Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-18
A LAWYER IN LIMBO.
Negro Lawyer Gets Himself In Jail on a
Charge or Details OF the Case


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A Negro Lawyer Gets Himself In jail on q
Charge or Larceny Details Of the Case
Richmond has had several negro law
yers, and some Of them have behaved
with great propriety and becoming mo-
desty. There are others who have not
been very retiring in their ways, and
have, whenever an opportunity offered,
assumed an arrogance towards Wit
nesses that was disgusting and indica-
tive Of faint perception of the rules o'
their profession.
Yesterday at the Police Court X. {.
o. Benjamin, colored lawyer who has
been a practitioner here for several
years, was brought before Justice ID.
c. Richardson to answer a charge oi
stealing t23.25 from Georgietta Yates.
On the 30th Of last June colored boy
named Richard Yates was before toe
Police Court charged with stealing tin
box containing one lot of jewelry, the
property OF Clara Robinson (colored).
Benjamin appeared as Yates's counsel.
The accused went to Jail, and Benja-
min, having been employed as his coun-
sci, succeeded in presenting a man who
said he would go on the bail bond, re-
presenting himself as real estate owner
on Brook avenue, and the accused was
allowed to 60 out on bail. When the
case was called in the Police Court be
failed to put in an appearance. Justice
Richardson declared the bail-bond for
feited, and certified the fact to the Hust-
ings Court.
From the evidence before the Police
Court yesterday morning it was shown
that Benjamin had called on the
mother Of Richard Yates and told her
it would cost her something to get her
son out Of the trouble which surround
ed him. An agreement was made be-
tween them, and she paid him s. in
advance. Benjamin subsequently called
on her and said that the matter had
been arranged; that there was now no
charge against her son, as he had sue
ceeded in arranging the matter in the
Hastings Court, but had to pay ESQ
cash for the costs in the case.
After this she paid Benjamin, through
Giles Jackson (colored), $23.25. After
wards she was very much surprised
when the police officers told her that
they had warrant for the arrest of her
son, as Benjamin had assured her there
was nothing against him. She went to
see the CommOnwealth's Attorney, who
told her that there was no such case in
the Hastings Court, and after hearing
her statement Mr.. s. B. Witt said he
would look into the matter. He did so,
and proceeded to swear out a warrant
against Benjamin, charging him with
larceny.
Giles Jackson testified that he col &.
lected s23.25 from Georgietta Yates
and paid the same to Benjamin, the
negro lawyer.
Clara Robinson, the woman from
whom the jewelry was stolen by Rich
ard Yates, said Benjamin came to her
house afterwards and asked her if she
could do anything so that Richard
Yates could come back. Benjamin
asked her to say that the jewelry
wasn't in tin box, but paper box,
and Richard could get off. 81 told
him ! would not swear to a lie like
that. He told me if couldn't do that
| couldn't do the family any good"
She produced paper which she said
Giles Jackson gave her, and it reads:
"Know all men by these presents,
that have known - Robinson, who
swore out warrant for the arrest of
Richard Yates on the charged of steal
ing sundry articles of jewelry, and hav-
ing this day found the said jewelry,
herewith withdraw the charge | pre-
ferred against him for the following
reasons
First. I have found the said Jew
elry in my house, it being the same the
said Richard Yates was charged with
stealing.
Second. Being a Christian woman,
| do not wish to prosecute the said
Richard Yates after having found the
said ewelry. Respectfully, &C."
The witness said she refused to sign
the paper, as she could not read, and
would not sign paper without knowing
what it was.
The case was continued until Mon
day, and the accused sent to Jail in de-
fault Of bail.