The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-29
PLOTTED
TO SHOOT
THEM DOWN
MurderOuS Plan Revealed
at Solomon Trial.
WOULD HAVE SHOT
G. V. CARRINGTON
Two Others Were Also In
Cluded in Plot.
THE EVIDENCE OF
GOVERNOR MONTAGUE
Says He Ordered Troops to Henrlco
an Hour and Half Before They
Were Asked for-PracticallyA All
the Evidence for the Pros
ecution Is ln-Defence
to Begin To-Day
Two Others We're Also In
Cluded in Plot.
THE EVIDENCE OF
GOVERNOR MONTAGUE

Disclosures decidedly sensational In their
coloring distinguished the second day Of
the trial Of Sheriff Simon Solomon, of
Henrico county, charged with malfeas-
anoe, misfeasance, incompetency and gross
neglect Of official duty.
Two distinct features operated to mark
the day as the most striking and inter
esting Of the two-feat lures which, further
more, Mt once lifted tho trial above the
level Of the ordinary humdrum Of court
proceedings. One OF them was the ap-
.pearance Of the Governor of Virginia as
witness and the important testimony he
submitted In connection with the failure
of the sheriff to apply for troops; another
was the revealment OF a plot on the night
Of the Lombardy Street riot to murder
three gentlemen connected with the Pas
senger and Power Company. one OF these
gentlemen being DR.. Charles v. CARING
tom surgeon OF the State penltenuary, and
ono OF the best known physicians in the I
city. Both Of these features attracted
instant attention, and both OF them. 1t Is
held, did more to injure the cause OF the
defendant than anything that has yet
appeared. They served to give to the
entire case an aspect more serious than
1t has yet borne.
The Features Yesterday
The Governor took the stand early IN
the day, and before his rather brief
statement was over interest In the pro-
ceedings had gone up hundred degrees
and more. His Excellency outlined his 4
connection with the calling out Of troops Y
and brought his recital to a climax with y
~. na ho1 mi II.
tary into Henrico over the head OF the
sheriff. Beginning with the day when
he returned to Richmond from the North, .
he told how he had received report after
report OF trouble in the city and the
county; how the Mayor Of Richmond had
called for protection; how he. the Gov
ernor, had delicately suggested to the
sheriff of Henrico the need for such pro-
lection there; how this officer declared
that there was no disorder within the
territory over which he swayed jurisdic-s
ton. Proceeding. the witness stated that
the Judge Of Henrlco had come to MIN
and asked for troops, but that he had TO 2
refuse, because the Judge had no right
TO call for them; that the Common
wealth attorney thought there was no
need for troops, but stated no reasons
why he held this opinion: that ne, as
Governor finally suggested to Judge
Wickham that he might suspend or re-
get control of the situation in the county.
At last. after waiting impatlently for the
sheriff. the Governor himself, an hour
and a half before the sheriff had made
application, ordered that the troops be
mobilized and taken into Henrico and
anywhere else In the state necessary
to preserve the peace.
The statement of the Governor created
a great stir, the effects OF which the
defense endeavored to remove during tho
afternoon. 1t succeeded In showing that.
though the Governor had ordered the
military to take the cars tnropgh Hen-
rico tho actual movement of the troops
had not begun before Sheriff Solomon
called for protection.
Somewhat later In the day the second
sensation came. A young man OF the
West End. named Carleton, told what
he knew Of tho Lombardy Street disturb
ance, and in his testimony disclosed the
existence on that night of a plot to mur-
der three gentlemen connected with the
company. He overheard % gang of about
fifty men discussing the plot. He heard
them say that they had come out with
the express purposes of killing DR., car
rington, Mr.. Carroll Bodeker and Mr.
Arthur Gray the two last named being
two young men In the Offices Of the com
pany, who had volunteered to run cars
during the strike Furthermore. the Wit
anesses heard some of the plotters state
that they would go beyond the city line
to perform their work. because there was
nobody to protect the county and no
county policemen would be there no mo-
lest them Before he left the spot Mr..
Carleton saw shot fired from this band
or men.
Prosecution Through.
Resides these two leading features there
were several others of minor importance,
A number OF important witnesses testified
including Colonel George Wayne Ander-
son. Major saville. Or. Darlington, Mr.,
Murray NJ. Mcclure and Others. Several
testified to great disorder In the county
prior to the date on which troops wess
called out,
The prosecution Is practically done with
its case and It feels that II has strong
one. There is one other witness, AIR.
Allan Potts, but he will not appear In
persoh. A statement from him viii be
read. The defense witnesses will 50 on
to-day. and there seems good ground for
the belief that the case will be ar an
end by tomorrow night
Judge Sims Is proving all adnlrable
presiding oIcer. calm, clear and thor
oughly master of the situation. The
Commonwealth Is going into tho case yig-
orously, and will probably be heard from
later Counsel on both sides are fighting
hard. and there are silsn2 OF coming hst~-