The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-31

Judge Mullen Grants New Trial
in Cocaine case-Grocery Com
pany in Liquidation.
Times Dispatch Bureau,
100 North sycamore Street,
Petersburg, Va, July 81

PotcrsDufS, va, July 80.
Judge Mullen. having returned from
for Judge. Hundley. resumed the docket
IN the Hustings Court this morning.
He overruled the pleas OF res judicata
entered IN the cases Of several mem
bers of the Harrison Street (colored)
Baptist Church. who had been indicted
on felonious charges. resulting from a
disturbance in the church. The defend
ants In these cases pleaded previous
trial of the parties was continued over
TO tn" September term, the court hold
ing no session in August.
owing to the absence Of counsel the
tor Of the Harrison Street Baptist
church: who appealed. from the deci-
sion of the Mayor, giving him a six
months sentence in the city jail, was
also laid over until September. and
appearance at that time.
New Trial TX Granted.
Judge Mullen to-day heard argument
on the motion for a new trial in the
case of John Spencer (colored), con-
,yicted last week of having cocaine in
his possession. with intent to sell the
same. The verdict of the jury was for
one year in the penitentiary The
used the case until September.
John Thweatt (colored). proprietor
of the store in which John Spencer is
employed en- DC pleaded guilty to the charge
declared that Spencer is innocent or
the charge of which he was convicted.
and that he tThweatt) would rather
serve two years in the penitentiary
go to prison. The court SUSPENDED pended
sentence in this case. ana continued it
until September. IN the meantime
rhwTe ratc, Will be kept in jail.
5OWlnp to thoEAdaafb nf r,
Matteson, president OF the Matteson
Grocery Company, Incorporated, It Is
deemed best that the affairs of the
S Sol9eIs, be wound up: At stock
cided to assign all of the assets OF
the corporation to John D. watkins,
trustees. IN order that the company
should be liquidated. The capital stock
sets appear to be $4,000 The debts
are very small. and the trustee ex-
presses his willingness to give checks
promptly for any proper claim pre-
This is not failure in any sense Of
the word, but the stockholders feel
that it would be better to place the
corporation in the hands of some one
Interests; pay off any debts and reduce
the stock Of merchandise and other
personal property belonging to the
company to cash for distribution
uInOnS the STOCKHOLDERS. UNDER the
terms OF the deed OF trust the trustee
Is permitted to yconduct the business
as at present conducted for a period
mot exceeding sixty days. and this. deed
has been filed in the clerks office.
News Items In Brief.
In the Mayors Court this morning,
John Ashby Mullen, charged with the
murder of Elijah J. Cole with All axe,
was arraigned, but in the absence of
come of the witnesses the case was
continued until o-morrow. The ma
terial facts in this deplorable case
have been published in The Tlmes-Dfs-
patch. It Is believed he will waive ex-
animation. and that his defense will
he insanity.
The plans for remodeling and en-
larging the Shirley Hotel, on West
Tabb street. which has been purchased
by Mr.. +. X. Clements. have been com
pleted. and bids are now to be asked
for the work The architecture of the
building is to be changed and all mod
ern improvements installed.
There Is no further complaint OF lack
of rain in this section. Every day this
week, including to- day. copious show
been greatly benefited and improved.
Street improvementsi in various parts
of the city are being vigorously
pushed. Tho Public ImproyementC Com
mittce of the Council at the next meet
ing of that body will unanimously
recommend tho paving OF the roadways
and sidewalks Of other streets, large
#uneXpended balance to the creditor
that department having been brought
over from the last fiscal year
Mr.. VIM. r. McKenney has gone to