The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-29

With & verdict OF guilty. centence OF
one year in jail. and tho imposition OF
f1nc Of si0o. the trial ot.e1-Alderman John
NJ. King. OF jefferson Ward, charged
with having accepted, a bribe, terminated
a few minutes before,12 O'clock last night
when the Hastings Court room, In the
City Hall, was yet comfortably FILED
with expeotant and anxious spectators,
including several members Of the City
Council. The Jury delberated forty min
utes In reaching It's verdict, and 1t Ia
understood only two ballots were necas-
sary.
immediately after tho reading of tha
verdict, the bail bond Of the accused was
Increased by Judge Ingram from one to
two thousand dollars, this action being
taken at the instance Of Commonwealth y
Attorney Richardson. Bail was furnished
by D. o O'Sullsvan, and King was released
4 from custody. g333l
Notice Of Appeal.
Following tho announcement OF the yer.
dot, the dismissal Of the Jury, and their
discharge for the term, Mr.. Hill Garter,
one Of the two, able lawyers who has
been representing the accused moved to
SAAS - ~aAos
cordance with law and the evidence. This
was overruled, whereupon he filed notice
OF appeal, and the exceptions to the case
will be argued on Saturday, June 9Th.
The prisoner received the verdict with
the least display Of feeling imaginable,
and, II he was surprised at the finding
or received Just what he anticipated. his
aoountenance failed to betray It. He never
nlnched. looking Clerk Waiter Christian
straight In the eye as he read the sem
tence.
There were noticeable about the fore
head Of the accused, when The verdict
was read. a few beads of perspiration: but
1t is hardly probably that this sudden
show Of heat was caused by undlie excite
ment over the result, as the room was
trifle warm. And even when King walked
from behind the rail. where he had been
sitting next his attorneys. to the desk OF
the clerk, where bail was furnished. he
displayed not the slightest sign of emo
tion.
No Show Of Feeling.
Waiting until after the Intricate de-
tails of the appeal had been perfected.
King walked beside his lawyers, slowly
out of the City Hall. They were con-
versng In an ordinary tone, and appar-
emily all were in the best OF humor, their
spirits not being at all ruffled
1t would be erroneous to say that the
spectators. using this word to convey the
Interested ones In the sense OF even a
majority, were surprised at the verdict.
In fact. there was O firm belief prevalent
at the conclusion of the evidence, before
the first argument was made. that a con-
vlction was probable, And even those
who did not expect verdict OF guilty
were quite willing to admit, after tho
opening argument of Mr. Richardson,
that the best King could hope for was
a hung jury.
However. there were among few
friends Of the prisoner, few members
OF the Council. who hooted the idea Of
anything but acquittal. but In such in-8
stances the wish seemed the father Of
the thought
The conviction of King Is great ytc-
tory for Commemorative Attorney Ruch-
nrdson and a hard and unexpected blow
to Messrs. Hill Carter and Wyndham r..
Meredith. Each Of the gentlemen have
exerted their best efforts In the respeo-
tive way they were directed and 10 stona
has been left unturned on the ono side to
establish the guilt OF the accused and on
the other to prove the innocence OF tha
prisoner.
A sta-d Fight.
Mr.. Richardson has probably never be-
fore In his career as Commonwaalths Ats
,torney faced more capable pair of att
ssorneys than in the fight which has Just
concluded. and at every turn he has en-
countered opposition of no mean ability.
TO him belongs much credit
While, quite naturally, public interest
centers In the final outcome of the Ia
nous case. the startling hut not slrprls-
ing ammo uncsment of the established guilt
Of King will create but little more sur
prise than was manifested In the Hust-
ings Court room yesterday afternoon
while Commonwealth Attorney Richards
son was in the midst of his opening ara
gument for the State.
Mr., Richardson said that there existed
in the city OF Richmond at the present
time combine or pool somewhat similar
to that formed by GUIDE, Caesar and
Weinbrunn. paving contractors, and he
added with force that n certain member
of tho Council was president OF ths Nyn-{
dicate, while former member OF tina
Committee on Streets was treasurer.
This startling declaration fell Ike a.
bomb In the midst OF the spectators
assembled, as a result OF which many ara
vat thtplxfrg and will continue to think