The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-28

ACQUTTrAL OF DETECTIVE WILLIAM +. KNOX.
The attention of'the Hastings Court was
occupied yesterday in the trial of Detective
William F. Knox, who was indicted for be-
ing accessory after the fact TO the escape Of
one John c. Dull, who was convicted Of the
larceny of $510 from Joseph NJ. Fowlkes, Of
Amelia county.
General FL. A. Wise appeared for the de-
fence. When the jury had been sworn he
pleaded mot guilty."
Mr.. CaoeIl. in behalf of the Common
wealth. stated the case from his standpoint.
General Wise followed Mr.. Csbell, and
said that in the event of conviction there
was new question which would present it
self: one which probably had not been be-
fore thought Of either by the prosecuting
attorney or The court, and although the
| court has the right to fix the term of impr-
sonment of the accused, yet he contended
that be had no right in misdemeanor to
sentence the prisoner, if convicted, to the
chain.gang.
Judge Guigon said that matter could be
argued at another time.
Messrs. Joseph NJ. Fowlkes, Philip John.
SOD, George D. Wise, Captain John Disney,
Samuel Nj. Page, Detective ODwyer, Major
| John Poe, Jr., chief of police; Mr.. Wallace
were examined, but no new evidence $50 far
as Mr.. KNOX was concerned) was brought
out.
Mr.. Wise said that Wren carried him to
| the corner of Twelfth and Main streets,
| where he met Mr.. kuoX. Mr.. Wise and
Mr.. Knox then went across the street to the
| American Hotel, to room, where he saw
Mr.. Dull and had an interview with him.
| Knox went into the room, he thought, for a
| moment, and then came out. MIR. Wise said
that he saw DR.. Lewis, Purdy, and Dull, all
three. there. Purdy paid him the S2S5,
| which he gave to Mr.. Fowlkes, although
| he had to make two trips between the
| Circuit Courtroom and the American Ho-
| tel before the matter was all fixed.
| He (Wise) went to the hotel under the belief
| that he would get case; that somebody
would probably be prosecuted, and that be
would be employed for the defence. Purdy
declined to 90 with Mr.. Wise to the court
room. where the money was transferred to
Mr.. Fowlkes, but told Dull be ought TO so,
as the money was lost 10 his house. Dull at
first refused to so, but finally did 60.
| Mr.. Samuel Nj. Page said that he didn't
know anything about Mr.. knoX's connection
with the case that he page had made it a
point to be out Of the courtroom during the
examination in all the cases. =,
Mr.. Wallace Washington, clerk of the Po-
lice force, said be regarded Mr.. Knox the
| most efficient officer in his particular busi-
| ness in the city.
Major John 81. Claiborne was also exam-
ined to establish the character of the defend
ant. He said that while he was chief of po.
lice Knox was his detective officer, and had
his unbounded confidence as an active, ener-
getic, and honest officer.
The examination was concluded few
minutes before 8 O'Clock. MIR. Wise ad'
dressed the court, and said that he had con-
suited with the Commonwealth'sa attorney,
aud bad agreed to submit the case to the
jury without argument.
The Court: Take the jury out.
The jury was taken out, and after an ao-
sence of two or three minutes returned with
verdict of not guilty. !,
Mr.. Knox was forthwith discharged, and
the court adjourned until IL O'Clock this
morning.