The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-01-16
CRISMOND CASE.
SPEECHES OF OPPOSING
COUNSEL.
Testimony of Witnesses, Etc. Etc

] EN~ff -
hour Hs stated that tue Common wealth
expected to prove 20 the jury that Girls
mond as guilty OF repeated shortages
in deeds, administration, tax on wills,
etc. aud that CfismOnd in one instance
c elected 81 tax on an administration
aud only turned IN one dollar, aud only
reported to the State one dollar aud that
he would show that this WAS not
uuly shortage, but that Crlsmond stole
the $29 with full knowledge that it was
not bis property, and that the prniten-
tiary is the proper place Tor dishonest
preachers and that Mr.. Crismond aving
( the county showed guilty conscience, be
/ being threatened with an invest. alton
of the Clerks office aud it was ga eN-
empli6catiOn of the wicked ii9eing
Mr. Fitzhugh said: The general pub
I lie and the good citizens OF this county,
with few exceptions, are heartily urea
with this prosecution OF these eAses
which should never have been brought
into court. If they had to come, one IL
dictment was all that was necessary IL
lie time now for the farce TO end This
prosecution was started by Graves.
The mantle of the Commonwealth then
was placed on the shoulders OF Mr.. F0s-
ter. lie got tired and retired. Then
comes in Sir. Gordon. lie studied over
il for three weeks and asked to be let oil,
and practically acknowledged he had no
case OF the three, one took to his bed
and the other two took to the woods.
Mr.. Graves furnished the money to pros
ecute the case when MIR. Gordon wss IN
il. and his retirement relieved Graves OF
that much expense. Graves in the com
meneement walked into court robust
and hearty. lie hoped through MIR. Il.
TO get continuance, and when he iaiied
and the defense announced that ii in
tended TO investigate Graves. he col
lapsed, went to bed called in five doc
tors, aud has not been in the court room
since, nor will he he so long as this trial
lasts Now, here comes my friend De-
Jarnette ia the case, and II he IL not
looked after before it is over his friends
will have to take him To al asylum.
/ The prosecution then called Treasurer
/ billiard, and he testified that before Urls
mond went away he had a conversation
with him only in regard TO shortage oil
delinquent taxes.
Then Mr.. Holiday was examined AZ
TO the committee report lie acADow-
lodged that he and Mr.. Gordon had
found several discrepancies between the
report and records. Judge Embfey testi-
fed that the committee had been handi
capped in getting an entirely accurate
report owing to the abeence Of fee books
from the office and the generally negligent
manner in which the office had been kept.
Clerk Harris testified that Crismond
left on July 4th and returned Nov 24th.
Mr. DeJarnette submitted number OF
de, DIS on which there was due 81 each,
which had been entered on the tax book
at 30 cents each He also read TO the
Jury the statement vi Mr. Graves sub
United TO the investigating committee,
which counsel for defense agreed should
be submitted as evidence.
At $50 Mr. DeJarnette asked the court
to adjourn until Friday III rning, AS be
desired to examine certain parts OF the
record with which he was not familiar.
/ Mr. Fitzhugh opposed this, saying Mr..
/ DeJarnette had been q member OF the
/ investigating committee, and II he was
not familiar with the record alter study
/ ing il for iorty.twO days. he would never
/ be. Besides, said he, a large number
/ OF business men are being kept here un
necessarily. aud AIN willing 70 continue
/ the case all night, until it is finished.
After consultation, the court adjourned
/ for an hour.
When court resssembled, Mr.. Dollar
nette rested his case.
! The defense put on stand Mr.. Bradley
/ who testified that the committee sTeport
and other communications in The Free
Lance bad been paid for by Mr. Graves.
Mr.W. l.. v aller-In the case OF stealing
a pig. in which be issued warrant, had
not been allowed to go 70 trial, but had
been compromised on the order Ci Graves
as commonwealth attorney, and the
party allowed to go Tree on paying $lO,
with costs, amounting TO Sl.oO
The following twelve gentlemen were
examined al to Graves reputation:
T. A FrazeI-Mr. Graves reputation
ia bad and would not believe him on
oath. Why, said Mr.. d Because he
has lied to me and tried t6rob me. Mr..
DIDO you base your opinion on your
case or his general reputation. Mr.. f
fl lie bis general reputation.
J. NJ. Holladsy-Have known him
from boyhood. General reputation is
bad. Would not believe him on oath.
Never had an unpleasant word with him
F L. Frazer-H,s reputation is bad
and would not believe him on oath.
John W. Holiday known him all
nv life. Went to school with him.
Would not believe him on cath, where
/ bjs interests or preiudices were involved.
| Never had any trouble with him.
Jesse Stubbs-Known him all my life
Would not believe him on oath Had
personal difficulty with him.
Patrick ID. TaylOr-KnUwn him ever
since he was born. Repul alton bad.
Would not believe him on oath. Never
had difficulty with him.
W. o. Harris-Known him Tor . years.
Bad. Would not believe him on oath.
Never had personal difficulty with him.
Joseph Stubbs-Known him for 20
Years. Hard to believe him on oath
when there was dollar at stake.
Eddie Estes-Known him for II years.
Reputation very poor in my height or
hood. Never had a personal difficulty
with him. Would not believe him on
oath.
Thornton T. Dilard-Known him from
childhood. Regret to cay his reputation
Is bad and that would be 10th to be-
lieye him on oath when his interests are
affected. Never had a difficulty with
him.
i b Carthorn-Lived near him. Known
him for 20 years. Reputation for truth
fulness very bad.
R. J. Turnley-Knew him intimately
20 years ago Would not believe him on
oath where his interest were concerned
A. II. Crismond-Haye assisted my
father for Is years. Since 1895 deeds
have been principally recorded by my
self and vile. Many deeds were not re-
corded promptly owing TO my regular
business. Have had as many as 100
leeds unrecorded in my safe at the store.
Graves would frequently come to my
store. and with me get out deed which
he desired to have quickly recorded on
which to loan money He was as TAMIL
lar with the office as was my father aud
I went 10 and out at will.
! undpT