The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-09
] J|j!UDC lADDlL!
SHOW led MERCY
he Would Not Sentence. an Aged.
N an Who Was an Ex-con-
tederate Soldier.

S. Judge sNTaddill, in the United states
DIslrIec Court yesterday afternoon. sus-
Z pended sentence in the case OF wv. =,
Flppin. who pleaded guilty on Monday
to the charge OF illicit distiiling.
The Judge gave as his easons for..the
suspension of the sentence the extreme
age Of the accused and the fact that il
was shown he had two sisters dependent
upon him.
a brave Confederate soldier, and with the
exception of distilling a small quantity
of brandy without license he has been
q strictly law abiding citizen.
The old mans gratitude was genuine,
and as he thanked the Judge for his
leniency there were tears in his eyes.
The sentence which might have been i'm
posed was a heavy fine and imprisonment.
LIEUTENANT STARKE FREE.
Lieutenant John w. Starke was dis
charged yesterday incoming in the United
States Circuit Court on the warrant
charging him with the violation OF the
postal laws In sending an obscene and
indecent letter through the mails adj
dressed to President Roosevelt
His case was to have gone before the
grand jury for Investigation, but in view.
of the fact that there was no disposition
on the part of the Government officials or
the Department of Justice to prosecute
the cause, it was dismissed by the court.
United States District Attorney Allan
stated that there was no desire to prose-
cute the case, and said If the court would
agree the matter would be dropped. Judge
Waddill explained to the grand jury that
there was no power which could prevent
it from Investigating the warrant against
Mr.. Starke. but that the court would
agree should the matter be dismissed.
LETTER OF APOLOGY.
Starke's letter of apology and explana-
ton was read by Mr.. Allan before the
court.
Before discha-ging the accused Judge
Waddill took occasion to deliver strG:lg
reprimand and admonitjon against such
violation of the Federal laws Mr., Starke
left the courtroom feeling like a new
man. He was congra tulated by many Cs
his friends.
Soon after his arrest Mr.. Starke was
relieved from duty in the SEVENTEEN ReGi-
ment until the result of his trial shou} be
known. He now expects to. be reinstated
at once and is elated over the prospects
of again falling in with his regiment
The grand jury found a. true bill against
Charles L. Jones, of Baton Heichts who
was last week arrested on the charge
of sending an obsence letter to Street
r Gar CONQuClOTs ~ uChOiS.E dUuSitS Hill 1ol
some supposed discourtesy to his wife
while a passenger on his car.
On motion of Mr. w. III. Beveridge.
counsel for Jones. the case was con-
tinued until the next term of the court.
Jones was bailed in the sum of $500.
Disposing of this case the grand jury
was discharged for the term.
In the United States district Court the
case heard yesterday was TINT OF the Gov
eminent against J. O. Terry, charged
with perjury. Terry's motion to quash
the Indictment was overruled. Again
Terry is appearing as his own counsel,
and by his side is his wife, who has been
with him upon his former trials in the
United States Court.
This case will be continued this morning.