Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18
A JURY HARD TO GET
FUTILE EFFORTS TO GET ONE
HERE FOR FTFE's TRIAL.
OFFICERS SENT TO ANOTHER CITY.
Judge witt Adopts This Course, md
Hopes to Have the Panel Complete
Monday Morning-EGorts for Con-
tinuance Oyerruled.

stands charged with attempted assault
upon Mrs. Mary G. Marks and Miss
Nina Russell was arraigned in the
Hastings Court yesterday ~ answer TO
the first offence, but pleaded not guilty
to the indictment. An effort was mado
10 secure a jury, and out OF 1G6 talesmen
summoned, FIVE who had neither formed
nor expressed an opinion were secured
Officers were sent to another city with
a view to getting the other eleven, and
| court adjourned over until IL o'clock
tomorrow, at which time the venire Is
made returnable.
Judge witt and Commonwealth's-At-
| torney Richardson, while disposed to ac-
cord Fife every right granted him by
/ the Constitution, are determined that
his trial shall be had without any de-
| Law that can be avoided. Sergeant Epps
was instructed TO send his deputies OFF
| last night to the city selected by the
Court. and they were given a personal
| letter from Judge Witt TO the Judge
/ Of the Corporation Court, OF that city
asking that thrty-two Of the very pest
men in his city be sent here Judge
witt declined 70 say to what city ne was
| going to send. and the deputies were
/ given special instructions 20 let no one
/ know whittier they were bound'
VERDICT TOMORROW NIGHT
They will return TO Richmond tomorrow
/ morning. and IL Is thought that jury
| will be quickly gotten from the Iales-
| men they bring. In that event tne edS9
] fv4tr NIT nHlQN.
! nero Is every probability that verdict
| win be rendered Monday night mere
are hut few witnesses 20 be examined
| ON either side. and the examination WEI
occupy but a few hours.
/ Tho IIustings Court convened yesterday
morning AT 1915 o'clock and Fife was
brought into the courtroom, where
large crowd OF Interested spectators
awaited him. All eyes were cast upon
! him as soon rs he entered. Dut nc sec II
! cd oblivious Of the fact. AS soon az the
court was raped 10 order, common
| ,yealth's-Attorncy Richardson siSnlhed
| bis readiness to proceed with the case
| The prisoners counsel Coionel NJ. H.
! Snottswood. however. demurred, asserting
that he was not ready.
HADN'T RECEIVED HIS FEE
Peing asked by the Court to give MS
| reasons for wanting delay, the id"S0t
said: Il am prepared TO 90 ahyihH
! can for this boy. ! told his parents ho"
much I would charge them. Ihey naN ~
| not gotten tho money. thoush toiu ''1,I
! mis- Friday in the Police Court tolI
tbon, AZ the same time that unless got
the money l could not 90 on, and mat
tbav could get anybody they wished 10
defend him. | worked hard all day yes
| terdov ON the case trying 10 collect eFI-
! deuce for the prisoner. ! cOuld oAly 80
| the first name Of people whom ne Wah'eu'
| but did succeed in finding one 1 am hoI
ready These people say they can eeI my
money by Monday, and unless get NY
fee 1 cannot 30 on
This rejoinder came rather In the ma
ture of a surprise to the officers OF the
| court and Mr. Richardson replied very
o,icIIv 10 il. setting forth that the
| onlv ground on which the defence asked
for a continuance was that the lee had
NOT baeu paid. and this, ne asserted, was
no LEGAL reason for the request Colonel
! Suottswood once more arose, ana sJ4i
! that his principal reason Tor ASKING lol
a continuance was that Mr.. }. y. Grant,
material witness for the defence, was
ont of the city. lie asserted that 10
proceod i'm a hasty manner with the tr4al
! tvould he TO do the prisoner a gross IN
iustice. and. 50 far as he could see, thel5
was no necessity for such speedy ACTON
as the people were quiet, ana theIe ""S
! no danger Of lynching.
/ COt-RT ASSUMES RESPONSIBILITY
Judge witt at this juncture addressed
| himself TO Colonel SpOttswOod, and SAID.
$50 far as speed ana haste IN this case
| is concerned 1 assume the responsibility
Of IL all. Much lawlessness has beeh oc-
! caeioued in this Commonwealth because
of delays IN trying cases Of THIS chardc-
! tor and 1 don't propose 10 be party 10
| Ioxglessness when prompt acton WIZ
rre,ent trouble. The prisoner shan
| have none OF his legal rights curtaAed'
but the trial must proceed .,
In order that ColOnel Spo't5" oVu
| should be entirely sausAeu, 'housn' 'ne
| Co,,rt ordered that a recess be taken
- y erecial messenger be sent to the
! 0Id Dominion Preserving company ,
ICorl,s where Mr.. Grant Is employed 10
| wv, a. ba could be found. In the mean
.,,,o however. Mr.. Richardson began
| orr.ctine evidence TO prove that MT.
! cr-,,+ ,vos by no means material Wiz
| - ord as soon as court recOnNehel
Nv 3otroduced the following aIhdaVt
s,,orn 10 by Henry Nj. BoyAn, B T.
| Hovard. George Epps, ana =, !. boy
/ LIN the name being changed IN edoh
deposition: ,.,...,,,, -, Iosorb
"COmmOnWe ealln oL 'A5''''' w.
! Fife, for felony , H.. ,,,,.sor,oll,,
,.,..-asrcd before me, Walter Chrlsudh'
cIlrl, of the Hastings Court OF the cliy
ptcbmond and being by me duly
-, % egvs that on the 10th day or
| - 1Sq7 he had a conversation win
,-lo,h Fife. who was then under arrest
%. ottemuting to commit rape upon
NJ Mary G.. Marks, and that during
"HI % oon,,ersation the said Joseph Fire
80 mat Oh the morning OF July H.
,So- he the said Fife, went down 10 'he
DI4 Dominlon Preserving company
-, ~ 20 see Mr.. Grant TO ask him Tor
-'1,,.roont. that he saw Mr.. Grant out
-i1P,Not sneak 10 HIM owing 10 state
, uIu rnade TO him by darky that the
| 1-s had not started up, ana thdl MT.
/ Grant did not see nm - 49,
..gi,,en under my hand, this lith cay
Of July. 1891. ,,, ,uprcrr,v
(SlsheV Clerk"
prTADED NOT GUILTY.
r,,s being done. Clerk Christian
M o,,Ib the indictment in the Marks
aro9e =, his hand, and Fife was COM
Case 49, to stand up while the paper was
h'a - him. His counsel entered
1e'u demurrer to the indictment,
sn'ch was overruled, and the negro In
W. cIHor voice. when asked as 10 MS
M nleaded Not guilty.
W. ahe work OF getting jury was then
I A o,d the sixteen veniremen who