The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-04
T1sE CRHTTExDEN CASE.
Second Day OF Trial of Accused.


Second Dny OF Trial of Accused.
ALL or THE EVIDENCE FOR THE COMMON
WEALTH INTRODUCED AND MOST OF THAT
FOR THE DEFENCE ALso-A LARGE NUM-
Der OF CITIZENS OF CULPEPER TESTIFY
TO THE CHARACTER OF ACCUSED AND
PRAISE HEN IsiAIEAsURABLY-ONE MORE
WITNESS TO BE EXAMINED THIS MORN
ING. ,--fttI Z. Ia Ei''H.f-A'l ~
An OF the evidence for the prosecution
and most of that for the defence: in the
Crittenden case was given in yesterday.
Captain George D. Wise, Commonwealth
attorney, and .Messrs. TCrump, J. S. Wise,
Barbour, and Field, Of counsel for defence,
sifted every particle OF testimony, with the
view Of informing the jury thoroughly as
to the matter in hand. Consequently much
time was occupied in details Of little in.
terest to the public, yet OF some moment
in the proper consideration Of the case
by Judge and Jury. It was found that the
books were not to be relied upon without
explanations. Several OF the chief wit
nesses did not speak with positiyeness on
material points. There was difference OF
recollection with witnesses as to what Crit
tenden said to the investigating committee.
| Colonel Munford's version was the most
damaging. Accused proved an excellent
| character. VI: ~#.4.s-
Although accused was on trial for "rais-
| ing" Delegate Arthur's certificate, the Poin-
dexter certificate was continually and una
vodably referred to, and witnesses exam
ined as to it by both sides.
The court was called 10 order at II O'Clock.
The commemorative Attorney, Captain
George D. Wise, put upon the stand james
NJ. Taylor, first clerk OF the Treasurer. He
identified the warrant shown him as the one
brought him, as he believed, by Colonel
Crittcnden, with nine others, on March
9th-the ten warrants being numbered from
$3.50 to 5.S9S inclusive. On the back OF
| each warrant, in printed form, was given
the check, payable to bearer, for amount OF
money called for on said warrant. Colonel
Crittenden receipted for the said checks in
the Treasurer's receipt-book. On that re-
ceipt-book the name OF the parties for whose
benefit the warrants and checks were drawn
were not given, but the accounts charged
were. l"General Assembly" in this in
stance1 Numbers were only used. Thus
Crittenden receipted for check for war
rant No. 1898 ~. l.. Arthur'sl and
signed for same along with nine others
that is to say, the amounts OF the ten
checks were aggregated in the columns OF
dollars and cents, and Crittenden made one
signature for the ten, though check was
made out for each warrant. Mr. Taylor
testified that at the end OF each month the
checks land warrants on reverse side) were
returned to the Treasury from the banks.
THE CHECKS UPON THE CHECKS.
To Mr.. j. S. Wise: 1t has happened that
checks have been given to Colonel Critten-
den and his receipt not taken for same un-
til next morning, memorandum in mean
while being made on rcceipt-book. Proba-
bly, two thousand legislative warrants OH
Treasury were issued last session. Very
likely half Of these were brought there by
Colonel Crittenden; others by pages, others
bv members. Sometimes Crittenden would
receipt for checks on warrants brought him
by pages while he was standing in Treasu-
rer's office. Have known Crittenden to
hand over checks to pages or to members
| for collection. Have no data to show who
got money on Arthur check. 1t may have
passed through . hundred hands. Not abb
solutely certain that the Arthur check was
given to Crittenden.
Mr.. Taylor said Crittenden had a No.
| CUaTdCIeI. I1c sDoO,-
| 900 from the Treasury in the past four OF
five years. Never before had there been
any trouble about money drawn by him.
..... MEMBERS ovEEPAID.
To Messrs. j. 8. Wise and Barbour: Mr..
Taylor knew that Senators Cochran, Grims-
lev. and Walter II. Taylor had been over.
paid, the errors found, and money returned.
Had only an indistinct remembrance OF the
Armentrout and Glasscock oytrpayment
cases. . >-,:n..: Gl< <.'! ii''..
To Commonwealth'S Attorney: Know
nothing about Irregularities in certificates.
Never see them. Deal with warrants only.
No money paid out for j. l.. Arthur or j.
w. PolndcXter has been paid back into the
Treasury. ,..-...,... ...
| . w. J. BIGGER. Z. .:,..,
William j. Bigger, assistant clerk Of the
House OF Delegates: Issued certificate to
Poindcxter certificate shown him]. Never
made that in 13 days or in S1S. Ascer-
tanned the present condition Of the Poin-
dexter certificate when witness compared
his book with Biuford's. Witness explained
how, previous to this Arthur trouble, he
had given Arthur five days too much in a
certificate. Arthur at once had it corrected.
Witness called it a mistake-a simple mis-
take-not an error" In 1874 he failed to
charge certificate given Armentrout Tor
42 days. When next he issued certificate
to Armentrout he issued it for 42 days too
much. The money was drawn and the sur
plus covered back into the Treasury. Know
of no money covered back in the Arthur
or Poindexter cases.
To Mr.. E. S. Rose, iuryman: Mr.. ". j.
Bigger said he knew of no oyerpayment
except in Armentrout case. That he should
have discovered himself before the end OF
the session. even il his attention had not
been called to it. ...,s.
To Mr.. 3. S. Wise: Carriers writing-fuid
was used In their Office. ,....... ....s,I:.,a
. MASTER H. J. CABELL. .s- ~
Master II. j. Cabell, q page OF the House
of Delegates, sworn: Witness endorsed
his name on the Poindexter receipt for GER
| tihcate. Had no other recollection whatever
in connection with the certificate. Never
made any change In any certificate IN his
possession. : Never kept back any money
due any member. [The Commonwealth's
| Attorney stated that he had no doubts on
these points himself, but wanted to bring
the facts to attention OF jury.]
To Mr.. J. S. Wise: Handled many certl-
ficates and warrants, and collected money
when asked by members. There are SIX
pages in all and two doorkeepers. All OF
| these handle warrants and checks. Never
took any receipts for money in Crittenden's
book. .-- .......... .,..a -..1
Master Cabell's evidence was clear and to
the point, and was easily understood 10y
everybody listening. - a..> j. '.,.r.....
...,. >a:r. AUDITOR w. F.TAYLOR. - .'-
The next witness sworn was the Auditor
of Public Accounts, William F. Taylor.
| Witness heard OF the Poindexter and Ar
thur discrepancies on the Oath of March.