Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-31
GEO. MEYERS MUST LEAVE STATE.
Was One of Boys Charged with
Turning UOuse-tnOther Tried.


patch yesterday morning that a number
of boys of well-known parents had been
put under arrest on the charge of burn
ing the vacant house on north Twelfth
street. which was consumed on Tuesday
afternoon. and would be in the Police
Court yesterday morning was fruitful OF
Justice Johns Court being filled 10 over
flowing.
Conspicuous among the crowd were the
boys accused. They We're dressed neatly,
and all with their clean and innocent
faces, would have convinced any jury on
earth that a mischievous thought had
never once fitted across their brains.
They answered the rol-call as follows:
Lee Hasllins Daniel Jones, James Glenn,
Lee Kidd, Landon Tucker. Lawrence
Smith, Clarence Glenn, Guy Glenn, Willie
Jones. George Meyers. James Wills. Tenn
pie Carpenter, and Willie st. John The
witnesses were Officer G. II. Sweeney,
Virginia Mayo, William Mayo. Neno
Booker. and William Gordon (all coloreO
and Sergeant Shinberger.
The gravity Of the case led Justice
Crutchdeld TO have Commemorative At
tornev Richardson conduct the case for
the Commonwealth.
The house which was set fire 20 Tues
day evening was located I'm the bottom
below the colored Normal School, near
the vacant lot where the boys play ball.
THE CASE OPENS.
Captain Angle, Of the Second Police Dis
trict in which the house was located and
! the boys live, was the first 10 testify.
He declared that these boys Were the
terror Of the neighborhood. always
! causing trouble and the source Of con-
| tinuous complaints from people I'm the
neighborhood. Sergeant Cosby made
! similar statement, and officer Sweeney
| said that they were so bad that some
people were forced 70 leave the neighbour
| hood on account of them.
Sergeant Shinberger said he had fire.
! quently been walked out Of his bed at
night by citizens coming to make COM
plant Of the doings OF these boys.
Mr.. William st. John. father OF one Of
] the boys asked and was permitted 10
make a statement. He deplorei the prac-
tce of arresting a whole crowd OF boys
| and bringing them into court with view
Of catching out Of the whole lot one or
a few offenders. He said the boys present
were fair representatives of Rlchmnod
! boys, well raised, but mischieYous Ike
other boys.
He said most positively that his sons
were never out on the street at night.
and criticised police methods In dealing
with boys in such cases as the present
one.
I.andon Tucker was the first boy to be
! released The arresting officers said he
, was not among the others. Landon took
! the stand and testified that George
| Meyers and Joe Willis were the guilty
parties Temple Carpenter easily proved
an alibi, and he dropped out.
Eight OF the boys were arrested on
information of George Meyers, the first
| boy taken in custody. The eTidence did
not connect them with the crime. and
the number held quickly narrowed down
| to George Meyers, Joe WILLS, and Willie
| St John.
william Mayo identified Willie ST. John
as one of four boys who threw rocks at
| him earlier I'm the day when he drove
gang Of them out of the house and put out
the fire. His wife. however, and Neno
J Booker testified positively that Willie
| was not one of the four. and this threw
! all out Of the case except George Meyers
and Joe Willis
MUST LEAVE THE STATE.
The boys had all been thinned out. and
| only Meyers and Willis remained. Justice
| John fined willis s.. He told the mother
| of Movers. VINO is a widow, that she
would have TO send her son 10 the re-
! formatorv She pleaded with him to let
the boy off. and she would send him TO
| his uncle. who resides in a distant state.
for at least a year. Justice trutchield
yielded TO her in this. saying he would
! continue the case until tomorrow morn
! ing. and II her son had left the State
before that time it would be all right.
OTHER CASES.
The case had ended and the courtroom
cleared TO some extent. Justice John then
went on with the other cases.
Arthur Crimp was charged with inter
fering with an officer in the discharge OF
his duty and was taxed -.
| A. Jack Andrews was charged with
| threatening TO kill l.. j. Cravo. and was
! allowed to go. Mr.. Andrews and Mr.
| Cravo a commission merchant had diff
fculty. in which the former seemed 10
| be the aggressor. However. MT. CraVo
used him up so badly tnat Justice Crutch-
| field dismissed the charge against him on
| the ground that he had been punished
| enough.