The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-11

Convicted of accepting a bribe in the
sum of S4sO John NJ. King, ex-Alderman
from Jefferson Ward. and former mem
Der Of the Street Committee of the City
Council. was yesterday afternoon SEN
fenced to jail for one year and fined
500 by Justice John Crutchfield in the
presence of one OF the largest crowds
ever congregated in the basement of the
City Hall. Immediately after the de-
cision OF the justice, MIR. Hill Carter, rep
resenting the prisoner at the bar, took
an appeal and the case was set for hear
Ing in the l4ustinss Court by Judge
Witt on the sd of this month, just one
day after the special grand jury conrenes
for the purpose of probing further into
alleged municipal corruption.
Bond for the appearance of King at
this time was fixed by Justice Crutcf-
field in the sum OF $1,000. and Mr. d.
O.Sulhvan who had been one Of the
star witnesses for the defense, attached
his signature to the paper, after which
the convicted man quietly left the court
room and was soon lost in the crowd
that had gathered to hear the trial.
With the conviction OF King yesterday
afternoon one of the most sensational
cases ever known in Richmond came TO
81 close. for the time being at least, and
public sentiment is for the present salts
fed.
Immediately after Commonwealth's At
torney Richardson closed his speech for
the prosecution Justice Crutchfield rem
dered the decision which branded one of
the best known men in Richmond
criminal After listening carefully to
all of the testimony in this case. said
the Justice. Il am convinced that the
prisoner Is guilty of the charge, and it
becomes by duty to impose a fine of 500
end a sentence of twelve months in the
city Jail upon him,
SHOWED NO EMOTION.
Whle these words We're passing from
the lips of the Justice the hundreds Of
spectators We're as quiet as death and all
eyes were on King. He heard the SEN
tence OF the court without emotion, his
rece nushtng only a little. Otherwise
there was no noticeable change in his
features. the flush probably being due
TO the fact that he was aware that hun
dreds OF eyes We're closely turned on him
and not to the verdict of Justice Crutch-
field
AS King walked from the chair lust in
sSr rear Of those occupied by his law
yers. to the judges bench, a distance of
some fifteen feet TO arrange for bond,
tho suppressed excitement which had held
SWAY in the court room While Justice John
vas talking and for g second later broke
loose in a. perfect buzz and Tor iuiiy Ten
minutes the crowd fingered about the
place. as # expecting another turn In the
reDsational case which had just come TO
d close.
The trial of King consumed only five
hours commencing yesterday morning
shortly after Il o'clock, and terminating
IN the afternoon at 4, during which Tune
u. crnFt tytn nl11
for dinner upon the completing of the
hearing of evidence for the prosecution
prJ during all OF this time the spectators
rrnn;fested lively interest in the pro-
ceedings. the statement OF Messfs. Gas
ser. GUIDE and Weinbrunn. main witnesses
Tor The Commonwealth. being listened 10
bre5thiessly
PRISONER CALLED.
While the crowd in the morning was
great it was nothing to compare with the
multitude that packed the room. blocked
the doors and hung about the Railways
Of the basement of the City Hall IN the
afternoon, il having been a current run1or
- st King would make his statement i'm
rnediately upon the reconvening of the
afternoon session of court.
And for once Dame Rumor was right,
Attorney Carter calling his client to the
stand promptly at O'Clock. Every neck
IN the rom was strained IN an effort TO
get a little nearer the prisoner mat tney
might not miss a word of his statement,
while numerous hands Went behind ears
.hat clearer understanding of what he
saving might be caught.
Dressed in a nobby fitting black salt OF
clothes. with his hair parted in the mid
die. clean s!laycn and hat in hand the
prisoner, with a steady tread walked from,
his chair TO the one set apart for Wit
ncsses. He was calm. and the great mon
,al strain under which he has no doubt
hecn laboring since his indictment by the
grand jury in July, was not at all no.
ticeahle in his features. During the time
that he was being cross-eSamned by Mr |
Richardson the prisoner displayed some
!ituc nelvosness. drumming on his straw
hat from time To time while listening to |
eon.e question OF the attorney.
An important feature Of the tria! yes
terday was the exoneration of all mem