The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-13
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

10 We EuttOT or me DlSFuttH:
There appeared in your paper this morn
ing an account Of the case against me tried
In the Police Court yesterday. What was
stated in the account was what was said
and testified TO in the case, but do not
think that the evidence was stated quite
fully enough. 1t was shown by my books
that had been buying for several months
thousands Of pounds Of iron; that on the
day before the search was made by the
police had received from Charlottesville
$40 pounds wrought iron scrap and about
100 pounds Of east iron. II was shown
that the pile on which the pins were found
by the police was a pile OF 100000 pounds
OF iron; that il was made up OF purchases
made during the last two months: that
when dray-ioad OF iron is brought from
the cars IL is weighed on the dray, then
dumped on the floor, and then the dray Is
weighed, the pile so dumped, whether
consisting OF 500 pounds or 1900 pounds,
is shoyelled up on the pile by men hired
by me. OF course doing the business
! do. and making and receiving
the large purchases do, cannot examine
every scrap to see whether a coupling-pin
or link is in the pile. The pieces found be-
longing to the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company were half-dOZen, weighing
about thirty pounds, on pile Of one hum
dred thousand pounds. They were not
hid, but were found on the pile lying a.
the other scraps were. Ny store is always
open. Every one can come In there who
wishes 10 see il anything is there that be-
longs TO them. | was not charged with
buying iron knowing it to be stolen.
was tried under the strange statute that
requires any one having in his possession
railroad iron TO prove that the man he
bought ii from had a right TO sell. OF
course, in 10y large business. as stated
above, | cannot show week or month
afterwards that a particular piece Of scrap
iron found on pile Of 100000 pounds was
bought from any particular person. In this
case | could not show positively from whom
| had bought the half-doZen pieces,
and for that reason was sent on. This
may le justice, but it is rather harsh, and
TO have such a law put into the hands Of
men that can use it q, a revenge, u they
have done this, rs | will show. Five or
Fix policemen came into my place as soon
a it was opercd, about hali-past o'clock.
They remained there from three 10 four
hours, looking after brass, suppose, or,
as they said. anything else they could find.
They did not find any brass or anything
else, 50 they thought they would put me TO
all the trouble and expense, and il they
possibly could disgrace me. So on 10 Il
pile Of iron, 100000 pounds, they picked
about thirty pounds II iron, and some Of
this not fit for Use. Not satisfied, two OF
them, Matthews and Walton. entered my
private Office. and one ~ them. named
Walton, opened the drawers and doors Of
my writing-desk-a curious place to look
for old IRON. | protested against such
doingS, and went to Major POc's Office TO
see il such proceedings were lawful. lie
not being in, could not get any >iti ti>iacti0n.
SO came back and submitted TO the insult.
Was put under arrest. Sent for magis-
trate 70 give bail. One came. and wanted
to bail me. When the magistrate was
about to take bail he was informed
by Matthews that he had no right
to bail me. very much TO his surprise a.
well rs mine. So was taken before Rich
ardson on statement Of Matthews that he
found the iron on top Of my old iron pile,
and | was bailed for 500 until the llth,
tried, and sent on TO Both Of September.
This search-warrant was gotten out by PO-
liceman Richards Oh the statement Of co.
ipiNh hiNii' "hN Ai'i7 7"'A@N 'Ai''i 'f"7 Iht WI
the stand by the Commonwealth and sworn
10 tell the truth. He stated that Policeman
Richards told him II he would say that he
sold me brass and could fix ne that he
would let him 90 free. They stopped him; :;
did not need him any more, a his evidence
wasn't the right kind, and gave him twelve
months in jail a 4 suspicious character. |
showed 10y my books that | had taken in Il
load OF old iron from Charlottesville TIE
evening before, and more than likely they
may have come in with that old iron; but
cannot swear to il, for do not see more
than one pound in 10000 | receive, As |
take in some day, over 100000 pounds Of
iron, and hardly ever receive any myself,
as my time i, occupied elsewhere. As my
clerk testified, have given orders not TO
Luy railroad iron j. {. SMITH,