The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-11-25

ham prisoners were to appear for trial,
having been granted a change Of venue
from their county to this.
The prisoners were brought to Farm
i vile Sunday night and kept in Jail
until court opened the next morning,
., The charge against them is burning
the residence and several outhouses
I belonging TO the late John Forbes
4 father Of one Of the prisoners, i'm Buck
ingham county one night last March
p Soon after being brought into court
/ Monday, Mr.. Flood, Of counsel for
Woodbridge moved for continuance
until the March term. Judge Humid
ley overruled this, stating that while
he was disposed to do all he could for
the accommodation and convenience
Of counsel on both sides, sense Of duty
to the public demanded that these
prisoners have as speedy trial as the
law and justice would permit. In the
meantime the prosecuting attorneys
had announced their readiness TO
proceed with either the Woodbridge or
Forbes case, and it had been decided
between both sides that the former
should be tried first.
After a whispered conversation be-
tween counsel the Commonwealth
side suggested that if the defense should
ask for a continuance to special term
set for early I'm January no opposition
would be raised and promptly Mr.
! Flood agreed to this Mr. Strobe, Of
the prosecution, requested the clerk 10 |
have the record show that the c0ntin- /
uance was given upon the motion Of
the defense, and after some minor de- |
tails the Court set Monday, January |
2nd. for the commencement Of the trial
Of Woodbridge.
Judge Crute thought that an injus-
tice had been done the court I'm some
Of the recent newspaper correspon-
dence. which had made it appear that
Judge Hundley had arbitrarily and
without the request or consent OF the
prisoners, removed these cases TO Prince
Edward. He stated to the court that
he had intended correcting this
through the Tlmes-Dispalch, but had
neglected doing so, hence he would
make the statement publicly that it
was with the knowledge and consent
Of his client that the change Of venue
was granted.
Mr.. Flood said that owing to the
fact that such an impression had been
made on the public mind, he would
say that before asking for a change Of
venue he had consulted his client
(Wooldridge), and that it was at that
time the prisoners expressed wish that
his case be removed from Buckingham.
To all Mr.. Flood had to say with refer
ence to the change Of venue Woodbridge
continually nodded assent.
Both prisoners looked remarkably
we'll considering their long coufne-
ment, and especially was this true Of
Forbes, despite the fever from which
he suffered during the past summer
Woodbridge was accompanied in the
courthouse by his two pretty daught-
ers, both grown, and they only left
him when the sheriff had to take the
prisoners to Jail for the recess hour.
Just before the prisoners were taken
back to Jail, somewhat Of a sensation
was sprung when Judge Hundley an
nounced that it had been reported to
him that the county Jail Of Prince s.
was in a terrible sanitary con- b
dition, and that he wanted the jailer Il
brought before him for the purpose Of
an explanation. Sheriff Dickinson
arose and said that he would have
Jailor Matthews come before his Hon
or, whereupon Judge Hundley replied:
"You are the jailor by law" Mat Il
thews, the acting jailor, however, came o
before the Court, but be- q
fore he could attempt an explanation 6
Of the Jail conditions Judge Hundley p
said he would thoroughly investigate {
the matter, and appointed a commits p
sion to examine the prison. The re- o.
port Of the commission, which was g
Of Mr.. Flood, Col. HUBBARD Ii
and Mr.. J. L. Hart, indicated the con-
dltion Of the quarters for prisoners to Il
be very unsanitary, ill-smelling and il
infested with vermin. The beddings A
and floors were reported as filthy in j.
the extreme and the place unfit for the \
habitation Of human beings.
The matter was brought to the at
tention Of the court on an application n
Of the attorneys for Forbes and Wool a
bridge, who are confined there on the Sc
charge Of arson, for removal to auoth- a
sr Jail on account Of the bad condition
Of the Jail. The statement Of the cOun-
vel caused Judge Hundley to immed-
ately appoint the commission named.
He ordered that the inspection be
made forthwith and his instructions h
we're carried out al
Judge Hundley also stated from the al
bench that complaint had come TO him m
hat the prisoners in this jail were pl
neither properly nor well fed; and that "
ne would look into this, as the Com at
paid amply for the feeding G
If her prisoners.
The Court issued rule against the IN
Board Of Supervisors, and said that he 81
would resort to any extreme to have ia
he remedy applied to the outrageous je
conditions prevailing at the Jail. m
Commonwealth Attorney Watkins Il
tated to the Court that the Board Of 81
had done everything they