Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-05-28
FOR RECORDER.
FOR COUNCILMEN,
First Ward.
Circuit Court Proceedings.

this county began on Tuesday, Judge
Joseph S. Duckwall presiding. 1t is
thought the term will be a long one, ow-
ing to the great number of criminal cases
to be tried. The Grand Jury was COM
posed of men selected from our best
citizens, and are level-headed business
men. Mr.. Il. W. Morrow, of Summit
Point, was chosen foreman. The num-
Der of cases brought to the attention of
the Grand Jury is larger than at any
former term for many years. The Grand
Jury which has been in session for thr9e
days adjourned on yesterday to June ,,
to complete its business. The following
indictments have been returned to the
Court:
state Of West Va. VS. Vernon Weller;
petit larceny.
State vs. Lee Twyman 4 Aleck Black
burn; felony
State vs. John Jackson; petit larceny.
state vs. Frank Baltimore; petit lar
ceny.
State vs. Howard Fidinger; petit lar
ceny.
State vs. Edward Allen, Howard FL
dinger, Geo. Fry; felony.
state vs. Howard Fidinger; petit lar
ceny.
State vs. Vernon Weller; petit larceny.
State Us Vernon Welleri grand larce-
ny.
State VS. Slagle Souders and Vernon
Weller; petit larceny.
State vs. Lee Twyman and Aleck
Blackman; two indictments for felony.
State Us Frank Baltimore; petit lar
ceny.
State VS. John Jackson; petit larceny.
Lee Twiman. a colored boy about 10
years old, who stole the horse and bug
CIV of Mr.. Oscar Blackford and the buggy
of DR.. D. w. Border, of Kearneysville,
pleaded guilty to two charges of grand
larceny, and was sentenced for each of
Tense to five years in the penitentiary.
This same boy has been before the Court
on other charges, and through the mercy
of the Judge was dealt with very lem
iently, but showing no disposition to-
wards reformation, 1t became necessary
to punish him more severely.
Frank Baltimore, indicted for petit
larceny, the stealing of $40 from Mr.
Amos Miley, put in the plea of guilty,
and was sentenced to three months in
Jail. John Jackson, for petit larceny,
stealing onion sets from the Milling
store, pleaded guilty and was sentenced
to 30 days in Jail.
The unusual amount of business be-
fore the Grand Jury is caused by the
large number of arrests made OF thieves
who have been committing, for the last
six months, numerous thefts of bacon,
flour, chickens and other produce from
the farmers throughout the county. By
the efforts of vigilance committee or
ganized in the county, assisted by de-
tective and the Prosecuting Attorney,
these thieves have been captured, and
are now before the Court for trial. 1t is
to be hoped the guilty ones will receive
due punishment, and that this organized
band ofthieves will he effeotually broken
up. our officers and those who assisted
in bringing this gang to the bar of JUS
tice deserve the commentator of the
people of the county.
on Monday VIM. c. Lawson and John
Strother were arraigned, and indicted
for larceny of horse and meat. They
pleaded guilty on two indictments. SEN
tence was deferred and they were re-
manded to Jail. Weller, SOuders, Allen,
FRY and Fidinger were arrigned and
pleaded not guilty. Trial deferred UNI
til later day of the term. Festus, col
ored, convicted at a former term of the
larceny of a gripsack at Harper's Ferry,
was before the Court and a motion, on
the allegation of insanity, made for the
suspension of sentence. The Judge over
ruled the motion and sentenced him to
two years in the penitentiary.