The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-07
r the Commonwealth's ATTORNEY would not

burden OF his song against Steele and not
against Wren, who is alone on trial. With
the exception of drawing attention to the
fact that Wren bad called no witnessesto
testify to character, the Commemorative
Attorney had scarcely noticed him at all.
Mr. Wren is a detective. Nobody, how
ever honest, who is in that business, cai
fail to have a suspicion about him. The
defence knew that, and so concluded, 10 be
candid, not to call with esses as TO character.
1t Is profession that unavoidably brings
him in contact with thieves.
Notwithstanding Mr. Wren's position in
lie, Nlr. Meredith felt that.th Jury would
do him Justice. and would let proof aud not
assertions weigh with them. s.
It was necessary for the Comm nonwealth's
Attorney to break down Steele to convict
Wren, and hence the furious attack upon
Steele.
Mr. Meredith contended that Law was
never in SteeIe's bar-room until Thursday.
He introduced himself there as General
Law, and at once thereby recommending
himself to Steele's favor. Steele treated
him well. About II O'Clock z. M., Wren
came in and was introduced to Law, Law
says they proposed to him to take walk.
Why should they have proposed to take Il
walk with him? They had not seen his
money. He himself says he went into a
corner TO count it. How could they tell he
was ga good pigeon to pluck"? 1t would
have been more profitable for Steele to have
kept him at the bar. Is it intimated that
Steele is interested in the faro-bank? No.
The probability is that Law forced his COM
pany upon them. Law says he was invited.
Steele says Law followed them.
Now, this drunken loafer7s character is so
t,oti ci,r ri, l. frrp yipfr
cards The man who gets drunk and stays
drunk for six months says in one breath
that he refused to play cards; that he
shrunk from it. In the next he swears that
he was not certain that he didn't play
game OF short-cards That is the man who
you are to Eelicvc in preference to Mr..
Steele.
Now, wasn't the ball the very thing Il
drunken man would want to go to Could
Wren and Steele make anything OF him
thcrc Was it desirable for them that he
should go? No; hence their desire to be
rid OF him.
Mr.. Meredith reviewed and compared the
testimony of McssrS. Steele and Law from
the time they LETT the farc-hank until they
rot TO the saloon, with the view OF demon
Straing that Steele had told the truth and
Law not. Why all this hul!aballoo about
the har-room ii the robbery bad been COM
mitled before they had gotten there: Why,
then, carry him to the bar-l oom! 1t was
not to pour liquor down his throat; for an
hour afterwards he was seen by two police
men walking tocrably well down Main
street Is it probable that Law, having
seen Wren put his hand in his pocket,
would have been satisfied with the bare
statements OF the two strangers, or would
he not have called aloud for the police? He
was sober enough TO remember and be able
10 describe this robbery, but did not raise 4
cry when robbed.
But that is not all-he went to Steelc's
bar-room next morning. lie never said 4
word 10 Steele about the robbery. He
docs not believe. lie says, that Steele
was guilty; but he didn't say word
about Wren's otfcncc-not a word to the
man who had been the innocent cause OF 1t,
if he introduced Law to Wren. No, he
only asked Steele for Il drink.
Mr.. Meredith urged the view that Steele
had no motive ior telling an untruth. True,
he is under indictment; but is there any
probability of conviction when the chief
witness Uaw) says he doesn't believe that
Steele had auoht to do with robbing him !?
Anyhow, Steele boldly went upon the stand
and told the truth, and actedrthe part OF Il
brave man towards his companion, the ac-
cuSed.
Another fact that Mr.. Meredith called
particular attention to was that when they
carried Law in the bar they didn't lock the
door behind them. They lett it open.
Johnston says he came in. Anybody might
| have come in.
| Mr.. Meredith, without harShly comment
! ing upon young Johnston's testimony, ar
| gucd that it could not be true He accepted
! the statement Of Steele, that Steele and
| Wren let Law out OF the front door. James
was ct that moment on the steps Of The
| First National Bank They carried him
down towards Thirteenth street, where
| they left him, and Law. soon after, at the
corner of Fourteenth and Main, met up
with Griffin and i'rooks.
The answer OF Wren to Brooks and
james, that the stranger was "friend OF
| Stecle's from the country" can be eX-
planned by the wel-known jealousy be-
tween policemen and detectives. Did Wren
do ANYTHING more than James did when
! Steele asked him upon his first return from
Washin ston ii he had been after Law, and
he said not: And yet Mr.. Meredith would
| not call james liar, as the Commonwealth
Attorney had done Steele.
| Mr.. Meredith seemed 20 admit that there
was some public prejudice against Wren,
but he asked that the jury wonEd weigh this
testimony just as il he (Mr Meredth) were
on trial.
At s:l5 the court took q recess until j
2. NJ.
Judge Narshaifs speech.
At 5 P. N. Judge Marshall, OF counsel
| for defence. arose TO address the jury. lie
reminded them of the gravity OF the case
II they should find verdict Of guilty they
would consign the prisoner TO the penlten-
tiary for term oil from five to ten years.
To Justify such q conclusion the case must
be clearly proved.
Where is the man who says that he saw
Wren take $40 from the person OF Edward
1t is Il. X. Law. Did any other man see
him do it! No.
And who is E. Il. Law? The gentlemen
OF tue Jury saw and heard him examined.
He was upon the stand for several hours &;
and gentlemen. what did you think OF his
testimony? He contradicted himself time
and again. He admitted that when the act
was done lie was so drunk he could hardly
| walk. Would you convict respectable
dog upon such testimony?
Jack Wren may be unpopular; but the
| iury has no right TO know anything OF that.
| He is entitled to the same fair treatment
that any one else would receive. The Judge
| would not denounce Law as liar. He is
| cursed ty his God, who made him with an
! in ruity which causes him to put down bis
throat that which takes away bis reason.
| That is what makes him unreliable. He Is
| the only witness to the robbery. There is
none 10 corroborate him, and be repeatedly
| ~,n,r,djatod bimsplf i'm rhp crOSs-eylmlLla- q