Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-23
CITY AND SUBURBAN.
HEETIEGs COURT YESTERDAY.

Thamns W. carprus-r scsf % fr PeDiscs-
fsnry for Cine Ssar-other Csscs Dis
pssed or.
Yesterday morning Judge Thomas s.
Atkins took his seat on the bench Of
the Hastings Court. Clerk w. p.
Lawton. be OF the smooth and legible
hand and utmost business precision I;
Sergeant n. M. Lee. the gray eagle Of
the court, and Mr.. Samuel y. Witt,
the Commonwealth able advocate.
were all IN their places, while in the hall
OF the dingy barn now occupied by the
officers of the city there was more than
the usual amount Of unpleasing optical
assailing material IN the shape of wet
floors, tobacco-quids. stained walls, and
umbrellas reeking with the wetness OF the
misty weather Oh the outside. Wit
Desses. defendants friends. and those
who felt III interes: IN the result OF the
stern dispensntion OF Justice within the
humble walls Of the court were not de-
TERED by the forbidding surroundings,
but brEviDg these and bad weather were
present. and received the usual amount
OF unpleasant contact with crowd too
hugely Republican IN Its elementary
basis TO be III the slightest suggestive OF
either comfort OF contentedness.
The case Of Thomas W. Carpenter.
charged with stealing s2s. 900 from Mr..
Marx Dovney, was called, and the
crowd heard CLERK W. p. Lawton read
the indictment while Mr.. Carpenter
stood. In reply to the usual question
as TO guilt, Carpenter, IN tones that were
low and tremulous, gave al affirmative
response.
MIR. Samuel r. Witt. with his sccus-
toned charitable feeling, declined TO
introduce witnesses, deeming such
course unnecessary under the circuD-
stances. BE stated the law governing
such cases, and submitted the case to
the jury, after having stated the pun
ishuent prescribed by Law for offences
OF similar sort.
The accused was represented by
Nessrs. Charles Y. Meredith and
Thomas n. Page, who briefly addressed
the jury IL ms behalf. Zach made an
eloquent plea for mercy, and spoke
leelingly Of the sorrow and suffering
which Carpenters misdeed had already
entailed upon al who loved him. They
argued that no punishment the jury
could infilct could add 10 the sorrow
that the accused and his family had
suffered. and that the punishment could
only reach those who are entirely InBO-
cent.
The Jury, composed OF the following
men, then retired ". y. Hope, 10
seph a Hierholzer. NJ. A. Allen, John
Il. Kemple. }. 7. LIgon, O. NJ Holmes.
Garter Brander. J. NJ. Turner. J. p |
Adams, William Powers, Charles II /
Gressett, and ". Il. Pleasants. They
were out but a short time when they /
came III. having agreed upon q verdict /
which placed Nh. Carpenters punish
meni at one year confinement IN the 1
State penIentiary.
Judge Thomas ;. Atkins pronounced /
the sentence, and the scene was deeply /
affecting. II was not only MS father
Rnd mother who were IL tears, but
nearly every person IL the eOurt-room
besides, and expressions Of sympathy
were almost universal.
Carpenter was taken back to jail and .
.he execution Of the sentence OF the
Court was suspended for thirty days IL
,rdeT 10 allow the accused time to al
lly fOr pardon.
Alexander Smith lcolored,. Gl,Gs
Horsley, &C., charged with grand
arceny, was sentenced 10 the State
lrison fOr one year.
EDWARD Hamburg. for resisting the
1olice IL the discharge OF ther duty.
Tas fined 6 and costs after which the
3Ou~f aniourned