The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-29
IN COURT YESTERDAY
A Merchant Arrested at the Bedside of His
Sick Wife on Serious Charges.
THE TWO WARRANTS CHARGE FORGERy
a Negro Thief Sent 70 Jnil-Jealousy
of Atlantic city Benux Leads 10
Trouble and An Airing I'm Court
Minor Cases Tried The Corporn-
dion and Law ana Chnncery Courts.

Justice Burroughs resumed his scat
upon the Police Court bench yesterday.
The docket was small. but an exceed
ingly interesting one.
UNDER SERIOUS CHARGES.
The trial yesterday before Justice
Burroughs of Mr.. Roger X. Gilbert, the
young man who recently engaged In
the machlnst supply business on Water
street, coming here from Richmond, Va.
on two warrants charging him with
| forgery, was sad, but interesting case
throughout. Mr.. Gilbert brought out MIR.
Charles S. Connors business last No
vember. and as the evidence proved, I'M
der peculiar conditions and agreements,
and almost from the day that Mr. GIL
bert took charge of the business there
has been business MISUNDERSTANDING
and disugreements between the buyer
and the seller, finally causing several
| civil law suits brought by Mr.. Con-
| nor, some of which are now pending in
the Court OF Law and Chancery and ter
| minating In the arrest of MIR. Gilbert
at the Hotel Norfolk. Thursday night,
on two warrants sworn out by Mr.. Con-
nor, charging him with forging his
! (Connor's) name TO u telegram sent to
the Armstrong Manufacturing Com
pany, and to u letter sent to Morton,
Reed u Co., ordering goods from which
he (GllberD derived the benefit. Mr.. w
A. Fentress. of Fentress * Agelasto
appeared for Mr.. Common, and Judge D.
i, Tucker Brooke and G. NJ. Dillard con-
Quoted the defense. The sad part &c
the arrest was that the accused was
taken from the bed side OF his wife
whose critical condition was such that
her death was liable at any moment
Copies of the telegram ana letters
i upon which orders for goods were ship
ped to Mr.. Gilbert. nnd TO which papers
loo.
which signature was alleged to be u
forgery, were offered I'm evidence.
Mr.. Conner testified that he had new
I er authorized his name TO be signed to
the papers and produced letter copy
! books and other documents TO support
r his testimony relative to the date OF
sale TO MIR. Gilbert. etc. The defense set
up by the attorneys for the accused was
an acknowledgment that the papers
were signed Charles S. Conner and
signed by Mr. Gilbert. but that Mr..
Connor had authorized the accused tn
: use his name In ordering from certain
Establishments. where his (Glbert's)
credit was not established and the two
firms in question were such; also, that
1t was done with the knowledge and
consent OF Mr. Connor and that MIR
Connor derived sixty per cent. profit
from the sale Of the goods ordered
whereas Mr. Gilbert only derived forty
per cent. Of the profit. The defense
put Mr.. Adams, manager of Mr.. Gill
bert's Norfolk store. upon the stand 10
verify the fact that the use of Mr. Con
nor's name was authorized.
Mr.. Fcntrcss was especially sharp IN
I. his cross examination of Mr.. Adams, i'll
!, timatlng that his testimony was unre-
= liable and influenced by his connection
with MIR. Gilbert.
Judge Brooke argued the On Sc for near.
~ an hour from his standpoint. criti.
Ching the arrest as one made by mailed
on the part of q bitter enemy incurred
on account OF the civil suits which each
( side was bitterly lighting at the pres
q ent time. Counsel spoke feelingly OF
the almost dying condition of his clients
wife and characterized the arrest Of hcl
husband Mt her bedside. while her lif,
was fickerinG like II burned out can
q die in the socket. at II O'Clock 1T night
as unwarrantcd, unfeeling and unjust
It Mr. Fcntress in replying to Jndg,
/ his word that MIR. Common knew moth.
ing OF the condition Of Mrs. Gilbert al
- the time that he swore out the warrant
and that the warrant was sworn out ri
&c i O'Clock in the afternoon with inStruc-
II lions to serve IT Immediately.
After hearing all the evidence and ar.
: gument, Justice Burroughs took the
q Gilbert under bond of $3.50 on each war.
rant, with MIR. Frank May as surety.
rrIJIEE IAIJ.EJo