Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-28
JUDGE AND THE JAIL,
mrs HONOR OF TIE HUsrrses COURT IN
vrsrIoATEs TAE RECENT ESCAPES.
The City sergssns Reproyed and Aetion
Taken Against three Of His
suberdinstea

ss,l on Monday night last was held 10 tbs
Hastings Court yesterday morning, CON-
mcncing Of II O'Clock.
Precisely ut The hour named Judge Samuel
n. witt walked ont Of bis privs,e Office, took
hts seat on the bench, and announced that
che examination would proceed.
Deputy-sergesnt James Madison Macon
opened the court IN due form aud with the
accustomed solemnitv.
There were perhsps one hundred persons
IN the room. Including friends 81 the Ser,
gesnt members OF the Tar, hall dozen Wit
nessss, several officers, and the usual City
Hall bsbitues. " ben asked by the Court "
che witnesses were present MIR. Macon re.
piled that they had been summoned. and
when he called their names all OF them re-.
sponded.
Sergeant Carter vas ia court. having ar
rived some time before tae matter was taken
up. lie had no counsel. Colonel NJ. L..
spo.swood was present in The interest OF the
Commonwealth.
TIE sfPGEANT.
Mr.. Carter was sworn ~ the 6rst witness
ard told 10 take the stand.
Judge via informed the witness that
rule hsd been issued against him for not be-
sng present on Friday when this matter was
10 utFt bfft UtaiUs tUu Irhtu Wbat tAfieh'
fIon be hsd 10 make for his nos attendance.
MIR. Carter said be would repeat in court
what be had said 70 the Judge privately
Friday afternoon. when the Judge told
witness Thursday 10 appear before him next
day be Carter did not understand that
formal investigation would be held, But ex-
pected to have an Interview with the Judge
on the subject. No hour was mentioned In
connection with bls appearance and be
shought 1t would perhaps be more con-
venient for him to see the Judge IN the alter
noon after the session Of the court was over.
As soon. however, as he learned that he had
been expected 10 appear In court he went 10
tbe Judge and apologized.
This was shout O'Clock IN the afternoon.
Judge Witt told the witness that this ex.
plsnation was entirely satisfactory, and the
Eule was dismissed.
ABSENT FROM THE CITY.
Mr.. Carter was then examined in regard
20 the escape OF the prisoners from the jail.
He testified that he was IN New Kent county
ere pight II happened. Night atch@en
Hall and Burns were on duty, having re-
lfsved the jsier and engineer, who also
scted in The capacity OF wstchman, at
o'clock. lie (wtness) bad learned that the
prisoners made their escape about 1871
O'Clock. Deputies Macon AID Burgess knew
tn2t witness WAS oub vi tHc CtAt ~ tbV tu"'
DUTIES OF TIE DEPUTIES.
Deputy Nacon's duties. witness said IN
fepiy 10 A Question asked by Colonel Spots
wood, are not connected with the jail; be
attends 10 matters around the court room.
MIR. Burgess sleeps st the iali. Witness
did not kn0g whether Burgess bad been in-
structed rs to what time he should he at the
prison at night, and Mr.. Burgess probably
Al ba 90 avD&pfp1 IN no the "a
onv In time for sleep. Witness had never
specified sDy hours.
Deputy Lee looks after the clerical work
si the jail snd TO duties at the courtroom.
WHO Is RESPONSIBLE?
Judge Witt: Nv HON do you look to
20 manage the jail when you arc not theref"
Mr. Carter: mir. Burgess Is expected to
sleep heTe Ut right, and suppose l should
book to him."
judge Wit: "But whom do you look to
and who Is responsible for the management
OF the affairs OF the jail in case Of your ab-
senee from the cityi'
Mr. Carter lhesitating): "Well, suppose
Mr. Burgess ought 10 lie looked 10 to man.
age the jail when am not here"
Judge Witt: A." SOmeb body has got 10 be re-
spoOsibe for the conduct OF the prison IN
your absence. lrepcat the question, Winch
Of the deputies IS looked TO ss managing the
Jail In your Sbsencef"
Mr.. Carter again replied, ~ before, that he
looked 10 Mr.. Burgess, though the latter had
never been instructed - to what be Was ex-
pecsed TO do at the iail or what time he
should be there.
Wines. looked TO watehmen Hall and
Burns for the Hfekeeping Of the prisoners
when Mr.. Burgess was absent
wATCHKlN ABSENT.
Mr.. Carter further stated that he had
learned from Mr. Hall himself that be (tialD
WAS absent when the prisoners got away;
that he had gone out and locked the door
from the outside. The prisoners were en-
gagged in cooking Sunday night and Monday
and hEa not been locked up at the time.
Mr.. Hall had no right to leave the prison
Is be did.
Mr.. Carter stated that Mr.. Burrs had been
recommended 10 him for the position by
number OF his (Carter's) friends, and Slso by
good many OF Burns's own friends. Hail
was endorsed BY Judge Atkino, and this was
Why they were appointed.
DEPUTY LEE EXCUSED.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Carter's testi.
mony the Court stated that he did not see any
Use in gOlng on any further with Sir. Lees
case, az II was plain that bis duties were not
connected with the saie-keepipg of the
prisoners.
Mr.. BURGESS on THE STAND.
Mr. Burgess next took the stand and
tiated that ne was not at the jail at the time
OF The escape; he had received no inStruc-
lions as TO what time be was expected to be
tbsre. He reached the prison about l
O'clock that night. He beard OF the escape
on the street, and when he arrived at the
prison be given tue facts and went out
IN search OF them. tie was ont the next
day later dlscbarging court duties incum-
bent upon him) trying to learn Of the where
abou,s Of the ex-prisSners. lie had under
stood thai he was the deputy in charge OF
tbe IAN. though he had never received any
speeife Instructions a. "a his duties and bis
hours bad not besa dcened.
TIE REPORTERS.
The next three Witnesses were newspaper
reporters. They were George A. Hi. Esq,
OF the Times, snd Messrs. Peyton II. Noel
and Scion Il. woeaGn, Of the Dispatch. AS
might have been expected. their testimony
was 10 effect whst had already been pub
lshed In tDtir respective papers, and Ii was
througb these publications that Judge
Wits atteniioa was drawn 10 the escapes.
Mr. HILLS VERSION.
Mr. Hill SAID he received information OF
Che escape OF Two prisoners from jail few
minutes past o'clock Monday night. About
. quarter TO 10 be wenr to the jail, rang the
bell. and was met by Mr. Burns. He asked
tbs Waterman u any prisoners had escaped.
Burns replied that be had not heard Of the
escape Of any prisoners. He (lii) was TO-
vited 10 walk in; he did so, and on getting
snto the yard took seat on bench with
Mr.. Hall. MIR. Burns took a chair. lie
{lliln remained there until nearly halt past
10 o'clock talking. During the conversation
be asked several times aOout the escape Of
prisouers. Barns Insisted that he did not
know OF the escape OF the prisoners. and
turning TO Sir. Hail asked u he knew soy.
thing o. the prisoners getting out OF isil.
Dir. Hall ssid be had not heard Of any prl.
Honers eseaping.
CONFIRMED BY THE DISPATCH.
Dir. Noel said be went TO the jail few
giuuiss before IL o'clock aud was met by
enc OF the wafcbmen, whose name be did
not know, VINO ssid. In reply to question,
a..f fkar M - a