The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-20
LOCAL MATTERS.
END OF THE BROOCKS TRIAL
The Accused FounH Guilty, but Re-
commended to the ClenleUcy
of she Court and the
President.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PRISONER AND
HIS BANK.


HIS BANK.
The jury sworn to try Mr.. T. T. Brooks,
late president of the Merchants National
Bank of Petersburg, for sundry violations
of the national currency act, after the ad'
journment of the United States Circuit
Court on Wednesday night were placed in
the hands of the marshal. They were kept
all night in the grand-jury room, on the up
permost floor of the cuStom.hou>e building,
where they had been carried for consulta.
tion after hearing the argument of counsel
and receiving the instructions Of the court.
Their meals were brought to them. Beds
they had none; the sleep they got was
only such odd nods as they could
snatch while in their chairs. Upon
comparing opinions there was found to be
nearly unanimous conclusion that the evil
depce sustained several of the counts Of the
indictment. There was, however, one men,
Der Of the .jaty who was not for some time
convinced t6St the criminal intent had been
sufficiently established. His companions ar
gued the matter with him. Yesterday morn
ing at 5 O'Clock the jury notified the mar
Eshal that they had agreed upon verdict.
:; Judges Bond and Hughes ascendcd the
bench: of the court about 10 O'Clock. Shortly
afterwards the jury were brought in in
charge>ef United States Marshal Ramsdell.
The Counsel for the defence and for the Gov
erpment were already in tbeir'places. Mr..
Breocks< occupied a chair in, front OF the
clerks desk. He appeared utterly cast down
but selt:posSessed. Evidently ne had out
verv faint hopes of not being convicted.
The jury, having taken their seats ana an
swered the roll called by Mr.; Al. +. Piea.
SAINTS, the clerk, were asked If ItheyHhad
agreed upon their verdict. Mr.. ThomaS, the
foreman. speaking for the jury, Salarthey
had. He then read the VerdictT which: was,
in substance, that the accused was iound
equity" on the counts charging emOezzle-
ment and false entries upon the books OF the
bank, and "not guilty" upon the counts
charging abstraction OF moneys ana lrauou'
| lent assignments of funds and credlts.
Mr. Brooks received the announcement
| with perfect composure. he was not re-
| Q.ired to stand up to hear it, as Is the Gus,
| tom in the State courts. Probably ne Wouio
have been unable to have done so, for 1t
seems he is very feeble, aud life hangs by but
slender thread He is tiity-five years OF age.
Since the collapse of his bank and MS arrest
the marks of age have c2me upon him as
>
dinary existence.
Mr.. Murphy followed the verdict by re-
commencing, on behalf the jury, the cleu-
ency OF the court.
The courtroom was filed at the time.
There were a great number of businessmen
Of Richmond and Petersburg present, and
many of the prisoners intimate friends and
some of his relatives and, connections.
The iury having been discharged, Captain
John LYON. of counsel for defence, said:
eff the court please, desire to say one
word for this unhappy prisoner. Ihough
YOUR Honors may not appreciate, 1 aa! SURF
1on can imagine the fears and anguish Of
the prisoner during this prosecution, the
AGONY Of last night, and the dumb pain OF
this morning. Nevertheless, be has been
ncrsuaded to yield to the advice OF bis coun-
sci Major Stringfellow and myself. we
have not been struggling for our client IN
this case for ten days without bndlng out
that motion for new trial will be useless,
and we therefore do not yeX and annoy the
court with such a motion.
"We do, however, entreat tue Cou!C ~
respond to the appeal OF the jury lot JuuF
cial clemency. Give him the lignlese pun.
ishment which the law allows. Wltboul
cfltlclSlDS lne ftiuiSt p" hie,i n~' ..
| against Us, without reproach 10 anyoooy'M
do confidently say that there has never oeen
| within the experience OF any OF Us, upon !ne
proofs in the cause, any case OF cohVictlol
| in which there was less Of Intentional
| crime-less Of moral guilt CONSISTENT WIN
the truth Of the verdict OF the jury.
81 may say without improfrlety, ana oo
say. because it is very truth, that IN the opln-
| ions of the jury, and of the othcers OF Tue
| court, and Of the public generally, ana espe'
cialy In the opinions of the people OF re-
| tersburg, who, as depositorsi and otherwise,
have been the greatest sufferers by the acts
! of the defendant, aud who have the most
intense personal interest in the success ol
| this prosecution, the ends of justice have
heen met and fulfilled, and the majesty o.
,he law has been vindicated by the. verdict
u,hicb has inst been recorded. The Unitec
states can now afford to temper justice Will
nSarcv =. and we again entreat the Court Il
nrononnce the lightest sentence which th'
| law allows. SIS.
eve have the right to appeal to the Exc
cutive for pardon. The door Of mercy j
| always open, But such considerations arr
| moi proper for you as members OF the Ju9l
ciary Department of the Government we
1 SuDI1lL tUc CdSC upOh Wv
| mendation of the jury" :, -,
| Judge Bond, after consulting Win Judse
| Hughes, said that there was no necessity iol
haste that they would defer sentencing IN
4 prisoner for few days, which action the!
doubted moi would be in accordance WIFI
the desires of Mr.. Brooks and bis friends
| In the mean time he would have to be com
| mitted to the custody of the marshal.
| Captain Lyon drew up: an earnest petltlol
praying the President 10 extend to the prs
oner his elemency, as in no case coming undel
the observation of the jury had there .ap
reared less Intentional guilt. This wa:
siyued by every single member OF the jury
District-Attorney Lewis intimated his pur
pose of fayorably endorsing the Application
| of the Jury for the clemency of the Fresiuent
The minimum punishment, provided by
law is five years. Imprisonment and hne.
A second indictment preferred against
| Mr.. Brooks by the United States Circul
| Court forsfasse entries in one Of the Dook'
| OF the lank-a charge not mentioned in the
indictment upon which he was convicted
| was yesterday dismissed upon motion OF the
District Attorney. .
1t was charged by the prosecution that o.
the suspension Of the bank of which hr
| Brooks was president, during the panic u
September. 1873, he was indebted 70 1t indl
yiduaIIy over 100000. He and the i've o.
six frms to which he belonged were 10 10