The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-02-06
ACIrnerMAN CoMMrrrED on


CLERGYMAN COMMITTED ON
CHARGE OF PIcKING A LADY's PocK-
ET.-The protracted examination in the
case of the Rev. George I. Williams
of Virginia, who is charged with having
picked the pocket of a lady while riding
in fifth-avenue omnibus, New ork,
in November last, was brought to a
close on Saturday by the decision of
Justice Dodge, who concluded to com.
NIT the prisoner for trial. Mr.. Will
liams has always heretofore maintained
an unblemished character in Virginia as
an Episcopal clergyman, and the charge
against him as excited no little interest
in the. religious community, which be-
lieved he was the victim professional
pick-pockets. Justice Dodge, before
whom the case was brought, delivered
the following opinion:
I consider the following facts as hav-
ing been established: That on the I'd
day of November last the complainant
entered Fifth-avenue stage and seated
herself at the extreme end of the left
hand side; that the only persons on the
same side were two ladies'; one at the
end by the door, the other seated mid
way. That the next person who enter
ed that stage was the prisoner, George
T. Williams, who took seat immedi-
ately next to the complainant, and con-
tinued to occupy the same till the dis
covery ofthe alleged larceny ;and no
person at any time sat between the
complainant and Mr.. Williams. As
the stage approached Twenty-second
street there was seen by passenger
seated opposite Mr.. Williams move
meut under the dress of the complain
ant, and Immediately afterwards the
hand of the prisoner was withdrawn
from Hereunder with pocket-book in
it, which he instantly placed in the left
hand breast pocket of his coat, and then
arose and pulled the strap to stop the
stage. The evidence further showed
that the prisoner was called upon for
the pocket-book, and he denied that he
had it; that he was taken hold of by
some of the passengers, whereupon he
struggled and succeeded in freeing him
self from their grasp, and fell from the
step; that on the demand for the pocket
book being renewed, he took it out OF
his pocket and handed it to the owner
that when arrested he stated to the off
Ger that he found it on the floor of the
stage, and when brought before the
court, that he found it ON the seat. These
facts are established by witnesses whose
testimony was very clear, and who
could have no occasion to misrepresent.
On the other hand, it appears that
the prisoner has been for number of
years reputable member Of the sacred
profession, the teachings of which are
Numerically opposed to the commission
of the crime alleged against him. The
prisoner has borne, outwardly at least,
: a high character; and those who know
him well state that they are unable to
believe he could have thought of com
hitting, much less have committed, the
offence charged. Detectives had also,
been introduced, who consider that the
cut in compliments dress-pocket was
made by no green hand" in the bust
ness. have carefully weighed all these
facts, and consider that, taken in con-
nection with the law applicable thereto,
would not bejustifed in discharging-
the prisoner. The law marks out Ger
taiu facts which when established are
considered as proving crime; such as
denial of property afterwards found in
the possession of the prisoner, and diff
ferent statements made by prisoner in
explanation of suspicious circumstances.
This case seems to be marked by a num-
Der of such proofs of guilt. High char
acter is entitled to and has received in
this case great consideration, but it
cannot stand against clearly established
facts. | therefore decide that there is
probable cause for supposing the crime
charged has been committed by the pris-
oner, that the papers must be sent to the
grand jury to take such action as they
may deem advisable in the premises.