Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-19
THE STATE ATLARGE.
PETERSBURG AND VICINITY.
The Planters and Mechanics Bank; The
Grand jury investigaifng the Causes or
Failure; Great Interest In the Community.

The PLANTERS ana mechanics Bank; The
Grand Jury Investigating the Causes or
Failure; Great Interest In the Community.
tCorrespondenee OF the Richmond Dspatch.I
july IS, 1884.
II was intimatcd In this correspondorce
several days ago that the grand Jury wonld
probably undertake the Investigation Of
some matters OF very important local in
fercst. This statement is confirmed by the
fact that the grand jury has been ali day
investigating the causes which led To the
failure Of the Planters and Mechanics
Bank. with the view OF sscertaininp
whether cYiminalty attaches 10 any ore in
the management OF its Affairs and set,inrat
rest the damaging rumors that have long
been aaaat IN the city in reference TO the
management OF that institution.
when The grand jury met this morning
at IL O'Clock = number OF witnesses were
sworn and sent before them TO testify in
reference 10 the matter.
About II O'Clock. while the trial OF
Thomas j. Davis for the killing OF John
Dtmar was In progress, the grand Jury
came into the courtroom. and on being
asked II they had any presentmonts 10
make the foreman. Mr. Hugh Il. Smith. adj
dressing the Judge. said that during the
examination OF witness the attention OF
the grand jury 'yas called 10 The existence
Of paper hearing upon the partial exani.
nation Of the Affairs OF the tank in 1874
which Il was deemed important to have In
evidence. Il was ascertauad thlt tajS
paper was in the possession OF Mr. W. T..
Watkins. A request was sent 20 that gen.
teman for the paper. but he declined to
surrender It. The grand jury. th.roiore.
sSked the Court what should be done in the
matter.
MT. Watkins. who was in court. read the
note that he had received from the foreman
% the grand jury, and on being sworn
stated that the paper referred to Is in his
hands is m bis possession o. counsel for
LwO Wcll-knoWu gentlemen, and i re-
Corded ~ Of the most mgtcrial importance
IN suit n proposed 10 bring. involving \
large amount oi money. lie considers the
possession oi this paper q sacred pledge,
and believes that II IL should be made pub
lie at this time Z would seriously prejudice
and damage the case. Mr. Watkins dis
claimed any intention to disobey the orders
Of the grand jury, or TO show any want OF
respect for that body.
The foreman (Mr. smith said It was IIn-
derstood that the PAPER in question had
been obtained by Mr.. Watkins from Mr..
n. +. Pattcson, q wiiless before the grand
irry, whose property it vas supposed
10 lie.
AZ this point Judge Mann said the Court
was in the midst OF the tri1lo o. an i.p1rtant
ease involving capital punishment. and he
could not allow the trial to De suspended
to 90 into hearing OF The question raised
by the grand jury. That could be settled
At another time. and meanwhile the grand
jury could return to iheir room 20 proceed
with the examination Of other witnesses,
or the investigation Of other matters be-
fore them.
The grand Jury thCTeupon retired. aud
The question of the surrender 81 the I'M
roTtant paper in question was laid over
FOR settlement hereafter. The matter will
doubtless be argued at some length, ~ 1t
involves some interesting points.
The courtroom was crowded Mt the time,
and the attention OF every person present
was for the while turned from the trial OF
the Davis case TO the point raised by the
grand Jury.
1t . O'Clock the Jury were adjourned
until s. O'Clock, when DEMONSTRATION will
lie resumed. II is hardly probable thatany
prcsentments will be made, or any report
submitted lorseyeral days. It's designed to
examine all witnesses who can give the
grand jury any Information, and TO make
The investigation as rigid as possible.
The acton Of the grand jury in this mat
ter has created genuine commOtiOn in the
city, and the result OF the Investigation /,
awaited vita intense interest. IL is under
stood that the paper above referred 20 isan
abstract Of partial examination OF the AZ
fairs Of the bank made in 1874, which was
not satisfactory TO some OF the directors,
who resigned in consequence.
The Hastings Court has been engagedall
day in the trial OF the case Of the Common
wealth rs. Thomas j. Davis. indicted for
the murder OF John Ditmar several months
$50. The peculiarly about this case is that
there were no Witnesses 10 The beginning
Of Tie unfortunate difficulty. Davis at the
tine was employed aS Signal-man on the
connection track o. the Petersburg railroad
ncar the intersection Of the Norfolk and
Western road. There the fatal dItlitulty
occurred about O'Clock in the evening.
Ditmar, it is alleged, went to see Davis in
regard to certain derogltOry statements
said to have been made by DAVIS IN regard
to bis DItmar'>) daughter. II was evil
IDENTIFY not until si.cr the diilicul V had
been in progrcs. for some time
that any person came in view.
Then quarrcllng was heard and fighting
was seen. after which Diimqr started back
home. He had not gone :ar when Davis
hailed him. having gun in his hand. Dit
mar called 10 him 20 put the gun down,
which he did. bur armed himself with .
club. When Dimar went back The dill.
Guilty was renewed. Ditmsr fell to the
track with broken arm and fractured
.kull, from the effects OF which he died
Immediately. DAVIS went 10 the police
station and surrendered himself. lie ap-
pared to be quite badly hurt. A. the
conclusion Of the evidence counsel for the
defence (Ncssrs. Charlie, !. Collier aad ".
r. McIlwIine) submitted a series OF iustruc-
tons. which they asked The Court 10 give
to the jury. These were argued until the
hour oil recess.
The Petersburg Red-StockingS Baseball
Club was organized last night 1t large
meeting OF our Young men held Tor the
purpose. rhc club viii have their grounds
near the Wcst-EnA Park.
a great deal oil enthusiastically from
the effects Of ieyers-preyails in our city.
4 number Of persons are III.
ROBIN ADAIR.