Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-18
WANTSA NEW VENUE
L Change Will Be Asked for Smith, The
GOld-Dflck Nan.
saw A JUROR GIVEN MONEY.
Mr. via's Joke Produces First q Sem
satioa and Then smiie-Judge
wlckhsm Hears Further Testi-
mony-Nr. Lassiter's scheme.


The determination OF District-Attorney
Lassiter to force the gold-bricS man.
Smith, 10 trial in the United States
Court, which was published exclusively
in the Dispatch. has caused much discus
sion about the county courthouse. and
II Is understood that the county authori-
ties will make a strong fight against the
proceedings.
summones have been served on Afessrs.
Withers, Tomlinson. Sands. and Solo
mon TO appear before Judge Hughes In
this city Tuesday next, when the case
of Smith for falsely representing himself
to be a United States officer Is set for
trial. The extreme penalty which can be
inflicted for this offence is three years
Imprisonment and fine OF 5000.
Mr.. L. o. Wendenburg. Smiths counsel.
will not fight the government authorities
He stated to Dispatch man yesterday
that he was nonplussed as II was hard
matter for him TO Judge which court II
would be best for his client to be tried In.
A CHANGE OF VENUE.
Mr.. wendenburg has fully determined.
however, to fight against another triai
by a Herrico jury, and IL the county
authorities succeed in defeating Mr.. Las
otter IN his attempt to take the prisoner
he will then ask on the 9th, when the
case comes up for trial before Judge
Wickham, for a change OF venue 10
another county. He has not decided what
court he will select. but said he would Try
to take the case to county as iar to
mote from Richmond as possible
Smith Is now suffering from signe
attack OF malaria, which ne mas con-
tracted in the county jail. Although ne
Is NOT a very sick man, he is far from
being well. and II Is barely possible that
he will be too unwell Tuesday to go into
a trial. He is being treated by DIR. Crox-
ton, the Jail physician.
HEARS FURTHER TESTIMONY.
Judge Wickham yesterday concluded his
examination OF the jurymen who tried
smith. and failed. after agreeing upon
his guilt to bring In verdict. NO new
facts were elected.
Mr. VIA. one Of the jurymen. caused
unite a sensation in the courtroom TOT
a few moments by little Joke. In when
he INDUCED at the expense or the Court.
He was the third witness called, anu
when he took the stand Judge Wicknam
said:
.Mr. Via, you have heard the state
ments of the preceding witnesses relative
| TO this matter. Do you know OF any
| thing I'm the conduct OF any outsider TO-
wards the Jury, or OF the officials while
| they were In charge Of the jury, that APP
peared to you improper or Irregular
"Weli your Honor" replied the wit
| ness. deliberately, II can't say that 1
| do. except that saw some money passed
| between one of the officials and jury,
man."
| The effect OF his reply was almost ma
| pfcal The Judge wheeled in his chair
leaned forward, and gazed Into Mr. Was
| face with an expression of intense IN
terest Sheriff Solomon started and
| arched his eyebrows, showing suppressed
| excitement and everybody In the court
| messed forward with eagerness 10 near
the remainder of Mr.. Was testimony.
when was that, Mr.. VIA" asked the
Judge. quietly, but in an anxious tone.
"In the courtroom here" replied the
| witness, with grin. MIR. Solomon gave
| Mr.. Feltig some money that mad peeh
| sent him by his brother
Sheriff Solomon then explained tnat
Juror Feitigs brother had handed MIN
81 on one occasion, with the request that
| il be handed to the juryman. who was
out OF pocket-money, and had asked Tor
the money.
WHAT THE JURORS SAY.
The other jurymen examined were
Messrs. Vaughan, Feltig. Phillips. Delt'
rick. MAYNARD, and Smith. Mr.. Maughad
corroborated the statement made by Mr.
Christian Wednesday In reference TO ths
visit OF Mr.. w. T. Larus TO the Jury-room
and his remark that 1t was reported about
the county courthouse that the jury stood
| ainvap for tho acuuittaI OF the gold
brick man and one for conviction, while
it was also rumored that Mr.. Withers
had signified his willingness to pay 81
| II the dissenting juror would go over
| TO the majority for that amount.
Mr. Vaughan also corroborated Mr.
Christians testimony that young man
had entered a street-car while the Jurors
were out for ride and taken a seat be-
tween two of them. Mr.. Maynard stated
that he recognized the man who got on
the car with the Jury as Mr. Hugh Davis
BY consent Of the Court Sheriff Solo
mon. Deputy Russell. and Mr.. Larus
questioned the witnesses. All OF them
stated that they had regarded the remark
made by Mr.. Larus in their presence as a
| iocuiar expression, and declared thai
| they had given no serious thought 10 IT,
| although the Sheriff had reprimanded
| Mr.. Larus for making IL at the time, and
told him that IL he talked any more h
would be put out OF the room.
The examination lasted about an hour
Judge Wickham did not announce any
decision and gave no intimation OF tbs
course he proposes TO pursue.
The matter will be further inquired into
to-day. when the special grand jury re
convenes and n number OF the jurymer
| will be re-examined
|