Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-02-05
a Clergyman Committed on Charge of
Picking Ladv'S Pocket,

Ia 1lCAAAS5 d Aduy Vo1Ct
The protracted examination in the case of the
Rev. GeorgeiT. Williams, Of Virginia, who is
charged with having picked the pocket off 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.. Williams has always heretofore maintained
an unblemished character in Virginia as an
Episcopal clergyman, and the charge against
him has excited no little interest in ereligious
community, which believed he was the victim
of professional pick-pocket. Justice Dodge,
before whom the case was brought, delivered
| the following opinions:
consider the following facts as having been
established: That on the second day of Novem-
Der last, the complainant entered Fifth Ave.
| nue. 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 midway That
| the next person who entered that stage was the
prisoner, George r. Williams, who took a seat
Immediately next to the complainant, and con-
tinued to occupy the same till the discovery
OF the alleged larcency; and no person at any
| time sat between the complainant and MIR.
| Williams As the stage approached Twenty
second street, there was seen by passenger
seated opposite Mr. Williams movement I'M
der the dress of the complainant, and immediate
ly afterwards the hand Of the prisoner was with
drawn 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 up
| ON for the pocket-book, and denied that he had
| it; that he was taken hold of by some of the
passengers, whereupon he struggled and sue
ceeded in freeing himself from their grasp, and
| fell from the step; that on the demand for the
pocket-b book being renewed, The took it out of his
| pocket and handed it to the owner that when
| arrested he stated to the officer 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 priso-
| ner has been for number OF years reputable
| member of the sacred profession, the teachings
of which are Numerically opposed to the COM
mission ofthe crime allegedaga him. The pris-
oner has borne, outwardly at least, high char
acter, and those who know him well state that
they are unable to believe he could have thought
OF committing, much less have committed, the
| OHence charged. detectives have also been
introduced who consider that the cut in COM
| plalnants dress pocket was made by no green
| hand in the business. | have carefully weigh
ed all these facts and consider that, taken in
connection with the law applicable thereto, [
| would not be justified in discharging the pris-
| oner. The law marks out certain facts which,
when established, are considered as proving
crime; such as denial of property afterwards
found in possession of the prisoner and different
statements made by prisoner in explanation of
be marked by 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 proved facts. I therefore
decided that there is probable cause for sup
posing the crime charged has been committed
by the prisoner, and that the papers must be
sent to the grand jury to take such action as
| they may deem advisable in the premises