The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-16
Ex-senator W. A. Little
HIS CASE CALLED IN COURT.
THE 5000 PAID HE IS DISCHARGED
Is Debarred frOm Practice as Attorney.

ID an RNRsAANsf
Thursday was the time fixed by the
court OF this city to try the case Of ex
Senator W. A Little on the oriminsl
charge Of having failed 30 account for
the sum Of 5000 paid him rs o1mmls-
sioner in the case Of Thornton va Bull
look. a full report of which has bean
published In Toe Free Lance. A very
large crowd OF business men OF This
CITY and lawyers and farmers from the
surrounding counties were present.
showing the interest manifested In the
the proceedings Ab ut % take place
The accused was present and showed
by his manner that he fully realized the
gravity OF the situation. lie was 10 80
when Judge O l. Nlcol instructed
Sergeant Russell On cell court. AFTER
which the Jury was called md took
their places In the box. Then Conn.,
monweAlth's Attorney A. 7. Emorey
arose aud asked His Honor TO tup'nd
the proceedings temporarily In the
criminal case and for leave 10 ME
complaint under she statute for the
disbarment of Mr. Little. This was
granted and Mr. Enbrey filed his CON.
plaint. setting out and charging Mr..
little with malpractice and corrupt
unprrfsssioual conduct, adopting the
fist two counts IN the indictments as
the basis of his charge. and WIN the
complaint aud as part Thereon No nled
Mr. Litlle's original receipt Tor the
mooey. also petition sigoed by all
the members OF the fredericksburg bar
requesting Mr.. Embrey 30 institute the
disbarment proceedings; alec a copy tf
the decree Of the circuit court under
which Mr. Little was originally indict-
ed and which first fixed the otfense up
on him de asked that's rule be Issued
against Mr.. Little, returnable imme'
diately. requiring him 20 show cause
whv his license should not be revoked
and he be disbarred frum further prao-
tioe Of law. Rule was issued. the service
of IL acknowledged by Mr.. Little, who
waived trial by jury. Acknowledged tne
truth Of all allegations In the compiaint
and the propriety Of the proceedings;
On a hearing OF the rule. Judge Nlcol
entered an order Teclting at length all
the papers embodied In the complaint
and In the answer Of Mr.. Little, and
yevokinQ Mr.. Little's license 60 practice
law and disbarring him from practice
in the courts. aud In accordance with
the prayer in the complaint directed q
oopv of the whole proceedings TO be
certified 30 each county and circuit
oourt In the 10th judicial circuit and
90 she Supreme Court OK Appeals OF
virginia for entry In the order books OF
the said court As part OF the order
was a peremptory direction OF the Judge
20 Mr.. Little 20 bring forthwith into
the court and lodge with the clerk all
papers In all causes which Mr.. LitUe
mad ia his Office or possession.
RevertinR so the charge in the In
dictment. Mr. Embrey then told dis
Honor that since court had opened there
had been put into his hands certinoate
from the National Bank I Ffederioks
burg that there had been deposited IN
that bank TO the credit OF the
circuit court In the original cause.
the sum of nine hundred dollars,
the amount originally paid TO
Mr. Little. and for which he failed
properly 20 account He stated further
that criminal intent" was not 80
element In the crime charged, ond tn
the purpose Of the case was 30 protect
money In the hands Il the court, aud
30 insure safety 90 the public 10 desl-
ing with court officers. ard since the
money had been accounted for and full
and complete repAfation bad been made
he recognized the difficulty In securing
a conviction aud the probable unwill
inRuess OF a Jury 60 impose the extreme
penalty he further thought that ample
protection had been eff irded the puo
lie 10 the revocation OF Mr.. Little s
disbsrmsnt from further practice OF law
In Virginia and expressed 40 unwilling
ness 90 impose greater costs upon the
State and city, he asked permission to
enter a nolle proseqaei tO'the indict'
ment Judge Nicol asked counsel for so
cused II he united Ia the motion and ex'
Judae Goolriok ssid that Mr.. Little had
spent the money originally paid, hoping
in good time 90 restore 10 bat that on &c
count of ill-health and unfortunate OR
cumstances surrounding his home LIE
had been unable 20 do SO. that the
moaey now, however. had been made
on and thas the accused united In The
motion Of q nolle pfosequei.
Judge Nic)l reviewed the facts as
stated above and inasmu ch ss the money
had been restored, and Mr.. Little had
been disbarred as the suggestion OF the
fredericksburg bar and since the At
torney for the Commonwealth had suR-
Resied the nolle prosequei and the &C.
oused had united therein. be saw no
reason why the court should object and
he therefore entered the orders and MI
Little was discharged.
The scene was one that will Ions be
remembered in this city, where Mr.
Little had for 50 many years been
honored. not only at the bar, but In
public aud social life
An air of solemnity pervaded the
whole proceedings So greet was the
Stiffness among those not connected
with the proceedings that each word
spoken by the participants could be
heard In the remotest corners Of the
building, aud when IL was over there
was a great feeling Of relief.
Hon. r Walton Moore. Of Fairfax.
one Of the council for Mr.. Little was
not present owing to being engaged In
the Beahm trial in progress at Ma
Dassas
The siguers Of the petition Of disblr.
ment of Mr. Little we're Messrs. 81.
Geo. r Fiizhugh. T. P. Wallace, W.
d. Garter, B. P Willis. r H. l. Obi
chester, O. B. Wallace. 2. f. O. OabeD.