The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-09
JOYLESS GAMESTERS.
RUSSELL SENT TO JAZZ FOR A YEAR FOR
PERJURY-MULLER SENT FOR THE
SAME TIME FOR EXHIBITING FARO
FLIGHT OF JOE GRAVES,
hULLER'S DEALER.

Gao Oh 1-alULLEh SEMI eOE IHE
SAME TIME FOR FARO
FLIGHT OF JOE GRAVES,
hULLER's DEALER.
in the Hastings Court yesterday Thomas
Russell, indicted fer perjury before Police
Justice White, was arraigned and pleaded
guilty. His counsel, Mr. John 8. Wise, read
to the jury the following statement:
l, Thomas Russell, indicted in the Hust-
iugs Court Of The city Of Richmend for per-
jury, do plead guilty to said indictment, and
throw myself upon the mercy of the court.
Desiring as far as in me lies TO purge myself
of my perjury, make the following state
ment, fully aware that it must convict me,
and determined to tell the truth, be the con-
sequences what they may +: have gambled
at the faro-bank Of Muller & Graves fire.
quently. was very poor, with wife and
three children-aged 1fteep, twelve, and two
years-a boy and two girls. gambed, al
lured by the hope that would win. lost all
the money had. Finally, was excluded from
the faro-bank-1 suppose because my betting
was so small as not to be probable, and in
teriered with larger betters. I wrote note
TO Mr.. Muller asking to be readmitted. He
ignored the note. Reyengefnl for what I con-
sidered an unjustifiable exclusion, and goaded
by my.losses and poverty, determined to
swear out q warrant against the house. I did
so. Itwas mean action, from low motive.
was ashamed Of it when I did 1t. I do not
disguise that, but as Gsd is my judge 1 did
not intend to levy black.mail on the house.
The warrant was sworn out on Saturday !;
the arrest made Saturday night. On SUM-
day Mr.. Graves and friend of his
came to my house. Mr.. Graves begged
me to 60 away from the city and not ap.
pear against him. He appealed to me in
language as strong as possible-dwelt on
the ruin would bring on him and the fact
that l could not benefit myself. II made me
heartily ashamed Of what had done, and he
finally offered me fifty dollars to withdraw
the charge. ! did not then consent. Mr..
Graves wept like child at the interview,
and that completely unnamed me and
filled me with reEorse and desire to pro.
tect him and undo what had done. could
not leave town. On the following morning
Monday-I went to the Police Court resolved
to tell the truth, to resist bis bribe, and at
the same time to protect him and Muller
as far as / could. | resolved to avoid
them before testified. went to court be.
fore it met. Graves, and Muller, and Samuel
NJ. Page, their counsel, met Inc. First, Page
took me- in the small room at Justice Whites
court. He said 10 me: "This case will
come up in few minutes. The police don't
seem to think they know enough to convict
them. The conviction, therefore, lies with
you. If they have offered you any money
you had better accept OF it and do the besi
you can for them. Graves and Muller are In
hor hu ha ota
had better go there and see them- advise
you to refuse to answer any questions. AL
they can do will be to put you in Jail. Their
you can get out on writ OF hd6eas corpus
and il they find you guilty of perjury they
can only send you to Jail for twelve months
l refused to 60 to see Graves and Muller
or to agree not to testify. Page then sent s
Mr.. Llienfeld after Mr.. Graves. Mr.. Graves
came in in less than Eve minutes. He anG
Page talked together; then Graves came tc
me. He renewed his opportunities to me
begged me to save him, and finally proposed
to 90 and get drink. l consented
Nothing was then said of money. At the
door of ehe Police Court Muller joined us.
We went into the bar-room under the
courtroom. We drank. There Graves
begged me again, and Muller, speaking up
united with hip, and banded the bar.keeper
fifty dollars, saying You are to give this to
Mr.. Russell when either Mr.. Graves or Lii.
ientield come to you and say give It to him.
[ yielded, and agreed to take II. did not
realize the magnitude Of my offence. The
approach to me was as insidious and
specious as it could have been. l do
not pretend to justify my weakness or my
crime. All can do now is to confess 1t. On
nay return TO court Mr.. Page said no more
to me. l was called, and swore to perjury.
1t all occurred in very brief space. hope
and believe that if had been less vigorously
importuned, or had more time to reflect, |
would not have done the deed. No one can
tell, however. The worst flatter themselves
they are better than they are, and every Of
fender, however hardened or abandoned,
thinks be is the victim Of stress OF cir
cumstances in his viest crimes. My
offence originated in mean motive. My in.
tegrity was shaken by remorse, pity, and
shame, and my doubts converted to perjury
by the addition to those feelings OF money.
offer, so tempting for my poverty.
know there is but one thing fer me to do
now to save me from double.dyed perjury
and lifelong remorse-I am degraded any.
way: that Is to tell the truth regardless OF
consequences. 1. RUSSELL.
GUILTY, OF COURSE.
The Jury of course found accused guilty.
They assessed bis fine at FIVE dollars. Judge
Guigon added the longest term Of 1mprison.
ment possible, twelve months In Jail-and
the accused was remanaed TO the custody OF
the sergeant to serve out his time.
Russell is painter by trade, and has been
for long time playing away at faro banks
such small sums Of money as he could com
mand, mean while leaving his family, for
whom he had previously been q good pro-
wider, in great destltution.
aULLER's CASE.
When Andrew Muller was brought to the
bar TO answer for exhibiting the game oil
faro Mr.. Samuel VI. Page, his counsel, asked
that the case be continued, in view OF the
allie cations affecting himself that had been
| made BIZ Russell Those allegations, for the
| most part, Mr. Page pronounced untrue. He
especialIy denied that he had ever recon-
mended Muller or Graves to give Russell
money; on the contrary, be declared that be
had advised them not TO give him anything
| as he tPage) had learnt from the police thai
| the evidence, even without RusselPs, would
be very strong. The interview that tooE
| place in Justice Whites private Office Mr.
Page said Russell had iscorrecly reported
Judge Guigon expressed his opinion tha
the prisoner ought to be tried without fur
| ther delay.
Captain George d. Wise undertook th'
case of accused for Mr.. Page, and the tria
was at once commenced.
Policeman Michaels was first put upon th'
stand. He testified to the raid made upoI
Mnller's house.