The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-01-30
A CLsReYsAx COMMITTED ON A CHARGE

A CEEkGYAAN COMMITTED ON CHARGE
OF PIcxING A LADY's pocg.T.-The pro-
,racted examination in the case Of the
Rev. George 7. Williams, of Virginia, who
is charged with having picked the pocket
of lady while riding in Fifth-avenue
omnibus, New York, in November last,
was brought to close on Saturday by the
decision of Justice Dodge, who concluded
TO commit the prisoner for trial. Mr.. Will
iams has always heretofore maintained an
unblemished character in Virginia as an
Episcopal clergyman, and the charge
against him has excited no little interest in
the religious community, which believed
he was the victim Of professional pick
pockets. Justice Dodge, before whom the
case was brought, delivered the following
opinion:
| consider the following facts as having
been established: That on the Cd day of
November last the complainant entered a
Fifth avenue stage and seated herself at
the extreme end of the left-hand side !:
that the only persons on the same side
door, the other seated midway. That
the next person who entered that stage
was the prisoner, George I. Williams, who
took scat Immediately next to the CON-
plainant, and continued to occupy the
same till the discovery Of the alleged lar
ceny: and no person at any time sat be-
tween the complainant and Mr.. Williams.
As the stage approached Twenty-second
street there was seen by passenger seated
opposite Mr.. Williams movement under
the dress of the complainant, and imme-
diately afterwards the hand Of the prisoner
was withdrawn from Hereunder with
pocket-b book in it, which he instantly
placed in the lcft-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, whcreupon he struggled
and succeeded in freeing himself 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
rested he stated to the officer that he found
IL
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 misre-
present.
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 OPP
posed TO the commission of the crime alleged
against him. The prisoner has borne, out
wardly at least, a high character; and
those who know him well state that they
are unable TO believe he could have thought
of committing, much less have committed,
the offence charged. Detectives have also
been introduced, who consider that the cut
in compliments dreSs-pocket was made by
no green hand" in the business. have
carefully weighed all these facts, and con-
slider that, taken in connection with the
law applicable thereto, | would not be JUS
tilted in diScharging the prisoner. The law
marks out certain facts which when estab-
lShed are considered as proving crime !;
such as denial of property afterwards
found in the possession Of the prisoner,
and different statements made by prisoner
III explanation vi suspicious vi S"i'"'"'H N''
This case seems to he marked bya number
of such proofs Of guilt. High character is
entitled TO and has received in this case
great consideration, but it cannot stand
against clearly proven facts. / therefore
decide that there sprobable cause for sup
posing the crime charged has been CON-
United by the prisoner, and that the pa
pcrs must be sent to the grand jury to
take such action as they may deem adj
visable in the premises.