Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-25
j. 7. JAMES RELEASED.
CHARGE rnAT HE AIDED BLACKWELL
IN ESCAPING NOT PROVED.
Finding That He Would Not Be Well Paid
He Did Not Take Blackwell to
Kentucky.

Au examination was held in the Police
Court yesterday morning In the case Of John
r. James, detective. who came to Rich
mond some months ago from Norfolk,
charged with feloniously aiding and abettIng
William Blackwell, a fugitive from justice
and q convict OF felony, TO escape from
custody. The warrant charged that the
ofience was committed on the 20th of July.
In the Dispatch Of Saturday last was pub
lifhcd a fun statement OF this case. its origin.
and the movements Of both james and Black
well.
The accused was arrested in Norfolk on
Friday last on telegram from Chief.of-Po-
lice Poe. but for some reason was subse-
qucntly released.
ON Monday afternoon Policeman c. A.
Gibson, who had been sent TO Norfolk for
James, and who was returning TO Hlchmond,
met with the detectyeon the Chesapeake and
Ohio tram and took him into custody a short
distance this side OF Newport News, and the
two came on 10 Richmond together.
IN COURT
James spent the night IN the station-honse
and walked out Of the prisoners pen when
his case was called In court and took a
seat % the loit OF his counsel, Messrs. John
Lyon and Jacob Cohn. Colonel SpOiswood,
the Commonwealth Attorney, was present
for the prosecution and there was large
crowd of spectators present The case was
taken up about / O'Clock and was heard by
Senior Justice william j. Holmes, as Justice
Crutcbfed was witness and therefore could
not slt. ~ was after 1 O'Clock when the
trial ended, an hour or more having been
consumed IN legal arguments.
WHAT THE JUSTICE SAID.
Officer Gibson testified as 10 The arrest and
POlicr-Jusace Crutcbneld was next put on
the stand. tie sad that some time in the
early part of last week Detective james wss
before him as q witness agslnst Blackwell, an
escaped convict from the penilentiery OF
Kentucky, and exhibited q telegram from
The warden OF that Institution, which was ad-
dressed TO HIM llamcs) and dated july 18th,
stating that William Blackwell, convicted Of
housebrcakIng, was an escaped convict (;
also q telegram from the warden, dated july
18th, saving, "Send Blackwell here"
Upon that evidence he (Crutchfleld)
committed Blackwell TO iai TO await
m rcquisiti0n from the Governor Of
Kentucky. On the evening Of July 18th the
Justice, while sitting on his front porch, bad
n visit from Detective James, who said that
Blackwell had consented TO 90 Ia Kentucky
without rcqulsiti0n. Before taklag any
steps in the matter the Justice consulted
Colonel SpotswoOd, the Cemmonwealth's Al
tOrney. who said: "Let the prisoner 20 with
Jamos." lie (CrutchGcld) went to the iall,
saw Blackwell, and told him that James had
no authority 10 take him 10 Kentucky with
out TeQuistiOn. Blackwell said that he was
willing to 90 without rcquieItion, where
upon ne turned the prisoner over 10 De-
L.. foI "a
Justice walked down TO Seventeenth street
TO take an electric car. On his way he
stopped at the Chesapeake and OHIO depot
and was talking to friend, and the train
pulled out Of the depot. About fifteen
minutes after the train had left James and
Blackwell drove up in back, and Unding
that the train had gone James said that he
would take The Norfolk aud Western train.
Recnterng the hack they drove oil.
LEGAL POINT RAISED.
Blackwell, whose real name, he says, Is
William Brown, was next called as a wit
ness. whereupon Mr.. Lyon objected to his
testifyug on account OF his being an escaped
convict and not having lurged himself by
serving out bis full term. lie also read the
law bearing on this point.
Colonel Spotswood held tha. convict who
is serving a term IN prison can testify against
another convict who escapes. aud therefore
may be allowed 10 testify against himself In
a similar case. He also insisted That II was
obligatory on the defence 20 show that
the accused Is a convict before they could
except Of hIs testimony. This and kindred
other points were argued at great length and
tho Court decided that Black wcll-BrOwn
could testify, but that he was not compelled
to answer the question, winch counsel bad
intimated their intention OF asking, as to
whether or not he was an escaped convict.
Colonel SpotswOod having had his atten-
ton called 10 the date Of the warrant, he
changed 1t to july 18th with a view TO con-
timing the examination to the direct inquiry
as to whether the detective secured Black.
Wells release from jail with the intention, as
was claimed, Of turning him loose after get
ting him out OF the city.