The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-27
MAYOR IS FINED
in POLICE COURT
Justice Crutchfield I'm
poses Maximum PEN
atty for Contempt.
MAYOR APPEALS
TO JUDGE WITT
Case Certified to Hustings Court
for February 6th-Apology
of Captain Mccarthy and
Plea BY Attorney
Hill Monta-
que.


In contempt Of court. the ofrense having
been committed the day previous when
the chief executive denounced Mr.. j. ID.
Seckclinan. police court reporter for the
News Leader, an Infamous and inalci-
Gus liar Counsel for the Mayor, MI
I'M Montague, asked for an appeal from
the decision OF Justice Criichiield which
Imposed the fine OF $50 upon Mr. Nc
Carthy.
The point was made by Mr.. Harry
Smith. counsel for Mr. seckelman. that an
appeal could not be taken in a contempt
of court case. After consulting the law
upon the question Justice CrutcHed
granted the appeal but said that IL an
authority was found contrary 10 this. the
tine would, of course, have to be paid and
The matter dropped where it is nov
When the casc was called yesterday
morning the Police Court chamber wos
crowded to the very doors with bust
ness men, merchants. lawyers and work
ingmen of tho city. Court had not been
in session for more than fifteen minutes
before the case was reached on tho
docket and at the name OF the Mayor
the crowd surged forward, every person
present eager to hear all of the evidence
In the unusual proceeding.
The charge was read and Mr.. Montague
attorney for the city's chief magistrate,
said that the Mayor WAS ready to defend
himself against the charge of contempt
or court and to make n statement
McCarthy's Statement.
As Mr. Mccarthy took the witness
chair there was a very suspectible rpr-
,nnr through the court room and the
most intense suppressed excitement was
exhibited. In a very earnest and sincers
manner the Mayor said:
~ dfsclaim any Intention or pur.
pose OF being dfscourteous to this
court NY remarks were made to
the reporter Indicating Mr.. Seckel-
mani. and were not within the hear
Ina Of the court. have never had
any desire. purpose or intent to do
anything that could Justly be called
contempt Of court. The epthets
which ! applied to the reporter ex.
pressed the Indignation OF myself.
and also were for the protection OF
this court. a garbled report had
beea printed Of the proceedings hero
and l. as we'll as this court, was
placed In false light. 1t was the
resentment against this article that
called for the rebuke. In saying
what did to the reporter, may
say, that It was only the elimination
Of continuance OF articles printed
In the News-Leader. which were cal
cuIateo 20 place me IN riofculouS
position.
al most sincerely discIalm. upon
oath and upon my word Of honor as
gentleman, any Intent or purpose
to be dlsoourteous to this court, and
II Your Honor so construed my re-
marks, I most humbly apologize to
the COURT
Police Justice Speaks.
Silence followed the closing words from
the Mayor and this was only interrupted
oy Justice Crutchfeld who explained
that ho was busy writing ut the time the
Mayor applied the epithets to the re-
porter for the afternoon paper II thought
/ heard the word liar said ne. AN!
looked up but at this time the Mayor
had returned to his seat and I resumed
writing. But after Mr.. seckelman re-
ported what the Mayor had said to him.
I took cognizance of the matter. and
while Seckelman was informing me OF
what had happened he was called
liar by the Mayor. This I thought was
contempt of court. 1t is going too far
gentlemen," continued the wise Justice,
who for 50 many years has presided over
the Police Court.
The court suggested the taking OF evil
dence in the case If there was to be any
question raised as to the contempt
Mr., Montague replied that this was not
like an ordinary case OF contempt of court.
The original trouble was not between
Mayor Mccarthy and the court nor in the
hearing of the court, nor did it interrupt
tho proceedings of the court, and there
fore the mayor after the apology, was
not guilty of contempt
JUSTICE Crutchfeld said that the mayor
had certainly committed the offense with
winch he was charged for when the
matter was being brought to his atten-
tion officially, Mr. MCCARTHY had. MS re-
ported in ycsd,rd,lyt's Times Dispatch,
called seckelman liar, right Plump
BY a slip of the tongue Mr.. Montague
brought down the house. when he said,
I'm that case, there isn't any use of put
ting on any HAIRS
Justice Crutchfleld had to ran sound,v
with his gavel to restore order In tba
courtroom.
II mean witnesses" finished Mr.. Mon
tague. after tho laughter had subsided.
Which aroused more mirth.
Montague's Plea.
Mr.. Montague then appealed to the
court to spare the mayor the indlgnty
OF a conviction under the charge, declar-
Ing that 1t was exceedingly doubtful
whether or not the chief magistrate was
guilty or not,
A conviction would mean the pub
lication of the story In all OF the
papers, certainly in Virginia, and In
many ether places, and this would be
n reflection, to certain degree, upon
tho dignity of the office and upon
the city OF Richmond In the opinion
OF tho attorney. contempt of court
would necessarily have to be a pro-,
ceedure that interrupted the proceed
ings the court or language that was
addressed TO the court. The same rule
could not apply to tho Police Court
CONTINUED on Filth Page.l.