The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-22
s LIEN
COUNTY COURT.
William johnson Gets Fourteen
Years for Horse Stealing.
ROANOKE TIMES BUREAU,
DuLARD & PERsINGER BLDG,
C.,nxx VA nao OF

SALEM, VA, Dec 81.
Roanoke county court, Judge w.
Griffin presiding, convened at 10 o'clock
this morning. The case of the COM
monwealth vs.. w. S. Layton, charged
with prize fighting July 4, was called
and, rules were issued for absent wit
nesses. Later in the day the case was
continued until 10 o. m. tomorrow.
The case OF the commonwealth vs..
Hampton Hofauger, charged with felo.
NOUS wounding of Abe S. Martin at
Cave Spring, was again continued on
the ground Of sick witnesses.
demurrer to the warrant in the
case of the commonwealth vs.. Branch
Allen was argued.
It was contended by the defense that
the Ciceronian Literary Society not
being Incorporated could not own prop
erty, and consequently could not lay
claim to the carpet alleged to have been
stolen. 1t was contended on behalf of
the commonwealth that this society was
under the control of Roanoke College
and the warrant was sufficient, it alleg-
ing that this society was .'of Roanoke
College," and that the college was in.
corporated. Judge Griffin after hear
ing argument decided that the warrant
be dismissed.
M. G. McChuy, assisted by A. B. Pugh,
represented the defendant, and w. M.
Montgomery the commonwealth. 1t is
certain that new proceedings will be in
stituted in the matter.
Tho case of the commonwealth VS..
Chas. Stiff for malicious wounding with
intent to kill, was continued on motion
OF thd defendant an account of absence
of yyitn T..
court. and defendant recognized in the
sum of $500.
The case Of the commonwealth VS..
William Johnson, alias Albert Steptos
(colored), charged with horsestealing
on the 25th of September, 1891, was
next called, the prisoner being repre-
scented by A. j. Oliver, the colored law
yer of Roanoke city. A demurrer to
the Indictment was argued, the ground
alleged being that the allegation and
description of the stolen horse was not
sufficient. Tho court, however. over
ruled the same. jury was empan-
nelled and the case tried. Without
going over the evidence, 1t will be re-
membered that this negro in September
last, stole blind horse from a colored
draYmen in Roanoke and rode this
horse out to the farm of Mr.. Fellows
on the Cloverdale road, where he leftit,
and took better one from Mr.. Eel
lows, which he rode to Buchanan, and
while trying to sell it there was ar
rested and brought to Salem, where he
was tried before Justice Camper and
sent on.
The case was submitted without argu-
ment to the jury, who were out only
five minutes and returned with YER
dict of guilty" fixing his sentence at
fOnrfaan In kho
Counsel for the defense here moved to
lay aside the verdict as contrary to the
law and the evidence, which Judge
Griffin overruled, stating amongst other
opinions that he thought the sentence
was light inasmuch as the former
penalty for this offence was hanging,
which he thought after all was the
right punishment for this most aRgraya-
ting crime. Counsel then saved the
point though it is doubtful if he will
carry it any higher. 1t was dark when
the court adjourned and the prisoner
was taken back to Jail. AS he passed
out into the street. upearthly shrieks
came from the lips of some of his femal
relatives, who were wringing their
hands and crying loudly.
The following true bills were found
by the grand jury: The Commonwealth
VS.. Hubbard Booker, charged with grand
larceny of personal property belonging
to Louise Mitchell, amounting to about
$50, on December IL, 1891; the Common
wealth V. David Martin, for disturbing
religious worship on December 10, at
Kittinger's Chapel, in Roanoke county.
by making divers indecent noises" and
and also for being intoxicated; the Com
monwealth vs.. David Martin, for carry
ing concealed weapons against the law
and at the above place of religious wor-
ship; the Commonwealth vs. Charles
Stiff, for malicious wound1ng, with in
tent to kill, on December ID, 1891.
Marriage licenses were issued in the
county clerks Office Monday to James
Thomas Penn and Mamie l.. Aldridge;
James William Beckham and Ardetta
Thomson, all of Roanoke county. Also
to George William Stone and Sue Verna
Robinson, of Franklin county.
TwENTY-sIX varieties of California
fruits arrived at Sims & Cannaday's to.