The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-31

RHODES CASE
The POLIC COURT
Questions to be Submitted in Ante
Mortem Statement.
MONUMENTAL CHURCH ROBBERY
Mccarthy ana Dc Lacey go to Grand
Jury and the shope Outfit Put
Under Court in Session
Six and a Half Hours.
MON MENTAL CHURCH ROBBERY
Mccarthy and Do Lacey 90 to Grand
Jury and the Shone Outfit Put


The session Of the Police Court yester-
day lasted from $50 in the morning until
4 clock in the afternoon. The Great Dis.
penser started the mornings engagement
with his forces we'll in hand.
BY noon the lines of the enemy were
still in full strength on his front without
any signs of Weakening. At 2 o'clock he
was in full retreat across the Tugela
river. and being far from his base of sup
plies, he lost his dinner and had to call
on the hospital corps to save him from a
headache. The enemy were, however.
unable to cut his line of communication
and he covered his retreat without the
loss of a single man.
BARNETT SHOOTING.
The case against Wm. ]. Rhodes for
the shooting of Frank Barnett was call
ed. The prisoner was accompanied by
and very grave during the brief examina-
ton. The witnesses called were Edward
F. A1osby and Clarence Malone, boys;
Messrs. Cilamberlayne Milton Marcuse
and Sergeant John T.. Hall No evidence
was taken except as to the condition of
Frank Barnett, the wounded man, now
in critical condition at the Virginia
Hospital
His physicians, Drs. Hugh NJ. Taylor
and w. w. Parker, were not present, but
Barnett's brother stated that the wound
ed man was perfectly conscious. but that
the ball could not be located, and while
it was not SO stated, the general in
ference was Drawn that there was little
hope OF his recovery.
Mr.. III. NJ. Smith, Jr., appeared as coun-
Sc. for Rhodes.
IF ANTENrORTEM TAKEN.
NJ. Smith requested that If an ante
nortem statement was taken that he be
informed. He explained that he did not
expect to be present, but desired to sug-
gest to the magistrate several questions
to be asked the wounded man.
commemorative Attorney Richardson
stated that such statements We're not al
ways formal, but If an ante-mortem
statement was taken by a magistrate. he
would permit Mr.. Smith to see the mag
istrate and suggest such questions as he
desired. Justice Crutchfieid suggested
that Mr.. Smith write the questions and
leave them with the court. Mr. Smith
said he would write the questions and
place them in a sealed envelope only to
be opened IL the ante-mortem statement
were taken.
The case was continued till February
18th to await the condition of the wound
ed man.
CHURCH ROBBERY.
Another case of absorbing interest was
the charge against VIM. Macarthur alias
Mccarthy and A. J. De Lacey, of break
ing into Monumental church and steal
ing the large Bible from the pulpit, a
lot of hymnals and prayer-books and q
pot Of ferns.
Dr.. w. A. Barr, rector Of the church:
Mr.. R. III. Meade, the superintendent OF
the Sunday-school: the colored sexton, w
H. Evans, a painter at work frescoins
the building: Mr.. J. II. Harvey, the
florist, who sold the ferns which were
stolen from the church were present.
Mr.. Harvey identified the ferns as one
of six pots he bought in Wash
ington. one of which he sold to
Miss Temple to decorate the pull
pit of Monumental church. He stated
that they We're Boston ferns and that
no other florist in the city had them.
The sexton also positively identified the
pot of flowers as being the same that
were taken from the church.
THE FLOWER POT.
This pot Of flowers was found by Ser
geant Hall on top Of back shed. in the
yard of Mrs. Shope" woman whose
house is a resort Of dissolute and ques-
tionable people. The two accused men
freuuented Mrs. Slopes. Geo. Phillips also
frequented the place, and saw the flowers
there and heard Mrs. Slope tell Meta rthy
and De Lacey to take the flowers out
At the time two officers were on the
outside She took them out herself into
the back room and presumably put them
ON the shed. where the officer found them.
Edna Taylor, mulato woman, said
De Lacey came to her house and slept
half 4 day in [her room and asked her If
she knew any one who wanted to buy 4
Bible.
A BIG HAUL.
Officers Tomlinson, Wrenn, Gibson and
Hall were sent for the Shope outfit with
the Police patrol, the court proceeding. in
the meantime. with other cases.
They returned with Mrs. Slope, Mrs.
Georgia Crew. her married daughter;
Miss Annie Melton and Willie Sutton and
Joe Gionatti. two small boys
These witnesses were taken into the Of
flee and kept there until called. one at a
time.
Willie Sutton saw the men at Mrs.
Shope's house, but was found to be I'M
willing to tell what he knew. He insisted
that he got his information by reading
the Evening Leader. When pushed to
tell the truth. he resorted to tears.
Joe G.onotti, the other boy. came next
He also dissolved into tears. Joe Is
thirteen years old and noted as q bad boy.
He was told to stand aside. and the
Great Dispenser said he thought he would
send him to the reformatory. A charge
was entered against him as a suspicious
character and he will be held until his
case can be examined into.
MRS. SHOPE.
Mrs. Slope was next placed upon the
stand. She protested utter ignorance of
all that occurred AT her house. She was
enioined again and again to tell the
ruth. and nothing could be gotten out
Of her to throw light on the case
The Commonwealth Attorney stated