Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-12

DING for Judge Wit, the latter Delne ono
-.. official 5Ondsmen and warm per-
.-.. friend Of the accused. The Judge IS
.-l9oking man, tall, and wears no
-'-..7rhe. which gives his face classic
'f.-. sion. His hair is auburn. and Is so
I-.U the crown of the head rs 10 SAVIOR
He has very intelligent ex-
-.....u. -- q ..o5l i.yVCa0r. ana uses rs
..q words in talking rs Is pOsnioIo - 40
.-t.yt being abrupt. Apparently he Is
SAINT forty wears OF age. and bears slight
...,.b.auce 10 both Mr.. r. Douglas Wor-
t.n and Commonwealths-Attorney
Saith
sKTrCH OF HIS HONOR.
r-,-. Aiken is son of benjamin W.
....r and was born in Rockingham coun-
..N e.. near the village Of Madison, Au.
-.. q. 1873. He is great-grandson OF
.a Archibald Debarr Murphy, dis
-r.-lrI iurist and man OF letters VINO
s......f the founders Of the University
tN.rl Carolina.
r.f-. Aiken was educated in North
f-...r4 and came 20 Danville IN 1868. lie
,. tr,f .nplOyed as clerk in the grocery
...,e g h. ". Lawson Co, and whiie
,.a. employed read law, manly at nlshI,
..t.- Mr. T.. l.. Bouldin, then OF the law
l-r. Reed a Bouldin. lie was young
.r.f bright intellect and OF great perse-
..-5r.. and made rapid progress IN nus
...".- lie lie was admitted to the bar in
ISL. .1l very soon took prominent stshu
.-auyrtr.
MS JUDICIAL COURSE.
IN I.nuqrv. 1873. he went on the bench
.. rr .. of the Hastings Court OF Dan
f., .u,ceeding Judge III. w. tlonrn9qy,
.r,,arv of the Commonwealth. lie
-.-...I ud1e until 1888, when ne was
-..y.l by the Mahoneites, Judge Joilh a.
blackwell being appointed IN ms steau'
January I. lsS1. he was again mace Iuuse
.-Ia Hastings Court in place OF Juuse
.tw,u. That position he stu occupies
...- credit Of himself and to the entire
-,.le.1n Of all classes of people.
f- -r AIKEN is a modest man anu mas
t.,.- .ugrbt notOriety or pubic once
U....u.,t. retiring, and somewhat excluI,
.,s. .aolch "a man of great kindness ana
r-r nr.l 90 his friends. He Is very 40
..t. 10 ms habits and spends as nluch As
r..- e Of his time IN hls beautltul NOME
s.ul-4 ho is distinguished Tor ms Know
...-..f the law, for his quick perceptlFe
rT.r- fIr hi. fairness and high sense OF
-.. all Justice. for his integrity, ana
r-,cl.rlv for his courage. lie Is man
.. 3e.tel convictions and pronounced on
81. .g..;!ous of public policy, but IL Is
,...l,l % all sides, 10y the cOloreo Peo-
i..s vel as hy the whites, that IN ms
.l B., ca.acity he is fearlessly TAR 10 all
d.. tl.e their cases 20 his court
rHy rr1soEER's APPEARANCE.
Crm,,'s appearance has changed but
.r....rre his arrest, except that ms race
i..-,a troubled look. He pays little AT
t..r.. g. those around him, though very
..,sl;ye % the proceedings, and seems 10
D. e.-4sed IN deep thought. After the
-.H-aueut Of the court when ms various
'...i. shook hands with him, he l0okeu
boy. cheerful and greeted them cordlally.
DIS mother who sat near nm nm; ;So T@o
dressed lu deep black. Around the lhsIue
.. Icy bonnet was q line OF white. her nus
tll having died last December. Both
s..all Lrr daughter-in-law, who was also
a..I.l u black, took a ceep interest III
va. vls going on.
READY FOR TRIAL.
Wl.a the veniremen had answered
Pr prisoners name WAS called py tnS
GEEK counsel for the defence We're asker
o. 'ter were ready 70 proceed, ana rep!iron
Gtse aArmative. The Commonwealth
Attorney signted his readiness 70 20
l-t-l and said il had been agreed between
tu ana counsel On the other side that the
Ws1ler should be fret tried on the charee
a forgery in making an entry. on tne
Alli.r- book 10 show that Ihalhllner
.toiayrN Gas bin was paid when II was not
-sEu Oh the lreasurer's book.
A. iae request OF Major Strlpgtellow lho
l-.tueut was handed him. Inns paper
10, been published in the DISPATCH. =,
MAYOR Stlngfellow announced Inat .no
le.-rce would demur 10 the indictment as
aS11.e and TO each count thereon anu
"a. taey were ready 10 argue IT.
Judge Aiken inquired If there was any
tg'lai reason for the demurrer.
MAJOR Stringfellow replied there was.
Tie Judge then told him 10 proceed.
WHY THY DEMUEERD.
10 starting Out Major Stringfeilow sald
ie o.d Hot wonder at the Judges question,
loi oi late It bad become customary TO de-
Hur 20 indictments. lie thought ~ was
b,'ier 20 DO this than 10 wait until the
l-ai was over and then if aconyiction was
tad 70 ask en- arrest Of Judgment. lie did
~ blame Mr.. Smith. for, like all good law
,,e-s, be had two chances IN drawing Two
lActmeuts in each case. He did not De-
Aere Il was possible, however, for any one
- lfaw an indictment for forgery III TINS
ease that would hold.
The ground taken by Major Stringfelloow
va taat there were two indi;tments ior
each offence charged.
THERE WAS 40 OFFENCE.
Admitting every word IN this particular
Indictment TO be true no offence had been
eommltted. One of the indictments was
fead IN support Of this.
Arguing from this. Major .stringfeiiow
ss4.d that while il contained o charge OF
forgery II carefully considered y would be
seen that the charge was negatyed. Inc
aeegSed might be guilty u fraud, iinpro-
PeIy obtaining money, on cheating, Dut nc
saa Committed no forgery, a. charged in
vac indictment. The Indictment was "a
sh y detective. - II did not ~ sven ssass s ~ -
Won the book bslonesd There WAS mo-