipe
| Main Dtreet-to his returning in half an hour
thereafter, repeating his drinks, iesuitiug Mr.
Frazier. getting blow In his month. canves-
1 About 10 o'clock At night Thom WAS seen by six
Of the city watchmsn, 10 company with four OF
ive mon. crossing Broad street, from soath to
north. Soon after stepping fiom the curb ssoos
he tell, bur was taken up BY his oompauions.--
About haif way across be sgsin fell and was ta-
ken up. And when two,thirds across Broad, be
again fell, when bis companions turned on and
left bim. Watchman Page and his partner, then
| standing under the elm tree when Thorn said be
| was knocked down and robbed, saw him fall tho
last time, and - no one stopped to touch him,
they vent TO him and picked him up. He then
told thcm he had been Knocked down and robbsd.
bat - thsy saw him fall, but saw no one touch
and Lieutenant Ksliy then SEAT him home
Thom having been coatradlctsd In every particua
lar BY % many witusssss, the Mayor directed him
to 60 with IN oGIcer and point out the room near
| ths Alhambrs. He nads the inspsction u tho
premises. passing through the Alhambrs alley, ,sut
s 2 nd any ..sa P:sss :: b inasn'd
The Mayor thera&hss dismisssd the warrant
sgsiast the. sccussd. and as once discasEssd him
fom custody. s.. IS
Besloa AasyuselAasl tvssssaa ~ sssiaas.