The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-01
THE rRoaDEN TRIAL.
ACCUSED CONVICTED. BUT RECOMMENDED
TO MEECY-MoTIoN FOR A NEW TRIAL
MADE AND TO BE ARGUED 10TH JULY
FACTS CONCERNING THE TRIAL. s.,.

-
} MADE AND TO BE ARGUED 10TH JULY
FACTS CONCERNING THE TRIAL. .s. !.
About O'Clock Saturday the Jury OF the
Hustinps Court In the case Of Willard f.
Trsgden, indicted for getting goods from
M. Millhiser d Co. on false pretences, found
accused guilty and ascertaincd bis term OF
imprisonment in the penitensiary at three
years.
For the benefit Of those who did not fol-
low the reports of the trial closely it may be
said that Trogden was the Chief member OF
the firm OF Trogden & Co.. merchants. Of
Greensboro, n. G. On the 2Sth OF Februa-
ry last he came to this city. Mr. Taylor,
salesman Of Millhiser d Co., took his
order for about $500 worth OF goods.
Mr.. Hirsh, a member OF the firm Of
NJ. Milihiser 4 Co., saw the goods
laid out on the sales-counter. Trogden Il
Co. had bought bills ranging from S25 to
800 from the firm, and there had been no
trouble with them; but Mr.. Hirsh was not
prepared to let 5000 worth or bis goods go
without learning more than be knew about
Trogden & Co.'s financial standing.
/ - THE REPRESENTATIONS. s,ase 81.
| Mr.. Hirsh sent Mr.. Taylor for Mr. Trog-
den. The latter came in with Mr.. Taylor,
and upon entering Mr.. Hirsh's office said,
81 suppose you want q statement" 2" Mr.
Hirsh told him that he did and thereupon
Trogden gave him false statement, show
| ing his firm to be in sound financial con.
dition. u..
Mr.. Gus. Millhiser was the member OF
the firm TO whom the credit business
was usually referred, but he was absent in
New York. Hirsh enclosed him Trog-
4 den's statement, which he had re-
duced to writing as soon as it was given
! him, and with it the names OF the New
York houses with whom Trosden said he
had dealt. Millhiser went to see three OF
the New York houses. They knew very
little about Trogden & Co.-and nothing to
| their discredit-and MIllhiser telegraphed
| Hirsh to ship the goods. They were ship.
ped, to be paid for in two and four months.
On that very same day (2Sth February,
Trogden bought goods from Gardner,
| Carlton & Baldwin, and from other Rich
mond firms, and to several of them gave
| the very same statement. A month after
wards he went into bankruptcy. In the
meantime, however, he had bought goods
to the amount Of $4,000 or $4,000
| from various parties in Richmond and other
places. Whatever became Of these goods
was never proved, and to the Greensboro
people, as to the Jury, remains mystery.
FACT AND FICTION. :.
! On the 2Sth February Trogden bought a
| considerable bill from Gardner, Carlton u
Baldwin. To Mr.. Baldwin he gave the
very same statement that he had furnished
0Ir. HirSh. -"
The statement and the truth compare as
\ o1 CHI hu no fri
| Statement. The Fact.
| Amount with which Trog- .5.- @.rst
| den & Co. commenced
| business twelve, months u,, ~, -, no., ot,
stock, as shown on inven-
| ventory taken just before
The firms indebtedness. 400 90 100 0C
Real estate Of Mr.. Alfred, >,
member OF frm.......... 3,O0U w l,7UO W
Mr.. Allred's real estate is assessed a
$500. In his schedule he represented or
oath that it was worth only $500. Twt
witnesses for the defence-neither claimins
4 to know positiyely-put it ut from S1,IO'
to $4,000.
Trogden had taken an inventory just be
fore he came to Richmond (his books proret
it), and knew exactly how he stood.
THE BLAIR LETTER.
At the close Of the trial it is understood
q examined the books and papers those in fl
vor OF conviction increased in number
The last man was brought over by the Blai
letter. What is the Blair letter?
About the middle Of March Trogden sen
/ an order to Lewis FL. Blair Il Co. Nj
Blair went to Gardner, Carlton Il Baldwin
to inquire about Trogden. Mr.. Baldwi
gave them copy of Trogden's statement
Blair d co. copied that statement off an,
wrote to Trogden & Co., asking ii it wa
correct Trogden cut out the statemen
from Blair & Co.'s letter and pinned it t
his answer, as follows:
GREENSBORO, n. c., March IS, 1878.
NeSsrs. Leaois H.. Blair d: Co., Richmond
Gentlemen,-The enclosed statement wa
q true one, and our business is still pros
pering. Very respectfully,
TRoGDEN L. Co.
| Names OF firm: W. L. Trogden. c. L
! Trogden, and j. W. Alfred. Alfred own
real estate worth $4,000, unincumbered
stock Of goods on hand February /, 1878
S4,0 900; cash capital February 1877, S2,700
owing February, 1878, S400.
Tou will also oblige us by saving whetbe
the capital Of $2,TO0 in February. 1877. wa
borrowed or olcned Here Trogden, befor
: returning this paper. inserted us an answe,
/ after "owned," g II acas."1 bu members o
: firm. We will also be obliged for any othe
| facts bearing on your mercantile standing
! Yours truly, LEWIS Fl. BLAIR Il Co.
: MERCY.
= This letter removed the doubts OF the las
= juror who had held out for acqutttal. Bu
he and all the others agreed to the follow
, ing, which they would have made a part {
, their. verdict if they had been allowed b
. law so to do:
"We, the undersigned, members OF til
jury which rendered the verdict in tn
case Of Willard F. Trogden, recommen
aim to Executive clemency; and this W
have resolved to.do when making up on
! verdict. Fl. Swineford, Thomas M. Jones
K. Cauthorn, Jr., George w. Duesberry
Jr., George W. Bradley, ". II. 3. Taylor
Herman Kopple, James c. Roy, John {
Barnes, L. r. Barnes, John-F. w. Gibson
and Z. M. Crump."
MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL.
Mr.. Trogden was very much affected b,
the verdict. He was evidently not prepare,
for it. Here it may be said that his conduc
during the trial was uneXceptionable.
4 Judge Crump moved that the verdict b.
set aside as contrary to the law and eyi
dence. That motion will be argued on Jul,
10th. Trogden was remanded to Jail.
Captain George D. Wise and Mr. JOIN
Howard (who was employed by the victim