Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-14
FOR JOHNS RELEASE.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CASE TO
BE DECIDED by JUDGE WITT.
RECEIVER FOR The LAND COMPANY.
MIR Edwin r. Cox Takes Charge OF
the Newport News Corp"r"tions
A0.irs-ytems From the City Hall
Courts-suits and judgments.

Quite an interesting case will be decioed
by Judge Witt in the Hastings court To-
day. IL is that involving the question
whether or not John ID. Sterling. young
white bow. should be released from the
Laurel Roformatory. The case mas Deeh
pending for some time. and was insu-
tuted by the father of the boy, VINO seeks
the release of the lad.
John ID. Sterling was sent TO the re-
formatory by Justice Crutchfeld. OF the
Police Court, in April. 1894 at the re-
quest OF his mother. The papers mace
ont AZ that time directed the boy TO be
turned over TO the Prison Association of
Virginia. They stated no offence as haV-
ing been committed by the boy.
IL is said that the boy WAS disobedient.
ran away from home. and was generally
incorrigble. His mother could do no
thing with him, and to save him she re-
uuested that he be sent to the reforma-
tory. The boy was carried to Laurel.
and now the father. through his counsel,
Mr. H. NJ. Smith. Jr., seeks to secure
his release.
The grounds set forth by Mr.. Smith are
two-fold. In the first place he secured
from Justice Crutchield a copy Of the
original commitment. which reads that
the boy was sent to the reformatory,
and this the Justice says, Is a true copy
from the records. Mr. Smith argues that
there il no such place as the reformatory,
in legal sense. and claims that the boy
is being withheld from his father illegally.
The other ground is that in the COM
reC- t. fort
Mr. Smith accordingly moved that the
Court dismiss the prosecution against the
appeal.
Should the decision be favorable to the
boy, It may be the means Of releasing
several inmates of the Laurel Reforma-
tory.
RECEIVER FOR NEWPORT NEWS co.
Mr.. Edwin p Cox was appointed re-
ceiver of the Newport News Land Com
pany by Judge Lamb. of the Chancery
Court. yesterday.
He gave bond in the sum of 5000 TO
faithfully perform the required duties.
Mr.. Z. NJ Crutchfield last June got
judgment against the company for money
due for services as a book-keeper, and a
suit was instituted last August to re-
cover Mr. Cox had associated with him
in this case MIR. Il. 3. MunfOrd, and they
requested the appointment of receiver.
Attorneys for the company protested, but
after hearing the argument 1t was Judge
Lambs opinion that receiver should be
appointed.
There is now a case in the Chancery
Court in which an application has been
made TO restrain the company from sell
ing certain land at Newport News.
OTHER COURT NEWS.
In the Circuit Court yesterday trustees
were appointed for the Virginia Home
for Incurables as follows: Beverly L.
Crump, A. b. Clarke. and w. Fl. Tyler.
In them was invested the legal title 10
real estate.
The case of Sale against Sales cura-
tor will come up in this court to-day.
r. c. Carter qualified as guardian of
Fannie Edward Carter in the Chancery
Court yesterday
In the Law and Equity Court the case
Of James Allen, who sues the Richmond
Railway and Electric Company for 5000,
is on trial.
Jackson Nelson was granted decree
OF divorce from Matilda Nelson.
The following cases are set for hearing
in this court to-day: Hackett VS. Dabney;
William and Mary College VS.. Royal In
surance Company.
Arthur Scott (colored was tried in the
Hastings Court on the charge of breaking
into store at the corner of Second and
Canal streets. He was acquitted