The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-02

COSFiDESI Ot ACSCl1 1AL-H taoA ~ DE
TRIED on THE ARTHUR-FoRGERY IN
DICTMENT-TIE LIST OF PERSONS SUM-
MoNED AS JURORS PERSONAL, &C, &C.
Yesterday was the day fixed by the Hust-
ings Court OF this city for the trial OF Colo
mel c. II. Crittenden, Of Culpeper, first door
keeper Of the House OF Delegates, on the
indictments charging him with forgery and
grand larceny. At II o'clock Colonel Crit
tenden came up from Jail with Deputy Ser
geant Harmon and took his seat behind the
bar with his counsel, having first clasped
hands with numerous friends who pressed
forward to ask him how he felt and to eX-
p, ess the hope that the result OF the trial
might be entirely satisfactory to him.
The accused was neatly dressed, as usual,
and looked we'll and pleasant, but not quite
so sunshiny and happy as of.old. He seemed
serious, but there was nothing about him
like detection. Imprisonment has told some
what upon him, rs it does upon all subject
ed to it, but during his confinement ne has
kept up his spirits wonderfully well, and
not once wavercd in belief that he would
be acquitted, judging by his expressions
and actions.
PERSONAL.
The courtroom was filled with faces IA
miliar at the Capitol and in the legislative
halls, and the accused was almost lost to
sight in a group of friends from his native
county.
Judge W. w. Crump and Captain John
S. Wise appeared as managing counsel, with
Hon. james Barbour, General james Field,
Colonel j. G. Gibson, Senator GrimsleT, and
George D. Gray to consult with, both as law
yers and as close friends of the accused man.
Parson Slaughter, Captain John NJ. Strother,
Delegate J. b. Nalle, Major f. B. Hill,
Henry Hill, c. B. Payne, Dr. r. S. Lewis,
and a number of other Culpeper people,
were also present to testify to the character
of the prisoner or to render any other proper
service in their power.
"GENTLEMEN, ARE YoU RIADY"!
Captain George D. Wise, Commonwealth s
Attorney, was in his scat when the Court
was called to order, and Judge Guigon,
having mounted the bench, asked, "Cap-
tain Wise, are you ready to proceed with
this case"?
Captain Wise said.he was if his witnesses
were present. A similar question was put
to the other side. Judge Crump, for the
defence, said that they were ready to go on
IL their witnesses answered. Thereupon
Sergeant Tyler called the witnesses, as fol-
lows:
For the Commonwealth: General James
c. Hill, j. L. Arthur, J. Bell Bigger, Will
liam j. Bigger, William F. Taylor, James
NJ. Taylor, Frank Binford, Carter Harri-
son, A. O. Sullivan, II. j. Cabell.
For the Defence: Many OF the witnesses
summoned for the Commonwealth are also
summoned for the defence; also, General
]. A. Walker, Snowden Yates, William
Mathew, w. NJ. Sibert, L. c. Bristow, DR..
r. S. Pendleton, and numerous citizens OF
Culpeper, who will testify to Crittenden's
standing and reputation.
BIG LINK MISSING.
Mr.. Arthur, Of Bedford, whose certih'
cate was alleged to have been "raised" by
Crittenden from So days to 13 days" and
from SIS to SIS, did not answer.
All the others either answered or were
known to be in the city where they could
be reached when wanted. \ few OF the
witnesses for the defence also failed to re-
spond
Captain Wise said that he could get along
better without any witness than Mr.. Ar
thur. without him he could not safely 60
into the trial.
General Hill and Second-D Doorkeeper Sui
| EfQQ NCIc uSkeu NY CuC IL d tCLC'
gram would reach Mr.. Arthur at home.
The answer was that 1t would not, but that
Mr.. Arthur had an engagement to meet Mr..
Sullivan at Lynchburg Monday night and
to come on to Richmond with him; failing
to do so, the supposition was that he
fAlthur) had been left by the train. Gen
eral Hill and Mr.. Sullivan were sure that
Mr. Arthur would be here at 4:30 P. NJ.
T1ME-sAvING PROPOSITIONS.
Judge Guigon suggested that as it seemed
certain Mr.. Arthur would be here by to.
morrow "wednesday morning, time would
be saved by counsel for defence submitting
now any preliminary question that they
had
This did not seem to meet with very great
favor.
The Judge then urged that the jury might
be selected (but not sworn in), and then ad.
journed until morning.
FALSE ALARM.
At this point some one stated that Mr..
Arthur was in the city.
Colonel Crank, delegate from Albemarle,
said: Certainly, talked with him not an
hour ago."s
This produced quite flutter in the court
room, and men began to look out for good
positions from which to hear the. evidence
(seats were scarce), expecting that the trial
would be soon commenced. Presently
General Hill stepped up to Commonwealth
| Attorney Wise and whispered something
softly into his ear. The latter exclaimed,
ooh no, he didn't see him. That's an
| other Arthur And so it was. The Ar
thur that Colonel Crank had been talking to
was Arthur Sullivan, the second door.
keeper OF the House-a gallant one-legged
ex-Confederate and elegant gentleman.
Then there was another lull.
A QUIET CONSULTATION.
Judge Guigon again urged that the jury
be now selected.
The Commonwealth Attorney said he
was perfectly willing to do anything to save
time, provided it did not amount to CON-
mencing the trial.
| Judge Guigon answered that the course
he suggested would not do that.
All the csaasel for Crittenden here put
their heads together and consulted, and
Judge Crump announced that "they pre-
ferred to take the usual and orderly method
Of conducting proceedings in cases OF this
character. The Commonwealth is not ready
to-day, and may not be tomorrow. We
prefer not to use time here that perhaps we
may better employ somewhere else"
THE JUDGE WANTS TO HEAR THE Law POINTS.
Judge Guigon at least couldn't see why
any preliminary legal questions that were
to be raised coudn't be raised noH-
Judge Crump responded that when the
case was ready they would be ready with
their answer, but eoald not find it conve-
4 H.