The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-10-06
LOCAL MATTERS. y

| THE HAUNsTE1N FORGERY - ChahO0R's
! Case P0stponcd until meet Thursddy.-Ihe
case of the Commonwealth Us. Geo. Cha
hoon, indicted for forgery, was called i'll the
Hastings Court yesterday, according to al-
MIR. Wise, Commonwealth Attorney, an-
nounced himself ready to go into the trlai; !;
! Mr.. Wells, on behalf of the accused, SAID
he felt compelled to move postponemenc
IN account of the absence of three .lmpor-
| tant witnesses.
MIR. Wise asked that the names OF the
witnesses referred to be called.
| Gov. Wells first gave the name OF ii. ,.
Merrill.
MIR. Wise.-Has subpoena been served
upon him?
Deputy Sergeant August.-Ycs, sir he
It's at his residence on 18th street. l saw
him yesterday Mt the front door.
Gov. Wells.-He is so i'll, if it please your
Honor, that his removal would probably
cause death. His physician will certify to
the fact. The second absent WITNESSES is John
w. Cole.
| Mr.. Jinkins CLERK. THAT subpoena went
to the Sheriff of Pittsylvania county.
Gov. Wells.-Yes. Mr.. Cole is in PItt-
sylvania, and our communication with tiat
| section of country has been almost entirely
cut off during the past week. There was
no return upon the subpoena. The third
important witness is Col. Geo, u. Egbert.
Sergeant Dudlcy.-That subpoena has not
been served
| Mr.. Wise here said that he felt it his duty
to oppose this continuance. The trial OF
this cause ought to 60 on now. The party
had been indicted in May, and there had
aIreadF been two continIances. The wit
| nesses for the Commonwealth are nume-
| rous; some had come from distance lt
wonld be difficult to keep them here much
longer. It looked bad that, although the
Indictment had been found months ago., no
subpanaS had been obtained by the defence
until the 26th Of September. He. was dis
posedito accord the accused every right and
Just indulgence, but something was due to
the Commonwealth, and her interests suffer
BY these postponements. MIR. Merrill could
be brought here in q carriage in twenty
minutes: There is no chance Of his soon y
being anv better. They have known al
along where Egbert's headquarters are, ant
If his! evidence is essential they can soo1
ret him to Richmond. Finally, there neee
be no continuance on Coles account. He
could be brought here by Il very summary
process as Il witness for the Commonwealth
Gov. Wells.-Col. Egbert is at Atlanta
Ga, in the secret mail service of the United
States, and expected to be here. He failet
to arrive, however, and his evidence is o
great importance to nv client. In view O
the absence of these three persons, there
| fore,-the one from illness, and the other.
out Of the State-We ask this continuance
The Court.-It will be necessary for yol
to embody these facts III IN affidavit, Anf
we must also have the attendance OF Mr.
A1errtlrs physician. ...,.,
Governor Wells rejoined that the record
would show that former continuances hat
not been at the instance Of the accused
His client was anxious for trial, and de
manded it. He asked simple Justice, bui
he did insist that he should not be hurrict
unprepared into trial. 1t was not his 'ail
| that II witness was sick. OF that. L great
flood arose aud separated the others from
the seat of this court.
DR.. C. w. p. Brock was then called. and
being examined by Governor Wells, testified
that he is the attending physician OF Mr.. III
S. Merrill, and that be believed the said Mer
rill to be unable to appear In court to-day
He might be able to attend i'll few days.
4 Gov. Wells then submitted an affidavit Of
Mr.. Chahoon, setting forth that the cVl.
dence of the three witnesses named above
was material to his cause. ~
The Court said that it did not appear that
all necessary diligence had been used to sc.
cure the attendance of these witnesses, but
in view of the illness of one, and the pro.
liability that he would be better, the case
would be postponed for one week, with the
understanding that it shall then be tried.
The witnesses were thereupon recognized
TO aDDear. on Thursday next. .a