Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-31
HIGHLAND.
County Court-A Youthful Criminal
Notes.

MONTERREY, VA, May SO.--(Special)-
The June term of the Highland County
Court has been I'm session nearly all
week-the longest term for several years
The court was largely attended, owing TO
the fact that farmers were unable 10
work their crops on account OF the heaVy
rains of the past few weeks, and were
thus free to turn their attention to the
two felony cases to be tried at this ses-
sion.
Brown williams. colored youth OF this
county. who at this term was sentenced
to ten years in the penitentiary, has
gained quite a reputation as a criminal.
About a year ago he was indicted for
entering by means OF an open window
the room occupied by two young ladies
OF Mcdowell. He was acquitted Of this
charge, but was convicted of Il felony
committed two years earlier, and sen
fenced to two years in the penitentiary
A new trial was granted by the Court
OF Appeals and the case was dismissed.
In these two cases much sympathy was
felt for the boy, and money wss FUR
nished by colored friends 10 pay counsel.
ALONG CHASE.
For some time past Williams has been
IN the employ Of Mr.. Harry Wilson, OF
Eastern Highland, and last week he en-
tered the room. some time during TIE
night, where a young lady was sleeping.
She raised an alarm, and he fed. Before
leaving the house, however. he cut Heye-
raj pairs Of harness to pieces, broke some
fruit-jars, upset barrel Of swill on
the porch, and committed other cerre-
dations. A warrant was promptly issued,
and Sheriff Abrogast and deputies urder-
took the capture OF the young criminal.
IL was at first supposed that he had
gone TO stanton. but the police Of that
city failed TO locate him. and our Sheriff,
hearing OF him at Franklin, w. Va. went
TO that place on Sunday. Here he learned
that the fellow had left in the diIec-
ton Of Randolph county, and. being
favored by the network of telephone
lines that traverse that section, he was
able to intercept Williams, and cause his
arrest just as he was boarding a train
on the Dry-Fork railroad, at Horton,
W Va.
The verdict, which was zen years. was
received with whispers Of approval by
the crowd present. Williams is one OF the
youngest persons ever convicted of a
ifA'Hf Ah eiiS NNthNsg Aio e0C btiu5
only 1G years.
ANOTHER CASE.
The other case referred to was that
OF the Commonwealth against Charles
Lewis (colored) for manning John A.
Chestnut on Christmas night last at a
dance. at John Wade's. in he Back
Creek neighborhood. a difficulty arc Sc
between Chestnut and the colored boy,
I'm which the latter struck Chestnut in
the forehead with n stone, crushing his
skull. A handful OF the fractured bone
was taken out, and after three months
the wound healed. leaving a large de-
preston In the forehead. The case lasted
for two days, and the testimony seemed
10 lead the Jurors to believe that Chest
nut was more or less the aggressor, and
n mild verdict was the result, II being
$40 fine and thirty days imprisonment in
the county Jail.
The next case to come up was an sp-
peal from justice OF the peace-James
Botkin, appellee, and Robert Hiner. ap-
pellant. The decision OF the Justice was
reversed I'm part.
The most prominent attorneys from a
distance who attended this term were
Messrs. John w. Stephenson, Of Bath
county, and b. III. Hiner, OF Franklin, w.
Va
Mr.. Jesse Simmons, Sheriff OF pendleton
county. w. Va, has been I'm Highland do
ring the past week.