Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-21
The Gold-Brick Case.

Smith alias Parker alias the gold-brick-
man neglected to present himself for
tria. before the Henrico County Court
yesterday. Had he fulfilled his contract
with the State II is more than likely
that twelve good men and true would
have adjudged him worthy Of a term In
the penltentiary. or II they had acquitted
him Of robbing MIR. Withers. he would
have been handed over to the agent Of
some other state for transportation thence
to be tried for some goid-brick swindle
there perpetrated.
Yes; oblivious. or may be kecnly alive
to all Of the conditions Of the case, Smith
failed to appear yesterday. and SO we
missed. his presence here. and the State,
We hope, win gain the $1,000 that he left
as bail.
But il will not DO 10 consider this NOco
as 'clear money" made by the State.
In the first place the amable and con-
fiding MIR. Withers OF Gloucester. was
fleeced out OF 5000, and that sum has
gone beyond the limits of the State, and
is so much Virginia capital lost. In the
next place the officers of the city of Rich
mond and county OF lIenrico. went TO
much trouble and expense 10 capture
Smith and his confedoratos. Smith we
got, but his pals we never could lay hands
on. However. our officers were congratu-
lated by the people of tire country gen
orally upon the capture Of 50 important
criminal criminal who was wanted
in half dozen States. and who had been
able TO elude the vigilance of the shrewd-
est detectives in this country-and
this feat of Our police We may always
think OF with pleasure. And then there
was the expense of bringing witnesses
here from other States TO Identify Smith.
They came here TO attend the Police
Court. then to attend the Hastings
Court, and then 10 attend the Henrico
court. Last OF all the State paid the ex
penses of the officers and witnesses who
secured this section of the State with
the prisoner when he was seeking bail
Verify IT seemed to be in the power OF
the G. Il. man to bankrupt the State
Treasury by going from judge 10 judge
for bail. followed by troop of witnesses.
but luckily-luckily certainly for Smith
Judge Christian. u New Kent. let Smith
put up a 5000 bond and depart in peace.
Judge Hughes. for his part. considered
that Smith was already under sufficient
bond, and so released him upon his own
recOgni2ance TO appear TO answer any
charges that the United States Govern
ment may have against him.
Where Smith is at this time We DO not
know: but wherever he Is, we may he
sure that he is watching for an opportu-
nifty to rob somebody, and that he re-
calls with delight the day that he spent
at Providence Forge, in New Kent.
1t is "A singular coincidence that il was
the redouotable Captain John Smith who
discovered the locality of Providence
Forge; that near there he was the victim
of IAN Indian trick" but had no gold
brick to play off on Powhatan's people,
and that he was carried thence to what
is now the county OF Gloucester, in which
Mr.. Withers resides. These are precious
links binding the glorious past to the I'M
certain present. and connecting the names
OF two Of the best known and most diverse
characters ever on Virginia soil.
OF the future OF the gold-brick industry
in Virginia we cannot speak en-
couragingly. While Smith was not much
hurt, he was badly scared, and his was
"A costly enterprise for the syndicate that
he represented. and SO We may doubt IL
for many years to come. But it won't do
to take anything for granted. Mr.. With
ers and ell others would do well to be
dstrustful of strangers bent upon doing
them great favors. Nor will ii do for
our Legislature TO leave the State Treas
ury unprotected against raids that
may be made upon il by prison
ers going from judge to judge seeking
bail.
For a gold-brick man to come down
here and swindle one of our citizens out
OF $500 and depart unwhipt OF justice is
bad enough, but for him TO be able to
charge the State Treasury as this fellow
did. is taxing our patience and pockets
least one new law as the outgrowth of
this incident, which, however. may now
be considered closed so far as Smith is
concerned.