Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-15
MRS. MOSS FOUND GUILTY.
Charged with shopIifting, She liz
Sentenced to Jail for ID Days.

Mrs Alice Moss alias Mrs George a.
Harris, wife of Mr. David Moss. of No.
1910 east Marshall street. was given a
hearing by Justice Crutchfeld in the Police
Court yesterday morning, on the charge
Of shoplifting in the store Of julius
Meyers Sons, and was found guilty and
sentenced TO jail for fifteen days.
Mrs Moss through her counsel Mr.. NJ.
f. Maury, took an appeal to the Hastings
Court, and the accused was bailed in the
sum Of 500, with Mr.. J. S. Brauer as
surety, 10 appear before Judge Witt jan
uary 18th.
Mrs Moss was accompanied into court
by her husband and her aged mother. and
the grief and shame Of them, and Of the
most unfortunate woman herself, was
heartrenGing. affecting the crowd which
were gathered about and the Justice him
self.
Mr. Wilton Cosby, floor-walker in the
Meyer store, who detected Mrs. Moss was
first placed on the stand. He testified that
his attention had been called to a suspi-
cious action on the part Of the accused.
and going to a bridge a little distant, saw
her take a number Of articles from the
tables He then took her aside and told
her what he had seen. She acknowledged
TO him then that she was guilty, and
later when a warrant had been sworn
out against her. admitted as much 10 the
officer who served it, She pleaded for for
giveness, he said, but was told that the
offence was too great 10 be passed over
lightly Mr. Cosby Identified articles be
longing to the store amounting TO S2l7 but
a larger number he could not identify as
the property Of his employers
Mrs. Moss was put on the stand, and
told her story as well as her sobs and
outbursts of grief would let her. All the
while her husband stood by wringing his
hands and weeping as a child might have
done. Witness said she went in the store
to buy some velvet, but in passing a
table her eve was attracted to a lot Of kid
gloves. She picked up a pair, looked at
them. and then passed on 10 another
table where were some linen mats. she
was looking at these when Mr.. Cosby APP
proached her. She looked when he spoke,
and a pair Of the gloves were still hang
ing TO her sleeve, being caught by a pin
in her cape. She felt sure, she said, that
this circumstance caused Mr.. COSBY 10
think she was shoplifting. In moment,
she continued, II flashed over her what
shame would be hers if arrested on such
a charge. and she was so frightened she
did not know what 10 do. She gave an
assumed name, hoping to gain time In
that vqv. and confessed that she had
taken the things because she did not know
what she was saying. She protested most
earnestly and tearfully that she was IN
nocent. saying again and again shes hdd
not stolen anything. Her aged mother
stood close beside her weeping gently as
her daughter told the pitul story.
Another witness testified that she had
seen Mrs. Moss take the articles idenu-
fed as belonging to the store.
The saddest scene of these extremely
touching proceedings followed the pro-
nouncing Of the sentence by Justice
Crutchfleld. As the words fell from his
Inns the crowd filing the courtroom
looked sympathetic and helpless, and a
wall Of grief rose from mother and hus-
band as they gathered about daughter
and beloved wife. as if 10 shield her from
the iailers clutch. This case was heard
last. and the courtroom was soon clear
ed Then the attorney his client and Mr..
Moss went into the private office OF the
Justice and il was there decided TO take
an appeal.
George Gray. charged with begging on
the street, was given fifteen days in jail.
Richard Gibson (colored, charged with
being a suspicious character, was re-
quired TO furnish $500 security for six
months.
Joseph Ward, a colored man with
nistol was fined $50 for being in company
with the firearm.