Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-21
DEGRADED ron LiFE.
{ Wealth, Woman Cou, ,icird Of StcsIiug
from store.

i NfIlfhN " oman toutlCfrd SfcaItug
from a store.
4 Philadelphia spcci1lSays: Witnesses
for character now come forward" said the
counsellor for the defendant. and half the
visitors 10 the court got upon their feet.
old and young men, ladies OF all ages and
OF the highest respectabilitv succeed each
other upon the witncss.stnnd. Deacons Of
the church. retired merchants. lldic, OF
society, matrOuS OF benevolent institutions,
and many trldc>-poOple that the defendant
has dealt with for several years follow each
other ~ fat H. the court Officer can admin
lister the oath. ''lou do solemrly swear
Sc. rings through The thick atmosphere
with m0notOnous csdcnce. All swear that
the lady on trial for larceny has borne 4
spotlcss character for many years.
rnR WEALTHY LADY PRISONER.
Mr.. Amelia Young. charged with >teaI-
ins five pairs Of stockings IRON StraHbridgc
G. ClOthier's shop in July last, ,its by the
side OF her counsel. She is a lady OF l,rgc
wealth. and. up to the bringing OF tins in
dictmcni. has borne a spOtle>s reputation.
Motive for the theft j, wholly and admit.
tedly absent. bIi the testimony Of the sales
woman and the iloor-Walkcr bas just been
eiycn and l. OF the clcarest. most circiIm-
>iaoiial kind. They did not know thc els
TONER, but from different point, of vantage
had seen her acting su>pcIOu>ly. one a.
salC>woman. the other as ti00rwalker had
watched the pu;atiYc purchaser ,ccrctc tie
stockings about her clothes. and though
most of them were found on the door when
She was accused Of thetheft, the llOorwalscr
,WcarS positively that he found one pair IN
the pocket oi The defendants dress.
Mrs. Young has pleaded - Not guilty"
and has made a general denial Tdc ease
rests upon The charge oi the two witness,
for the Commonwealth and the declaration
Of Che dcfcndrnt that she " knows nothing
about the good. or how they were found
hy the foor.wllkcr in her possession.
Two disiLtcrcsted witnesses against Onr.
who has everything 10 lose by conviction.
Hence the calling OF witnesses for char
acicl.
Al EXcELirNT REFUTAIION.
The parade IN. been gong on ever since
your corrC> pondeut began writing this
sketch.
An elderly lady. IN full mourning, t'sii-
hc. foelingly 10 Mr>. Young many aels of
bemeyolcncr among the poor. A demnrc
yo,mg wife follows with 4 pretty Incident
about the prisoners kiDdnc>S to sick
child IN one Of the hospitals. Next sue
cceds = nstron. with very black eyes. who
does not hesitate To denOunce the arrest ~
=. an outrage and 10 say that she would
trust "her life and honor" with Nr,.
Young.
# should he stated that nearly all Of
these LADIES' are known and respected n
the best society OF tht, city. Those not -
well known are no less worthy people.
:. Have known the lady fifteen years,
admits = plump witness OF middle age,
looking VAIN and Stufy in her oil-skin
CLOAK. "she l. q member Of our chHrca,
and never was guilty Of this crime. AN
sIne.v She has sworn 10 thi, belief before
the lawyers can check her.
After this witues. comes troop Of ineii.
All tell the same story. " Ten years
A model Of generosity "A lady 10
every respect" testifies her physician.
Twelve years intimate acquaintance
iustiiies me In saying that the driendshi
bears the very highest character for non
esty.- declares au old gentleman much re'
senbliug Horace Greeley about the iicc'
After several witnesses come, hnf eid
man with suspicioss,y black bar, VINO
would trust her with snything.' iiah
dozen more people Kiss the Bible ana pro-
nounce the lady's character Of the best:
The officer who made the arrest hi'iei
by nsmcl Is called by the deieucc and ptli'
the situation a. iavorably a. h. edn Tor the
lady.
sUHAlNG Up TuE EtIDNN'E.
The Assistant District Attorney suns
up. This is merely question OF 'aei,
he declares, land not a east ioI s's"'
ment.' fl,
tounscl for the defendant bcgins Oaait.
lie argues that the prosecution must NOV
a motive. He declares that the Lhy - 's'y
wealthy and had much money In her pocns'
! ut the moment she was confronted WIN '"o
, terrible accusation OF petty theit. -.
The proletarians in the courtroom ~
| and crane their nccks TO see woman "oI'"
! $50. 900 who can be accused OF the eoulinoa
| place crime of shop-liftins. Tne II'nnu ,,.l'
| less prisoners behind the high iron rsn',is
\ In the dock SIGH aud envy deiend,nl W. W.
has plenty Of money and can employ ''"
1 counsel. A.,
The lawyer then explains, hewe'ei. III,
he asks ofayors for his client thai nc Mou,e
| not expect for the most friendless M'aise, ~,
The prisoners In the dock 'ooA Al vi
other in wonderment and speculate a"'''