Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-08
MRS. TRUE GOES FREE
CHARGE or SWEARING FALSELY
Is PROMPTLY DISMISSED.
BELIEVED The GIRL OF AGE.
Miss Alice Wns Of the Opinion That
She Had Reached Her Majority
aud so Told Her Friend-The Sem
x.,,ounI Drama Now Closed.

that lady, DTluc OF "" ""'"'
charged by Albert DIN with wilful and
corrupt perjury. in making oath 'ha'
Alice Onff. his daughter. was OF the
fun age Of q years in order to obtain
license TO marry Mortimer True was
heard In the Police Court yesterday
moraing. and the handsome prisoner was
trlumphantly acquitted of the grave
charge.
AS the time approached for court 10
convene. a noticeable furry ana excite
ment prevailed in all parts OF the "h''e
Temple. and one ignorant OF the I'M
variance of the day TO several lives
might easily have concluded that refresh,
,,arts wore to be served, or something
Of equal infrequency about to happen
Iustice Crutchheld, with his usual tact
nade This the last case, hoping perhaps,
-. so,,,o one would get tired and go
o,.av but his Honor was never more
.'.,.,,au in his life. His audience had
Ten accustomed to the soft planks of
sne hleacheiies, and a matter OF a half-
sa,r ~ gasplng for breath was an
",,ar,,-dav feat. 1t was not long, now
- before the modest pretty pri-
sonor,s name passed Sergeant Thomass
l,ne and leaning on the arm OF her
husband Mrs. Ollie True came INTO the
court and took seat just behihu her
counsel
THE WITNESSES CALLED.
Mr. and Mrs. DIN and Mrs Alice lrus'
their daughter. and Mr.. LAYTON Sru.v.
acid Deputy Clerk OF the Hastings court
lore whom Mrs True took the oath
10 Miss Offs age were also called, anu
sworn as witnesses. 49,,
Messrs Edgar Allan. NJ. +. Maury ana
George Hooper were engaged as couhsei
for the defence. while Mr.. ID. =. itlcnalu-
son was present in behalf OF the COM
monwealth. ., 1,o,,..
Judge S. b. Witt, of the Hastings Court,
occupjed a seat TO the left OF justice
CrutchfeId, and the Lancaster base-paii
lads in body were interested at'enu-
ants of the proceedings. -
Mr. Crutchfeld was first placed on the
stand. and testified that the young couple
had come TO him IN his office, In the Clty
Hall and that Mrs. True MADE aindaVlt
that Miss Oliff WAS p years OF age;
In accordance with that oath ne hdu
issued the license.
THE GIRL NOT OF AGE.
Mr. Albert Off, father Of the young
lady. was next called. Mr.. Oliff asserted
that his daughter was not yet =, ana
that. as declared in the warrant. MRS.
True. the abettor of this union, when
he had opposed, had taken fa.se oath'
Being cross-examined by Mr.. Allan, Wit
ness dentad that he had ever treated his
daughter cruelty, and that he had de-
clared he would drop the case, proVlded
the furniture, on which the daughter
had paid $50 were made over 10 MN. lie
said ne did make her come INTO the MOUSE
Carried her in. in facU, but did not strike
10
minutes and each Of the counsel plied
him with questions as 10 his treatment ol
the girl who is now Mrs True. MI
Richardson asked Mr.. Oliff several ques-
tions about his knowledge of his daugh-
ter's age, and he was permitted to retire.
Justice Crutchtield hestated for mo-
ment TO put the daughter on the stanu'
but with a Characteristic impulse, saiu:
"All right: put her on the stand, and let
lis have the truth and be done with II.
The newly-made bride with a shy smile
and blush, stepped alone TO the witness
chair she was little embarrassed AT
first, and toyed with her handkerchief
while the lawyers questioned her. she
said when she first met Mrs. Ollie True,
five years ago she celebrated her seven
teenth birthday. and that she and Mrs.
True had frequently spoken OF her age
as 81 and both being led to believe TINS
by the birthday festival. she sad, WIN
a shy smile, that she was sure she
looked much older. There were many
present who would have been glad 10 deny
his and would have done so in any
other occasion, but sympathy with her
cause checked it then. She was the last
witness as Mrs. Ollie True was not eX-
aTined
CASE NOT MADE OUT.
Mr.. Richardson said to the Court that
il seemed to him that Mrs. Ollie True was
justified in making the oath. and even II
the statement was not correct, 1t had not
been shown that there was any wiltul
intent to deceive, and everything indi-
Gated that Mrs. True believed firmly what
she said.
Justice Crutchfeld declared also that
ne saw no criminal intent in the case,
AID would dismiss it. His Honor had
scarcely said the words which made Mrs.
True free and sent the hot blood coursing
to her cheeks, when he adjourned the
court. There was a yell of delight
burst of sympathy with the young cou-
pies Friends. and strangers. even. made
a rush for the place where the two ladies'
were standing. and showered upon them
their concentrations, while others. equally
enthusiastic. clapped their hands with I'M
restrained delight. None seemed, how
ever. half so happy as the young people
themselves who then left the courtroom
together. while the old people followed
more slowly on behind.
WOES OF THE SINNERS.
Jim billiard (colored) was charged with
being a suspicious character. and was
required to give security in 500 for thirty
days.
In the case of Winston Sims (colored),
charged with creating a disturbance In
the street, the accused was fined $40 ard
costs.
The case OF William Thomas alias John
Tuck. and Nathan Powell. charged with