The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-16
ARSON CASE
FOR TRIAL
Woodbridge and Forbes Denied
Change Of Venue by Judge
Hundley.
REMARKABLE AFFIDAVIT
Counsel Charged That Trenen-
dous Conspiracy Had Been
Secretly Formed.
Special to The Times Dlspatch.)

tSpecal to The Times Dispatch.)
BUCKINGHAM COURTHOUSE, VA,
Juno 15-E. G. Woodbridge, for the past
month the most widely talked Of man
II. Buckingham county and ono of the
most prominent figures in the press OF
the State, left tho Buckingham jail lato this
4 afternoon, having been bailed In the
amount of five thousand dollars for his
appearance before special torn of the
court called Tor tho 18th day OF July.
4 Young Dan Woodbridge, his son, who
was also out on bail, drove his father
/ home in a buggy. This release OF Wool
Gridge, without "a fight on either side,
/ came as a climax to day of great legal
activity here. From OF clock until nearly
| night. the counsel In tho case fought o
4 tremendous battle for and against q
! change Of venue, the courtroom being
/ crowded tho whole timo with cSizens
ilDd visiting lawyers.
Change of Venue.
The defense led by Congressman Flood
and Mr.. v. E. Howard corltended through
! the afternoon. for q transferrance Of the
!; case to Farmville. in Prince Edward
i county, where 1t was alleged 1t could be
|! tiie1 by an impartial jury. unsurrounded
! by any possible prejudice. BUT Judge
/, Hundley finally refused to grant the con-
4 tebtion, retaining the case In Buckng-
| ham county, and setting the third Mon
day In July as tho time for the trial.
| The trial OF this case brought forth
| testimony of intense interest. and de-
/. veloped features that go to prove only
more surely than ever the remarkably
sensational character of this knotty
| case.
| From all sides comes the confirmation
| from the citizens. as we'll as from the
| barrsters, that no such mysterious case
| has ever boen known or heard of IN this
section Of the State before
| At Q clock to-day Mr.. v. E. Howard
| filed the affidavit Of the three prisoners
begging not a change of venire, but a
|. change Of venue, alleging In this affida-s5
| Wit the following grounds: The tfemend-3
| GUS excitement. and bitterness eAlstlns
| against the prisoners in BUCKINGHAM
county. The fact that Peter a. Forbes,
| clerk Of the court. is brother OF the
Late John S. Forbes. whose house was
| burned and had contributed money 20
prosecute the suspects, and. furthermore
| that there existed in the county and noL
fnr from the courthouse, q league or
con spiracy, ready to do violence 70 me me
prisoners in case of their release.
This affidavit was q most ms tiiis
document and disclosed at least the sup
rnsi,ion that there existed a most remark
able condition OF affairs. The atlidavit
Ca vigorously answered by Messrs.
strobe and Hubbard. who we're IN turn turn,
answered by Mr.. Flood, who made a re-
MA rkable speech Mr. Flood SAID the
affidavit was not intended TO reflect upon
tbe character or integrity of the Buck
ingham people. but that IT was fntendea
to avoid a tremendous cons piracy W ih
had been secretly formed against one
of the prisoners
Mr.. Flood Dramatic.
Speaking in a dramatic manner Mr.
Flood stated that not far from the court
house there was a coterleso of men VINO
were thirsting for this mans blood by
instrumentation, misstatements ana
falsehoods. They are seeking to arouse
a malicious sentiment which VIII cheat
these men out of fair trial. He said this
is mysterious case, and ~ becomes
more mysterious every day.
Mr.. E. Van Anderson, magistrate,
and a half-uncles of Charlie Forbes. was
placed on the stand and gave testimony
Of great interest. The testimony also
shows tho intense excitement which pre-
vailed through the county. Sheriff VIII
liam Williams was examined. and he also
testified to the interest manifested in
the case, but claimed that the accused
could get fair trial
Mr. Peter A. Forbes, clerk Of the court
and brother OF the late John s. Forbes
next took the stand, and testified at
length as to his connection with the case
and his employment of counsel to prose-
cute the accused,
Fifty Rifles.
A.. H, Browning, a horse trader Of
| App6mattox county, was sworn. and he
| made tho statement that Charles Henry
Coleman of Appomattox stated that there
were fifty rifles with fifty bullets rondy
| to shoot cliff Woodbridge to death IL he
were released. 10 admitted that his him.
SELF would like to see the guilty party
tied to a stake and burned on the site
of the fire.
The prosecution, who opposed tho
change of venue, then produced many
witnesses, all prominent men. 10 prove
that there was no dangerous excitement
in the county, and the accused would get
a fair trial. Among those examined were
William G. Chattell, OF New Store. near
the place OF the burning. Mr., Chattell
Is chairman OF the Democratic County
Committee. Henry r. Chattell, deputy
treasurer William "a. Edwards. of Ar
vonla; Rev John Spencer. Rev. Mr..
Ballard, both OF Buckingham Courthouse.
and several Others also testified that 1t
would be perfectly SAFE so far as they
knew. to hold tho trial at Buckingham
Courthouse. A
Prisoners Bailed,
The examination Of witnesses was fol-f
lowed by n spirited argument on the part
OF the counsel Mr.. Edmond w. Hub
bards speech In defense OF his native
county WAS widely aomplmanted. Judge
Hundley. in u short speech, denied the
motioa for the change OF the Venue and
stated that the case must he tried In
Buckingham county and as quickly as
possible,
The third Monday in July VAS settled
upon by the counsel as tho date for the
trial Just before dark j.. g. Woodbridge