Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-18
CROSS AND WHITE.
Potts Cheats the Gailows by Taking Poison
The Mysterious Prisoner, Again
Grape Fair.
rsnncial lelsgr.m o .he pIspatch.l

RALEIGH, N. c., July 17.-At the opening
OF the Superior Court this morning the rooii
was full OF people interested aud curious IN
the case OF Cross and White, the State Bank
wreckers. Instead OF going on with the EN-
panclling OF the Jury, the counsel Tor the
defence raised the question OF jurisdiction OF
the Court alleging that the Federal Court
was the proper tribunal TO try the case. lhe
allegation was based on the presentation thAt
the forgeries under the indictment preferred
were intended only 20 deceive the BANK eN.
aminer, and not made with the intention OF
defraudng the patrons and depository. Ihe
object Of the forgeries were to make the as
sets OF the bank appear better aud more re-
liable than they were, and that the iorgerles
had not been presented 10 any one win Inc
view to raising cash assets for the bank'
Counsel urged that THIS being the case Tue
state Court mad no jurisdiction OF the Tor
ceres presented; that II the Staie
Court should prosecute for the lOI.
gerry. il being an integral part oil
the case. the Federal Court would be
barred from prosecuting for false entry, over
which IL had exclusive jurisdiction. The
argument Of counsel for the defence lasted
from 1918 A. NJ. TO 2 =. NJ. The solicitor
for the state answered In an argument oil
about two hours. stating that the counsellor
the defence bad failed TO recognize the iacI
that forgery and false entry were two dis
tinct offences; that forgery being an onence
against the common law this court had lu-
risdiction. Judge Avery decided mat the
court had jurisdiction, and ordered the trial
10 be proceeded with. The work OF empln-
cling the jury was commenced. NO heau-
way was made during the evening,
CHEATED THE GALLONS.
w, A. Potts, Jr., OF Washington, who was
10 have been hanged at Washington to-day
for the murder OF Paul Lincke in June, 1887,
succeeded in escaping The gaIlows by taking
poison. II will be remembered that he was
10 have been hanged last Thursday. lie
took morphine, and when thought to be In a
diving condition was respiied by the Cover
NOR until TO-DAY. Last night be took poison
again. II il not known how he procured 1t,
as he was under strict death-waich. Pby-
sicians attempted 10 cOunteract The effects OF
the poison, but he died about ii O'Clock.
GRAPE.
Twenty-Five thousand grape-baskets were
received here to-day for the use oil parties
who will make exhibits OF the Grape Falr In
this city in August. Most OF them have
been applied for. There will be about 2'5,'
900 pounds Of grapes on exhibition.
Colonel l.. l.. Polk, secretary OF the state
Farmers Alliance, reports ms now organ
Ized and in working order $50 sub-alliances.
TIE MYSTERIOUS PRISONER.
A letter was received here to-day which
seems TO set at rest all speculation concern
Ing the man under arrest for Scott Partin.
The prisoner at one time stated that his name
was Robert Lesson Porter, and that IN 1873
he iolned the United States artillery. The
letter reads:
"CAMP AT FISHES ISLAND, n. Y.,(
"July g, 1885.
al give Won what information ! have been
able to get from men IN the battery who
served with Robe.t Lesson Porter during
the time he was in the army. Corporal To-
bin, OF Battery VI, Filth artillery. says that
he enlisted prior to 1875, and that he went
South with this regiment in December OF
that wear. He was discharged at Fort Ba-
raucas I'm 1878 because he was considered a
little 'oh,' and was last seen on fishing
smack. CORPORAL Tobin further states that
he was about five feet eight inches high /;
weight ahout $50 pounds, and wore black
moustache and gOltee; eyes brown, COM
plexiOn salOw; age between twenty-nlne ana
tbirfy.tiye wears. Persons he names were as
be stated except Or. Towns. The soldiers
say that DR.. Brown was pOst-surgeon at that
time.
GSirnedl "CHRLEs Il. WHEELER,
Second Lieutenant Fifth Artillery, COM
handing Battery NJ"
THIS description OF the man is accurate,
and the other circumstances tally with his
representations. The prisoner is evidently
not Scott Partin.