The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-08
THE CITY.
YESTERDAYS COMPENDIUM OF
EVENTS IN AND ABOUT RICHMOND.
HON SAMUEL b. WITT TAKES
CHARGE or THE HUST
MOS COURT.
General Local News.


the January term, and with commenced
the duties of the newly-elecied judge,
Hon. samuel b. Witt. who came from
ms private office at IL o'clock and took
his seat on the Bench.
The court was raped 20 order by
Sergeant Carter, and the judge requested
Mr. Byrd Warwick 10 serve as ioremen
of the grand jury. In a few minutes
everything was working rs smoothly as
II Judge Witt had presided over the
court all his life. His charge 10 the
Jury was as follows:
JUDGE WITT OPENING ADDRESS
II is proper, gentlemen OF the grand
jury. in the beginning Of new judicial
term of Office that your attention should
be called TO the duties incumbent upon
Won. and in doing so, il is not the pur-
pose Of the court 20 repeat in detail
every crime mentioned in our code
They are too well understood by the in
telirent citizens Of this community TO
require a lengthy recital AT this time.
Our law divides all crimes into two
classes, felonies and midemeanors, the
former comprises all graver Offenses
such as are punishable 10y death or con-
finement in the peniteniiary; the latter
being those which are TO be punished by
fine or imprisonment in jail Both
together they include offenses against
the sovereignty Of the State. in
'uries 10 the person or property,
crimes against public justice, against
morality and decency, against re-
ligious worship, oienses against public
policy. against public health, and viola
lions of the election laws of the Com
monwtalth
Should YOU desire at any time, during
your investigations, any further explsna-
lion upon this point, the Court and the
Attorney for the Commonwealth will
take great pleasure in giving you any
assistance in their power.
The law makes it your duty 10 in
quire Of and present all oifenses COM
mitted in the city of Richmond and also
all those committed within one mile OF
the CITY. on the north side Of James
river. without and around the city, and
every part thereof, including also so
much of il 10 low water mark on the
shore of the county of Chesterfield as
shall be between two lines drawn
due south from the eastern and
western Examinations of the one
mile aforesaid Such will be the
territory 10 which you will confne your
investigation. 1t requires that at least
twelve Of your number should concur in
finding an indictment; If such number
agree upon this, your foreman shall in
dorse upon the back of the indictment
" A true Bill, and return the same 10
The Court
Ii Is required Of YOU when case is
presented for your consideration, that
YOU should ascertain from the evidence
before you whether or not any Ofiense
has been committed, and when this shall
have been established you are then to de-
fermine whether or not there is testi-
mony Of a character strong enough
against the party accused 10 call upon
him 10 make his defense before a jury of
trial.
The statute demands that you shall
diligently inquire and atrue presentment,
make of all matters given you in charge
or which may come TO your knowledge
touching your present service; that you
present no person through prejudice or
nl-will. nor leave any unpublished
through fear or favor, but in all your
presentments you shall present the truth,
the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth.
Ii will be seen from this oath so care
fully and clearly laid down, that the par
ticular function of grand jury is to act
for the public good alone. The grand /
1ury-room is no place for private revenge /
or secret malice. and should never be
opened by you 10 any man Tor the pur-
pose of accomplishing by the sword OF I
the criminal law, that which belongs to
the civil courts for settlement.
Ii Is no trivial matter to place a citizen /
before the community upon criminal /
charge. To those who are ignorant or /
friendless, ii may mean weeks and I
months of incarceration before their de /
tense can be made in trial court T
and besides 10 the honest, innocent man +
il brings pain which no punishment .
can equal and no acquittal relieve. You
will observe that in all cases OF serious
nature it devolyes upon you TO take the
first recorded step in the prosecution,
and the community looks TO you 10 in
augurate an administration of justice in
its present and unbiased form.
Guard well, then, the grand jury room,
drive from it everything which partakes
of aught but truth and justice, always
remembering that il is as much your duty
TO protect as il is 10 prosecute.
For when the public shall come 10 I.
understand that cur juries are a. ready
10 enforce law against the wrong doors
as they are TO shield those who are
wrongfully accused then there can be
no fear Of violence either TO persons or
property in this city"
INDICTMENTS FOUND.
The Jury, Mr. Byrd Warwick, foreman,
returned the following indictments;
Booker Harris, Andrew Spotswood, /
Moses Owens and Nirgie Coleman, mis-
demeanor: Robert IL Epps (colored)
Two indictments for felony; II. W. Ham
mond. felony; Robert Brown, INSIDE
meanOr; W j. Johnson, misdemeanori /
Edloe Chappel misdemeanor; Powha-
tan Nicholas, misdemeanor James Nc
Pherson, alias Black Diamond, misde-
meanor; William j. Trice misdemeanor
Virgie Coleman, felony Edward Casper
felony; James Howard, felony: Henry
Shields. misdemeanOr; James McPhear-
son, alas Black Diamond, felony; lheo-
dore Thomas felony; Lucy Jane Tyler, ,
two indictments for felony; John Green,
felony; Booker Harris, felony; Philip
ltlOuN AoAaAAo NNA'AAt*itf ~ /
ony; A. 4. Dokin, misdemeanOr; VIII
liam Williamson, felony; Rachael Jack
son, misdemeanori Mary j. Smith, two
indictments for felony; Pansone Stan
lev, felony; r. W Hammond, eight in
dictmenis for felony; Robert IL. ThaN-
ton, misdemeanor George sherman, ,.
Charles Saterly, misde-
meanor
JUDGE Wits APPOINTMENTS.
The following appointments were an
,
sufgeon to the Jail; DR.. William 5.
Gordon.
Sealer OF Weights and Measures Cap I
tain Louis F. Bossieux, Captain Henry
w. Lubback, deputy.
Janitor Mr. Thomas Roberts.
The law provides for the appointment a
by the Judge of the Hastings Court Of G
two police sergeants 10 serve special pro- !
cesses of that court Judge Witt, with /
The approval OF Major Poe Chief of ?
Police, appointed Sergeants Alexander b
TOmlinson and +. =. Hulce
The tafl commissioner will he