The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-21
Pleading for His Liberty.

JOHN NILES, THE HESR1CO BURGLAR, PLEAD
ING HIS OWN CAUSE-AN AMUSING SCENE IN
THE COUNTY oUET-HcUsE-How HE CAME
BY A VEST AND A S1LvER-HEADED CANE-A
LONG TERM IN TIE PENITENTIARY, &C.
The Ucnrico County Court was the scene
of an amusing incident yesterday, the like
Of which has not been witnessed for many
day. John Miles (colored) was tried for
breaking into the house cf George jackson
(colored), on the Brook turnpike, convicted
and sentenced to eighteen years in the peni-
Tertiary.
Another indictment was drawn up against
him. charging him with breaking into the
house Of Mrs. Isabella Williams, in the Vi
cinity Of Jackson's house.
,, Agreeable to Miles's desire, the Court al
lowed him TO conduct bis own case in this
instance, and when examining the witnesses
for the Commonwealth he appeared to be
somewhat familiar with court proceedings,
and showed some shrewdness in conduct
ing the examination.
Though unable to read or write, he would
frequently stop his inquiries and pretend to
be busiIs engaged in taking notes OF the
testimony to refer to during the argument.
The courtroom was crowded with spec.
tators, the majority being colored. All
present, even the officers OF the Court, were
eager to hear the prisoners argument IN
the case, and impatiently awaited the con-
clusion OF the examination. There were
several articles in the courtroom alleged TO
have been stolen by Miles, among them an
old ragged vest and q siEyer-headed cane.
These seemed to absorb his attention, and
were the burden OF his argument.
Upon the conclusion Of the testimony,
the prisoner being exceedingly anxious to
speak, he was permitted to do so. Hearose
with great gu>to and dignity, and after
glancing around the courtroom at the
crowd commenced. He began in this states.
manlike style ''GentIemen OF the jury and
your Honor the Judge, has been ar
raigned here to-day to be tried Tor DUR
glary. Yes, sir; is before You to be tried
for crime which l is totally Ignorant OF.
and is also prepared to vlndicate myself
entirely" Pulling of his coat and vest
Uhe vest which he was said to have stoIen),
and holding the old and ragged garment
before the jury, he continued his remarks:
" l did not, 'fore God. ] didn't come by
dis any way 'cept honestly. why IS 1t Is
'cused OF stealing it: Didn't walk up de
streets OF Richmond with dis same vest
Didn't everybody see 1t? And, gentlemen
of de Jury, hasn't been to de boss aucllon
| ueuIly every WIZ ~ W. IS]'
every Saturday since I first cot it; and not
living pusson has ever said Il word about
my stealing it, cause dey knew dat work
ed for and come by it honestly. Gentlemen
Of the jury, again repeat-[here be raiset
his voice to higher pitch and glanced to
wards the jury and waved the old yes
above his headl l-people at the hoss auction
people at the Old Market, and people al
around, will always believe dat honestl,
worked for dis"
The prisoner endeayored at some length
to vindicate himself in the vest scrape, ant
finally picked up the sliver-headed cane
and, after giving an amusing sketch Of tn
way he came to own it, he again gatheret
up the old vest and spoke of the many time
he had worn it.
He then resumed his seat, and smil
came over his countenance as he locke
around and saw that every eye was upol
him. 49,
The Jury, after being out few minutes
returned a verdict of guilty. and fixed hi
term of Imprisonment at five years in tn
penitentiary. That, together with the eigt
teen years, will give him quite long sta
at that institution.
Miles made motion for new trial, bu
it was overruled by the Court, and tn
prisoner was remanded to jail, still clingin
to the old vest.