Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-23
HOBSON is FINED.
THE SMALL PENALTY WITH GUSTS
Is SUBSCRIBED IN COURT.
THE VERDICT IS 4 SURPRISE.
Special Jury Summoned by the Cir
cuit Court-Ejectment Proceedings
I'm the Law and Equity Court To-
Dny-Interesting Case to be Tried.

s. L. Hobson was tried In the Hastings
Court yesterday for assaulting Mr. George
Il. Fisher on the 18th Of October last, and
was sentenced to pay a fine OF $ and
costs.
The verdict was a genuine surprise, for
though 1t was not generally believed that
the prisoner would be found guilty UNI
der the indictment of felonious assault.
II was thought that a more severe penalty
would be imposed.
AS soon as the verdict was announced
and II was reached by the jury in twenty
minutes-Hobson's friends undertook to
raise the required sum- and in this they
were successful. and the fine was duly
paid.
The Commonwealth rested its case on
the fact that Hobson had been looking
for Mr.. Fisher for some time before he
met and struck him, which argued pre-
meditation, and that after the assault he
had been heard to say that he had fixed
| the -.
The defence undertook to show that
Hobson acted under real or fancied
grievance, believing that he had been dis
| charged In a manner which reflected upon
|
| his integrity.
The case was called at II o'clock, and
| the hearing lasted until 3.15 +. NJ, when
II was given to the jury. Throughout its
| passage the courtroom was crowded al
| most TO suffocation. and many who wish
| ed TO do so were unable to gain admit
| lance Commonwealth's-Atto ID. c..
Richardson appeared to prosecute, while
Mr.. +. c. Folkes was counsel for the
| prisoner
The jury was composed as follows:
Messrs. James p Wood, foreman Leigh
Crutchfeld, w. Rothrock, Clinton Burton,
II. p. Hudgins, A. l.. Lucas, II. T.. Hirsh-
berg, Thomas F. Hannigan, and A. r.
Kaufman.
WITNESSES ON BOTH SIDES.
Witnesses for the Commonwealth were
Mr.. George f. Fisher DR.. Jacob Michaux,
| Mr.. r. S. Brock, Jr, and a negro named
| Dawson.
Hobson and Superintendent Wilbur were
the chief witnesses for the defence
| though an effort was made to introduce
| a cloud of witnesses with view to show
| ing that an impression had been wrongly
created that the prisoner was discharged
! from the companys service for stealing
| This testimony was, however. ruled out
| as being immaterial to the case.
Mr.. Fishers statement was cool,
calm. and dispassonate recitation of
/ facts connected with the assault. One
point brought out was that the company
| employed no spoilers" In this city,
! though occasionally men were sent here
! from New York 10 look after the running
| of the cars and investigate any irregulari-
ties they might notice in the service. Wit
ness said he had nothing whatever to do
| with the discharge of employees.
Mr.. Hobson, in the course of his tes-
| timony, expressed regret that he had ever
struck Mr. Fisher, and as he made this
half apology he was much moved.
Superintendent Wilbur was introduced
| by the defence to show that orders hal
been received from the New York Office
for Hobson's suspension. Witness had
power to reinstate men who were sus-
pended, but he was not given time by
Hobson to investigate the circumstances.
OTHER COURT NEWS.
Thomas Armstrong qualified in this
court as notary public.
Among the marriage licenses issued yes
terday by the Deputy Clerk Of the Hust-
ings Court were the following:
Mr.. John II. Tyree and Virginia Farmer,
daughter of c. ID. and Olivia p. Farmer.
Mr.. Tyree is an efficient rubber-stamp
maker.
Mr.. George P. Lynch and Miss Mary
Temple Newell, daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Alphonso Newell. Mr.. Lynch Is a popular
| book-keeper in this city.
Judgment was entered for sSi962 in the
Circuit Court yesterday morning in the
case Of Vinja G. Green against Daniel
b. Yancey.
A special jury has been summoned for
to-day to sit in the case Of w. S. Forbes
against the city of Richmond for 5000
damages.
In the Chancery Court l.. F. Franklin
qualified as administrator of William f.
Franklin.
INTERESTING EJECTMENT PRO
CEEDINGS.
The ejectment proceedings instituted by
James Bell in the Law and Equity Court
against b. F. w. Carter will come up for
hearing to-day. BY this suit plaintiff
seeks to establish a claim to a piece of
land 165 feet on Thirty-second street and
1872 feet on Grace street. Nine houses
have been built on this property, and the
present value of the land is very consider
able
James Bell is a colored man, the grand
son Of a free-woman Dorcas Bell, who
purchased this property about the year
1926. After the death of Dorcas James
Bell continued to live on the property
until 1865, when he went to New York,
leaving his wife-with whom he could
not live in peace-in sole possession Of the
homestead.
Bells wife and children sold the pro-
perty to Joseph Allard, representing them
selves TO be the heirs at law Of Dorcas
Bell. and the suit is to test the validity
e hot