Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-15
CRAWFORD IS FREE.
.corrTTED OF TIE CHARGE o'
LARCENY IN HUsTINGs COURT
WITNESSES FOR The DEFENCE HEARD.
s.xernl Testify as to the value "
the Charles City County
Only Ont n short Tfme-N"'
u,cb Interest I'm the Case

THE trial OF the case Oh
<.-..,ord the real estate agent chalBeu
.',., Tho larceny of $500 from MIS-
catherine Peyronnet: was conciuueu "a
the Hastings Court yesterday
The verdict Of the jury was 'na' '"0
accused was not guilty, ana 'ii''
a,,s,o, was reached after the jury I'D"
- ont only a few minutes. Inc re-
.;,lt ~ the trial was received with sie'''
rejoicing by Mr.. crawford's fanny a"u
friends. and the former dealer III La ms
and town lots left the CITY ia" 'u
rounded by relatives and others near ~
,,n, ,ybo have all along believed in MS
innocence.
The trial was resumed yes'eiu"'
morning at 10 o'clock. Commonwealth .
Attorney Richardson was sun suneri"s
fror, the illness which seized him Oh
,r,esdav and was not able TO be pre-
sent. so the remainder Of the pfoSe0u
tion was conducted by Mr.. George l'
Wise. who had been assisting elo -
monwealth. Messrs. CARER anu -.
denberg were on hand Tor theii 49,,
the defendant, and the nrst Mi'ii,9 1
called was Mr.. w. o. Priddy' Oh Nndiio
CITY county, who testified that nc ~
the negroes Banks, but coulu hO'
much as to their financial stanuIhs. "
ness referred to certain flnahclai uii"0
ties i'm which these men hau oeeh III
volved
SHE SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND
A. rohn Tresnan. who at one time
was employed with George Il. CRAWFORD
e 90 said that some time ago ne went
70 see Mrs. Peyronnet. and she hleh-
toned the fact that an advertisement
Announcing the sale Of the lana mort
Gagged TO cover her money oad peeh
seen by Her. Witness SAID Mrs' roy
ronnet seemed to understand ali the
ARRANGEMENTS of the sale, when MI
Thomas Lehey, Of Rochester, NJ ~ was
endeayoring to bring about. Ihe pro-
nertv was TO have been sold Tor not
less than $500.
Mr. c. A. Crawford, brother Of the ac-
cused. took the stand, and testiiied Us
TO the sales of the property by MN do
trustee. He did not know that theIe
was any reservation in any or the ueeuS
as TO the timber on the land.
Mr.. Wendenburg, counsel for the ac-
cused. here introduced in evidence
deed of trust in which the TIMBER Oh
the Charles City county farm was trans
ferred to c. A. Crawford, as trustee 10
secure notes given TO Mrs. Peyronhet'
Mr. Purcell. who worked for Mr.. Craw-
ford awhile at the latter's farm in Han
over was called to the wltness-stanu'
and testified i'm regard TO the Defendant
hooks and explained that they were
ruined by the top of the box being LETT
off accidentally and rubbish being thrown
on them. He had never examined the
hooks. but knew they were books OF ac-
counts by the lettering on the paChs'
The books were left i'm the stable While
moving; he had never examined theni.
Mr. Frick. who was also employed by
Mr. crawford. knew nothing Of the books
except by hearsay.
Mr. Pollock. who was Mr.. crawford
hool,-keeper at the time Of the trans
action Win Mrs. Peyronnet, was called
MS inonression in regard to the 25Oo was
that Mrs. Peyronnet had brought the
money 10 the office for deposit.
Mr. Pollock said Mr.. Crawford did
,,.i,,ate banking business, and rendered
Mrs. Pevronnet periodical statements OF
her account, showing that the money was
-, denosit She never objected TO the
statements. and during his connection
Win the firm the interest was paid regu-
larly.
THE MONEY YIELDED WE'LL.
,trs Neuie Keath. a niece Of Mrs. Pey-
ronnat said her aunt often referred TO
The money in question. but seemed to re-
oard II in the light Of loan, and had
told her that it paid her better TO loan
the money TO Crawford than any other
inyestment she could make. Mrs. Pey-
ronnet once said she wondered why Mr..
crawford did not compromise her case.
The relations of witness and the COM
nlainant had always been OF the most
pleasant nature. Mrs. Keath declared.
The Junior partner of the firm OF
George e. Crawford & Co, Mr. W. b.
Pizzini. said he entered the firm Janu-
.arv 1894 when all the books except the
ledger were taken away. The Peyronnet
account started several years prior TO
this time.
Mrs. Peyronnet was recalled and de-
MED having told Mrs Keath that she
had loaned the money to Mr.. CRAWFORD
In regard TO the conversation about
compromise. Mrs. Peyronnet said that IN
this conversation she had reference TO MT
crawford having had time to compro-
mise before. the prosecution began.
VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
1t was agreed that there should be no
argument. and the jury was out only
short time. The Court instructed the
iurv that it must believe beyond doubt
that Mr.. Crawford unlawfully and fraud
ulently converted the money TO his own
uses 10 convict. and that If they believed
Mrs. Peyronnet loaned the money to Mr..
crawford they must find the prisoner
not guilty.
The jury, at 1921 o'clock, returned
verdict of not guilty, and the defendant
was discharged.
The verdict was received in profound
silence. and Mr.. Crawford was soon sur
rounded by friends, who extended con-
gratulations.