The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-28
CONVICTED OF BIGAMY.
DECKER GIVEN KrGHT YEARS I'M
PRIsoSMEST.
Fall Penalty of the Law Inflicted Upon the
Much Married Msn--Trout Talksin
Petersburg.

PETERSBURG, VA. Sept. H.-s3eciai'
The trial OF Charles V. Decker, charged
with bigainy, was resumed In the h's'-
ings Court this morning.. The courtroom
Was crowded to OVERLOOKING. and IT was
,,rnossiple an hour after the co"rt-ro
was opened TO obtain standing room.
among those present were Mrs. DeckT'
formerly Miss Mary Emria Collins OF
Gloucester county, whom Decker married
in Baltimore on the LIST day OF july 1871
and Mrs. Decker No. 2, formerly bliss
Matte T.. Beasley, OF Petersburg, WHOM
he took 10 wife on the Both day OF june
1872. The latter lady came into the court
room closely veiled. accompanied by her
father, Mr.. w. a. Beasiey, and lady
friend, Shortly after getting into the
courtroom Mrs. Decker, formerly MISS
Beasley, sobbed aloud and the sympathy
of every one in the crowd OF spectators
appeared TO be with her The jury Law
ing been called by the clerk, Mr.. ID. g
Richardson OF counsel for the defehce,
recalled Captain G. V. Collins, VINO was
examined Yesterday afternoon. in an
swer to questions by Judge Richardson,
witness stated that he aid not say In MS
testimony last evening that he was In
baltimore at the time of his daughters
marriage TO Decker. No member OF ms
family was there at the time. Witntss
Gid not consent TO the marriage either
orally or in writing. Witness impression
vas that his daughter was born In May.
1872 In answer 10 an interrogatory by
Mr. Montague, witness said Decker ala
not live with his daughter more than two
months.
Judge Richardson said he had decided
20 offer in evidence record OF the In
dictment found in the County Court Of
Gloucester county against Decker Tor
bigamy, In that he married Miss Mary
Emma Collins in 1857, when at the time
he had another wife still living, to-wit--
Florie Holmes, Of New YORK city. me
Indictment also charged Decker with the
betrayal of the said Mary Emma Collins,
under a promise OF marriage, and with
the abduction from her father OF the
said Emma Collins. she being only fifteen
years of age. The Court said he thought
the record should go before the jury
for what II was worth. The record, he
said, only shows that three presentments
had been brought against Decker in
Gloucester County Court, and that
nolle prosequi had been entered I'm each
case, but the record does not state 10
what each witness testified Judge
Bernard did not think the record tended
TO show that there was any marriage
between Decker and Miss Florie Holmes,
Of New York city, who is said TO have
been Decker's first wife.
The object of counsel for the defence
in introducing this record was TO prove
that Decker's marriage with Miss Col
Inns was an invalid one
After the instructions had been given
IL, cd ItF
Mr.. j. NJ. Mullen. the Attorney for the
Commonwealth. He was followed by
Judge D. G. Richardson and Mr.. r. J..
Montague, of Richmond, for the defence,
both OF whom made forcible and able
speeches. The argument was closed by
Commonwealth Attorney Mullen.
The case was given TO the jury about
3 o'clock, who. after an absence Of ten
minutes, came in with their verdict,
fixing the prisoners punishment at eight
years In the penitentiary, the full ex-
tent Of the law.
Judge Richardson Snoved the court
10 set aside the verdict on the ground
that it was contrary to the law and
evidence, which motion was overruled
by the Court. Counsel for the defence
excepted to the ruling Of the Court. and
will prepare their bill Of exceptions rs
soon as pracUcaDle. Inc NefulCl is uhlNeI-
sally approved here.
Decker says ne was much surprised
at the verdict, as he fully expected TO
be acquitted.
Mayor Trout arrived here this morning
from Richmond accompanied 10y his wife,
and took the train for the west on his
return TO Roanoke. Referring to the re-
cent affair at Roanoke. he stated that he
did not give the order for the military 10
fire upon the mob, but he did tell Cap
tain Bird, Of the military company, 10
protect the prisoner from the mob. and
ne expected him to do SO. Mayor Trout
spoke of Captain Bird in very compli-
mentary terms.
The mayor said he did not anticipate
any demonstration being made against
him i'm Roanoke. He expressed his thanks
for the manner in which the Virginia
press had treated him in the deplorable
affair 1T Roanoke.
During the past month there were 81
deaths I'm Petersburg-whites %. coiored
60
Rev. III. NJ. Hope. pastor Of Market
street NJ. r. church, delivered a lecture
in that building tonight. His subject
was what Parson Saw at the Worlds
Fair -