The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-07

tTES' DELlBERAIioN-A SCENE IN HE
COURTROOM.
The trial OF Colonel c. Z. Crittenden. OF
Culpcpcr. doorkcepcr Of the House OF Dele
gates, indicted for raising the certificate OF
pay OF Mr.. j. l.. Arthur, OF Bedford, from "3
days" TO "13 days" and from ISIS to
"s7S," was brought to conclusion in the
iiuStlugs Court early Saturday night. The
whole day was spent in argument. Mr.. j.
S. Wise and Judge w. W. Crump spoke at
considerable length for the accused, and
were followed by Captain George D. Wise,
Commonwcalth's Attorney, for the prose-
cution. Neither side asked that the jury be
instructed, and the twelve impartial gentle
men retired for consultation, and within ten
minutes were able to agree upon their YER
dict.
The Court was opened shortly after II
o'clock.
Mr.. John s. Wise, Of counsel for defence,
addressed the Court and jury in conSidcra-
ton OF the question, docs the evidence
convict the prisoncr:" He thought not.
Mr.. ]. B. Bigger in his testimony said, to
the best Of his knowledge and belief, the GER
tifcate left his hands for three days and eigh-
teen dollars. But he would not swear that
II was So He fails to prove that he issued
the certificate for three DAYS. Not being in
the habit OF issuing certificates, il was
not improbable that he would make mis-
take. That mistakes were made repeatedly
in issuing certificates had been dcmonStra-
ted. In the case OF Mr.. James III. Dooley,
on the dav oil the arrest OF Crittendcn, 1t hap
pened that that gentleman, who had sent for
4 certificate for 29 days, got one for 80, and
without observing the error signed II ana
sent i, down to Binford. Binford having
that dav for the very first time compared his
books with W. J. Biggcr's. detected the
error.
THIN EVIDENCE.
So Mr.. Wise contendcd that the proof
that the certificate came from j. Il. Bigger
in q shape other than the present was lack
ing. Arthur's evidence and weakness OF
memory were subjected to sharp criticism.
Instead Of the appearance OF Crittcnden' S
name on the certificate being conclusive
against tie prisoner, it was one OF the great
est arguments in favor OF his Innocence,
the sneaker asserted. According to the
testimony, if Crittcndcn had wished to prac-
tice fraud he could have made Harrison
(ior instance take the certificate through the
routine and bring HIM back the money, lcav-
n- his (IiarriSon'>l namc everywhere on the
track-evcrvwhc between Crittcndcn and
the charge OF forgery. Instead OF that Crit
tendcn's name appeared on the certificate
and on the TreaSurer'S books. Had Crit
tcndcn intended to commit such crime he
would have been the most Internal fool
alive to have so marked his course. The
deed was done by some petty thief. he con-
tended-not by man who handled half 4
4 49, 1,, had snfi ,nti or,
was given bv the speaker that it was the act
OF some page or some - small mousse IN
the Capitol. In this connection he showed
how that certificate could have been
raised !" to Il much larger amount without
any more risk. and he argued that if Crit
tenden had gone into the business at all he
would have gone III more largely than this.
BALLoT-Boy STCFFING.
Mr.. Wise explained how in several ways
the fraud might have been committed upon
Crittenden and the State by 4 page or some
one around Crittcnden.
In. urging because it was certain that
somebody in the Capitol committed this
crime. it was not in accordance with law
and Justice to hold Crittcndcn responsible,
Mr.. Wise alluded to the Jc1fcrson-W ard
ballot-box case III the senatorial election OF
1875. There it was certain that the box had
been stuffed with bogus ballots; that Ger.
tanly one, aud very likely two Qf not all,
OF the judges were guilty, yet because the
offence could not be fixed upon the guilty
| one. or two, all were acquitted.
! There were in this Crittenden case, Mr.
| Wise declared, more tidgety witnesses than
| in any he ever saw. 1t reminded him OF tho
fellow with the dancing turkeys. He had
hotter he made the griddle the faster the
turkeys lifted their legs, and so appeared tc
dance. So these witnesses were on grid
die. and the hotter the fire was made be-
meath their feet the more tidgety they grew
COLEMAN.
Referring to the Coleman matter (Withou1
calling name), Mr.. Wise declared that he
could not permit Crittendcn to be compared
with that man-that " Snvelling sycophant."
Crittcndcn was as to that man as Hyperion
to a Satyr
The scene in the committec-room where
Crittenden confessed his inability to eX-
plain. vet assumed al! legal responsibility
for the lost money, and manfully eNhone.
rated Young Cabcll, Carter HARRISON, and
Sullivan. Mr.. Wise thought, was the most
glorious, perhaps, in the eventful life OF Crit.
tendcn. In that supreme crisis he proved
himself every inch man.
Mr.. Wise spoke most kindly OF Colonel
Muntord, and explained how he believed
the Colonel was mistaken. Mr.. wise SAID
it was mistake to call that interview with
the committee "a confession TO do sc
was "to convert the magnanimity OF Crit
| tenden into the pusillanimity OF crlml
nal.'
,l, rIo nl-pf
the jury to consider the evidence carefully
and whatever doubts there were upon their
minds raised by the eloquence OF the Com
monwealth's Attorney to solve in favor ol
the prisoner.
Mr. Wisc's speech lasted about two bours
and was delivered impressiycly and abound
ed in fclicitous language and illustrations
JUDGE W. VI. CRUAP.
Judge Crump, the leading counsel OF ac
c,lsed, made their closing argument. He de-
voted his attention chiefly to an analysis o1
the evidence. No other man on earth, he
argued, but John Bell Bigger can know
whether that paper is forged ornot. There
can be no substitute for his testimony
Bigger states, II cannot and will not say
that this paper isn't precisely as it left my
hands" And in answer to another ques.
ton Bigger replied, "How can l say
whether any one has altered this paper when
don't know that it has been altered?"
JOHN BELL BIGGER's EVIDENCE.
Wtsat CONSERVATION would seize upon the
community were they to ascertain that the
Jury condemned the accused as guilty
where the only witness II. B. Bigger to
the writing refused to accuse him, or even
to say that the writing is forged. The
only reason Mr.. j. b. Bigger had to suppose