The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-17
WILL Be GIVEN
TO JURY TO-DAY
Interesting Trial Of James w.
Cooke for Safe Rob-
berry.
HIS WIFE ON THE STAND.
Rev. r. M. Mcbride Assigned a
Charge in Peters
burg.
IS WIFE ON THE .|: STAND Nc
Especial 10 The Timcs- Dispatch.)

Especial to The TiincS-DiSpatch.)
PETERSBURG. VA, June l6.-Interest-
cd spectators crowded the Hastings Court
room to-day at the trial of James w.
Cooke the we'll known young druggist
Indicted yesterday for grand larceny.
Cooke was arrested on a warrant charg-
ing him with stealing ninety-fiyc dollars
from w. u. Brown, proprietor of drug
store at Sycamore and Bank Streets,
which was formerly conducted by the
prisoner. who Is accused of opening
Browns safe and taking the money from
metal cash drawer, which was found
broken and robbed after a fire in the
store In the early morning of May 21st.
The unique feature Of the robbery was
the fact that the safe was apparently
intact, the combination having evidently
been known to the thief.
The Commemorative evidence, as pre-
sented at the preliminary hearing In the
Mayors Court, was repeated this morn
ing.
THE DEFENSE.
The defense began this afternoon, the
accused man testlfying that he left tho
store about IL o'clock on the night of the
fire and went home, returning about 3
engine house, near his residence. In reply
TO a question by his counsel. William =.
McIlwaine, whether or not he knew any
thing about the robbery, Cooke said !:
Nothing, except what read IN the news
papers and heard On the street" He was
closely questioned as to his disposal OF q
package Of money left at the Petersburg
( Club, which is alleged to have contained
part Of the stolen money, including sew
.t.ta 11orc IN, a GINA
toy safe.
A colored walter from the club had
been one OF the principal witnesses for
the prosecution. Cooke asserted that he
had left the package with the waiter.
and had made no attempt to conceal the
fact that 1t contained money.
WIFE ON THE STAND.
Mrs Cooke preceded her husband on
the stand, and testified to his presence
at home on the, night Of the fire, and
the amount and disposal Of money Kept
in the house. point much cmpn !. s y, .ze 7,
by the prosecution to show that Cookies
ready cash was largely increased after
the time OF the robbery.
Other witnesses for the defense testia
fled that they had been with Cooke on
the night OF the fire, and had seen MIN
on his way home several hours before
the fire. ..a5i 81
g Mr.. R. II. Mann, Communicating at
torney. Is conducting the prosecution, ana
summed up the case this morning. the
court adjourned late this afternoon after
the examination OF Cooke. The case VIII
be given to the jury tomorrow morning.
ASSIGNED CHARGE.
Rev r. NJ. Mcbride. who was or
dained yesterday in Philadelphia, has
been assigned by Bishop Randolph to the
charge OF the Episcopal missions in /. this ~ 3
city. The young clergyman is son OF
Dr.. McBryde, principal Of the Virginia
Polytechnic Institute.
The A. p. Hill Camp Sons Of con f'tl.:
crate Veterans. which has just been re-
organized, with Captain I. F. Heath as
commander, adopted constitution with
bylaws last evening and appointed
committee on membership. Tho camp Is
making an earnest effort to arouse gen
eral and active interestgin the organiza-
ton, and Is recruiting many new mern-
bers. "a a
The two local councils Of the Royal
Arcanum will soon hold a meeting to
discuss the recent increase in assess
ra &