The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-21
BARNES GETS A PARDON
Gov. Tyler's Reasons for Civ
inc Him His Liberty.
COULD HAVE EMBEzZLED MORE
Prsys for an Opportunity to Live a New
Judge aud Jury AK that CIemency BE
Extended Important Decision of SUI
prsme Court of Appeals i'm Contempt
Case-Uoiied Brethren Conference.
Special to TIE Post

Special to TIE Post
Richmond Va, March i6.-Gov Tyler to-
day granted pardon to Eugene Barnes,
the young man convicted Of embezzling
funds from j. T. Powers, the commission
merchant for whom he was bOokkeeper.
He has served about two months of his
sentence, which was one year. Mr.. T. {.
Folkes, counsel for Barnes, last Saturday
presented the petition 10 the Governor.
The case attracted much attention. and
aroused great sympathy.
The Executive, in giving his reasons for
exercising clemency. says the young man,
in his petition, makes full confession of
his crime, saying he was led by evil as
sociates at the card table, and that he
yielded in moments Of weakness. He vol
UNFAIRLY gave himself up to the authori-
ties when he had gotten far away from
the State.
He could have taken a much larger sum
Of money before leaving but the sting of
conscience was already beginning TO burn.
and he resisted temptation. He prays for
forgiveness and an opportunity TO be
given him to live d new life, with a de-
termination to wipe out as far as possible
the stain he has put upon his character.
His friends and associates, who say his
previous life had been irreproachable, be-
lieve him sincere. The Judge and ten of
the jury ask that mercy BE- extended.
The ends of justice have been met in his
conviction and confinement for part Of the
term for which he was sentenced
Prof. Dabne,'s Lecture.
Prof. Richard Heath Dabney of the
University of Virginia, delivered a bril-
liant lecture here tonight on John Ran
dOlph of Roanoke" 1t was the closing
one Of the winter series before the A. p.
V. A. The capitol was so oveTcrowded
the audience had to adjourn TO the pub
lie hall of the Wcman's College, where
several hundred persons enjoyed the dis
course.
The Supreme Court of Appeals to-day
handed down a decision which is of great
Importance to Virginia Judges and law
yers. The appellant. Carter was SEN
fenced to fine and Imprisonment for con-
tempt of court He obtained a writ of
error. the errors assigned being:
First. that upon the facts as shown in
the record he was not guilty. of con-
tempt. secondly. that the court erred in
refusing TO have jury empaneled for his
trial
The opinion of the Supreme Court says
the facts show Carter to have been guilty
of a contempt and the court holds that
no error was made in refusing a jury
trial. Therefore the Judgment of the low
eT court is affirmed.
This case is of special interest because
it involved the constitutiOnality of the
Saunders bill. passed at the last session
of the Legislature. 1t will be recalled
that Hon. G.. W. Saunders. of Franklin,
introduced a measure To carry into effect
in the State courts the provisions of
what is known as the injunction plank
in the Chicago platform This measure
was designed to take from courts the
power to punish for contempts committed
out Of the presence of the courts, and to
provide for the trial by jury of such
cases.