The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-17

James Rand, late taX-commissioner OF Pa
terson n. j., arrested Tuesday evening by
Independent Detectives Knox and wren,
charged With being a fugitive from justice,
wss brought before the acting Police Justice
Yesterday morning. Mr.. HoXsey, Assistant
United States District Attorney, appeared as
counsel, and asked that the prisoner be dis
charged on the ground that the warrant was
vague and ipdefiaite, not naming the offence.
The court continued the case till this m0rn-
ing TO examine the law, and the prisoner was
committed bail SPOT allowed"
4 writ OF hdteaS corpus, made returnable
before Judge Wellford, Of the City Circuit
Court, at 4:30. was taken out. The accused
was represented by Mr.. HoxseY and Mr..
Neesou, and the prosecution by Mr.. +. G..
Cabeli (Commonwealth,s attorney Ills
counsel demanded Hsnd's release on account
of the insufic ency and informally Oh the
c large against him.
The miitimus of the acting Police Justice
produced commanded the Sergeant to Gre
ceye into iai and custody the body Of James
Hand, charged on oath of William F. Knox
,c,M being a tuqitice from justice from the
State OF New jersey, charged octth felony"
sc.
The following kilograms were offered as
evidence, and Directed to by petitioner
.'PATERsoS. n. j., February Is, 1875.
"To Attorney. General or District Attorney,
Richmond:
"Have KNOX and Wren, or any one in
Richmond, James Hand, OF Paterson, lately
convicted of conspiracy here, in custody!
ga. B. WOODRUFF,
"Prosecutor Of the Pleas"
To this telegram Mr.. Cabell, the Common
weath's attorney, replied that such person
va, in custody here, and he subsequently re-
ceired the following:
"PATERsoS. n. j., February 16, 1876.
"E. c. CabeN, Richmond:
:. Rcuuisltion and officer are on the way.
"a. B. WOODRUFF"
The following received yesterday by Ma.
| ior Poe was also offered:
PATERSON, N. j., February 1e, 1876.
" Chief Of Police:
~Wlil come for Hand as soon as papers
| ready for him. Keep him.
| Of. G. GRAVL, Chief OF Police"
While Judge Wexford was considering
the case the following was received, indlca
ting that there is race between the New
| JERSEY officers and Hands bondsmeh as TO
| which shall first get hold of him:
| "PATERsoN, February 16, 1876.
" Chief Of Police, Richmond, Va:
| "Bondsmen will be in time. w. f."
| Two letters found in the room Of accused
when visited with a searcb.warrant-ont
sicncd "Tim Nee" and dated New York
| February 7lh, and another dated Paterson
| February 10th, both addressed to "Deal
Jim: the second one signed W. T., anC
| having pasted on it an advertisement from
| the New York Herald Offering $500 reward
| for Hand-were produced before the Judge
| A postal-c card containingan advertisement
| of reward for Hand, with his photograph
pasted on it, found in his possession, was als'
produced.
| Hands counsel objected to these paper
| being considered as evidence.
| The Judge thought that in case like thi
| they could be admitted, though not strict.
evidence.
| Mr.. Knox was sworn and testified tha
| Hand stated to him ard others that he was
| fugitive from Paterson, n. j., and had beer
convicted there, and that he did not mine
the Jail or fine, but couldn't stand the pros
pect of going TO the State prison. The ex
act legal character Of the. offence charged
| Mr.. Knox was not able to define. Hand ad
mtted 10 Knox that he was the party the.
were in search of, and that he had been in
conspiracy to alter the assessment books.
MIR. John Wren, who was next put upor
i the s.apd, said Hand confessed to him ant
others that he was fugitive from justice
that he had been employed in the assessor
office, and to aid q friend, who was jus
starting in business, had altered the books
and been convicted.
:. John Hughes, who formerly lived II
Paterson, \. j., and has been here nin'
months, testified that the name of th'
1 ai l. -Ia,naS Ia (HnOhas
had received through friend in Paterson
a postalcard containing photograph o
Hand and advertisement of reward. Hughes
name was mentioned in the letter signed w
E., but Hughes said he did not know wh'
the writer was. Indeed, he knew very littl
about bis town, or about Hand. or abou
anything. He didn't know that Hand was
fugitive, but knew that Hand had been
candidate for an office in Paterson. Ha
himself been candidate for Alderman there
and they s'run him out OF the city,"
Mr.. Wren, who was croSs.questloned b
Mr.. Hoysey, said that Hand stated to hiI
that be had been convicted Of altering som
books.
Sergeant Chalkley heard Hands talk i
the station.bouse; heard him say he ba
been indicted for three or four offences, an
convicted Of manipulating some books, an
was awaiting sentence. Prisoner didn't sa
he was convicted of felony. He expected
the Judge to fix sentence upon him on Ger
tain day named, and that day "he had bust
ness in New York" Coming back from
New York he met the Judge on the ferry
boat, and the Judge asked why he had no
been to court that day. Hand stated tha
he had business in New York, and the Judg
told him to appear the next Saturday f.
| sentence.
Captain Chalkley, while in the station
house, was struck with the prisoners intelh
| gent conversation and imprudence in talkins
| about his affairs
| Mr.. Hoxsey claimed that Hand was no
charged on oath with "treason, felony, o.
| other crimes" and ought to be discharged
| He had resided in New jersey and practiceC
| law, and been clerk of courts there, anC
| knew Of no statute making the alteration o
| a textbook crime.
Judge Welltord asked Mr.. Hoxsey il he
| meant to say that committing forgery on a
public record was not q crime in New Jersey
MIR. Hoxsey responded that that was moi
his proposition.
Judge Wexford reminded the gentleman
that Coleman was in the penitentiary fol
altering public records.
Dir. Cauell asserted that their case was
made out, and that if there was no statute ir
."Jarsey" making alteration OF public RECORDS
a crime, it was crime by common law. ID
the course of Mr.. CabelFs remarks he men
toned that Governor Kemper had informed
him iGCabelD that be would have no heslta'
tion IN issuing O requisition for person
charged with misdemeanor. tie prooaoiy
nnny,n