Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-06-23
THE FORGED CHECK.
EXAMINATION OF THE CASE sY THE
POLICE JUSTICE.
statement of the Accuscd-He Is sent On
10 the Grand Jury-Bah
Given.

A snccial session Of the Police Court was
held Yesterday afternoon 90 investigate the
charge against Mr.. W. Russell Bowie,
charged with forging the name Of Mr. John
Hunter. Jr.. 90 a check on the State Bank
Of Richmond for S9s.62
This case was on the regular morning
docket yesterday. and when 1t was called.
after several others Of less moment had
been disposed Of, MIR. c. V. Meredith
counsel Tor M Bowie. asked that the ex-
animation be postponed untl the ai'Fr-
noon. To this Colonel Spotswood, the
Commonaeal Attorney, consented, ana
The matter was laid over
AZ both the morning and afternoon Sos
sOns of The court the attendance Was large.
In the afternoon there was such all assem-
Llagc rs has rarely been seen IN tins
courtroom Ii wa no, the motley crowd
Of white and colOred court h0t0'seS, but an
Aeselnhlas-e of some two hundred or moro
yeureseDtative business and professional
gentlemen. al friends Of Dir. BOWIE, who
has hren prominent ~ q member OF mo
bar and in public and private HE. Inc
representation from the legal fraternity
and real estate dealers was especially large.
There was at least one minister Of the Cos
pei IL the room.
THr CASE CALLED.
Halfpast 4 o'clock was the hour fixed for
the hearing 20 begin. but the band al the
clock indicated exactly twelve INMATES 10
BNhcn Justicr Crutclfeid assembled the
bench and asked sergeant ! homas 10 rap
toe court Ia order. The Sergeant hammer
cd on ms desk. commanded silence. hats
were removed. the prisoner took seat
Nv his counsel where he was sur
rounded by friends IN large numbers,
the witnesses for the Commonwealth were
sworn. and the Investigation proceeded.
The spectators huddled up around the bar
whore they could both ser and hear well.
THE cHEF.
The Witnesses sworn for the prosecution
v,rc Major John Poe. IT.. Chief Of Police.
who arrested the prisoner IN the office OF
fine former. Mir John Hunter, Jr., whose
name was signed 10 the bauk-check which
has caused all this trouble; MIR. Walter
Blunt. receiving teller ~ the City Bank.
who received the check from MIR. BOWIE
when another check and twenty-five dol
Lars in money were deposited; and NJ. Il.
". CardWen. book-keeper M the state
Rank on which institution the check was
drawn.
Major Poe was first placed on the stand,
and said q" know nothing about II OF my
own knowledge, your Honor In reply
- question from Mr. Meredith the Chief
said t. swore out the warrant and made
WHAT MR. HUNTER SAYS.
The substance of the testimony given by
tbe other witnesses WIS Anticipated III the
history Of the case published IL yester-
DAYS OSpGfcb.
Nr Hunter said day or two after the
eth ~ june he left his book AZ the bank TO
lo written up. and on Saturday last called
and cot il: sat 100 q tahle IN the BANK ana
IN looking over the checks came 20 thlSone,
which ne recognized as forgery. and
handed il 70 Mr.. Hill. the cashier. There
WINS some resemblance 10 ms writing, but
the signature WAS not his. He was not
willing 10 swear III whose hand the body OF
the check WAS written. nor was ne sui
fcieutlv well acquainted with Mr.. BoWle's
writing 10 swear 10 II. He and Mr.. Bowie
occupied tie same Office for a long time
and we're associated together IN number
Of cases and business matters. but were
never law partners.
On cross-oxamiuatiOn witness said he
had known the accused from boyhood, and
The relations between them ever had been,
aud were stu, OF the most friendly cha
racter. They were intimate both during
the several wears Of their lOlnt occupancy
Of the same room and since. tie had never
known ANYTHING 10 cause HIM 10 believe
that Nr. Bowie would have committed the
offence with which he stood charged.
Witness said further in answer 10 Qucs-
tious asked bv Nj. Meredith that be always
HAD confidence in Mr. Bowie, and had on
suudrv occasions lent hun small amounts,
hui had never authorized HIM Bowie 10
use his checks. About he sth 9f June
Sir. Bowie came to his Office and asked him
- exchange checks for >65, as he (the phi
souerl wanted 10 send the money to
client ir New York. Witness wrote ms
check for tine amount: wanted TO save Mr.
Bowie the trouble Of going further down
tue street. and the prisoner gave witness
lis check e few days IN advance, and Wnen
presented II was promptly paid.
TIE BANK PEOPLE.
Nj. Blunt produced a ticket showing
that on the 18th Mr.. Bowie deposited 20
in money and two checks aggregatlng
Sl23.62 10 see that Mr.. Bowie had made
no mistake in ms addition the witness
made "A memorandum on the ticket of the
two checks. One Was Drawn on the Mer-
chants and Planters Bank for 70 and the
other Wa the one IN court winch had been
declared Lot genuine. Mr. Blunt thought
the ticket of deposit was written by OH.
Bowie IN the bank.
Mr.. Cartwell only testified 20 receiving
the check along with other checks from
the City Bank. The check was caShed
MIR. BowIE's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Bowie testified at considerable
To.
with the deepest interest. This Is the sub
stance of what he sad
lie had been practlclng law S,nce 1880,
and the l-t Of Man. 1881, formed partner
ehip with Mr.. Augustine Royal, of Man
chester. 20 conduct the real estate DHl-
ness and since that time he had not prac-
ticed his profession - any considerable
extent. He and Mr. ROyall had two Of
fces-one in Richmond and the other IN
Manchester On the Sth q February list
the partnership WAS dissolved. lie had
been sick since last November, and at
times he had been confined 10 ms room Tor
SIX or cIoht weeks. lie only recovered sui
fcieutly 20 90 about the week before be
went 10 New York. He had been ostensl-
blv carving on TN real estate business
SINCE February. but be- lad not been able
10 attend 10 much business, and be and
Mr.. Royal had never had a final settle
ment. MIR. Rovall had made statement
and he one. but they hal not been able TO
to compare them.
real estate business Mr.. Royal came 10
him and told him he could place little
money 10 advantage. He gave Mr.. Royal
his check for S252 and the investment was
made, the two 10 share equally III the bene-
TT.
HOW HE GOT TIT cHEcR.
Mr.. Bowie said the circumstances under
which lac came into the possession OF the
check were these While sick he never
came down TO his Office until late III
the day. usually after noon. One day
about a Week before he left for
New York he went into his office and
found living on his desk note purpOrt-
inc to be from Mr. ROYAL, with this check
enclosed. The note directed that the
cheek he applied 10 special account. There
was nothing in the note 10 make mm Keep
il. 40 he threw It IN the waste basket OF
left It lying on TIE desk. and in either
event il had been destroyed. lie made a