Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-23
Arrested on Serious Charges.

Last Monday night, Sheriff N. G.. Watts
received telegram from the Sheriff at
Gadsden, Alabama, instructing him to ar
rest at once A. D. Ament young man
temporarily doing business in this city.
and to hold him until all officer with requi-
sitiOn papers could arrive here. Accom-
panied by officers Hamilton and Dawson,
MI. Watts made the arrest and advised the
Alabama official by wire. When arrested
young Ament made no resistance and in
structed the officers to wire the Alabama
sheriff that he would return with him to
that State peacefully and without requisi-
tion. The charges against him are for
forgery and ENLIGHTENMENT as found by i'll
dictment in the Alabama courts, but at
the time of arrest these facts were not
known. To a friend he stated that he did
not know the cause of his arrest unless it
was on account of some trouble with wo-
man, and so his friends believed until the
Alabama official arrived. LII the meantime
through his attorney, MI. A. G.. Braxton,
habeas corpus proceedings were instituted
and the application was heard by Judge
Grattan on Wednesday evening.
AS the telegram upon which the arrest
was made contained no charges, and as the
officer making the arrest was county Off
cial, counsel insisted upon the immediate
release Of the prisoner. Mr. M. F White
represented the Commonwealth and
moved for a postponelnent of the
proceedings till the next day. But the
court over-ruled the motion and proceeded
to the examination of witnesses which con-
tinued until after nigntfall, when the court
adjourned till next morning. During the
night deputy Sheriff 7. w. Lisner. OF
Gadsden. arrived with full authority to
take the prisoner so all further proceedings
in court here were dismissed.
This morning the deputy and his prisoner
left on the c. & o. 4:3O west bound train
for Alabama. Ament is a young man OF
about 26 OF p years, a Tennesseen by birth
and possessed of a pleasant address.
Though originally from Nashville, Tenn,
he has resided in several Southern States
uuIl1S lCCCuU yCdlSs w AllC LII AloOnuAss IN
represented as agent J. H. Baldwin & Co.,
music dealers of Chicago, and it is thought
the present charges against him are for
misd eeds while in their employ.
Iu this State he has canvassed for bust
ness in Roanoke, Richmond and Lynch
burg, and so far as known his conduct has
been honest. At the latter named place
he was well and favorably known for long
time 40 the agent for the Singer Sewing
Machine Co. In this city he represented
the Richmond Music Co., and had done a
good deal of business for them. During
his STAY of two months his conduct has ap-
parently been exemplary aud he had made
many friends. But one suspicious act has
SO far come to light and that was deal
with an officer OF the law, a constable to
whom he sold an organ. The price was
S135, and some days after the delivery OF
the instrument he offered to take $50 cash
in payment and close the account, which
was done.
But his gene raj behavior, so far as ap-
pearances went, were in his favor and he
enjoyed good name, SO that his sudden
arrest and was general surprise to many.
MI. I. J. Hoover, proprietor of the Hoover
House, with whom he has been boarding
was faYorably impressed with the young
man and still continued to show him
many kindnesses even after arrest. In the
absence of eliminating evidence and until
the Alabama Official arrived, he was treat
ed and lionized as martyr. His meals
were taken to him from the Hoover House
and many packages and dainties found their
way to his cell.