Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-22
Aged E0rger Pleads Guilty and
Judge Barhon Lets Him Oft
With Minimum Penalty.
IS WANTED IN OTHER CITIES
Worked His Simple Scheme In Many
Towns, But II is Not Likely Thar
Remaining Charges viii BE Pushed
-Try Negro Today On Murder
Charge.

William Bluett. alais John J. Brew
er. alais John j Morris. etc. an aeed
paralytic, pleaded guilty to two counts
of forgery In the Corporation Court
Yesterday morning and was sentenced
by Judge Barham 10 serve four years
in the state penitentiary-two years
on each count. Bluett is wanted IN
several other cities en- charges on
forgery, but. even though he lives 10
finish his present four year sentence,
ii Is no, likely that any OF the other
cases against him Will be pushed.
The scheme worked by Bluett was
a very simple one. but he operated
Il for sometime and secured various
small sums Of money before he rnai-
IN was captured. He formerly was
employed By y. +. Collier & Son a.
an agent and after he lost his position
he continued to use the same method
OF securing his Expenses" as he did
whiie working fer the company. tie
would send a telegram to some near
by city, directing himself TO draw a
draft on f. =. Collier a. Son for Eek
pense" money He would then follow
the telegram to the city, receive IL.
draw his draft, present draft and tele-
gram al a bank and collect the lace
value.
Sent Telegram From This City.
Rluett came to Newport News sew
eral weeks ago and sent telegram to
WILLIAMSBURG. directing himself to
draw on the house fer expense
money. He then went to William
burg. drew draft for s25, and. taking
beth draft and telegram TO bank.
he drew s25 Returning here again he
sent a telegram to himself at Suffolk
and then proceeded TO that city. He
used the same method there and Sc
cured $40. From Suffolk he went
10 Norfolk and there he sent n tele-
gram to himself at Cape Charles and
, proceeded to draw some money from
a bank there.
The game did not wol1 Al Cape
Charles. however When Bluett pre-
scented his telegram and draft, the
cashier OF the bank telegraphed Nor
folk and learned that Bluett was an
fmDcetcr. The matter was report
ed to the Cape Charles police and
Bluett was placed under arrest. Lat
or an officer was sent to Cape
Charles from this CITY and the prison
er was brought here for trial.
In statement to the lccal police.
Bluett claimed that his mind was ar-
fected by stroke of paralysis and
that. as he had been in the habit or
drawing his expense money in this
manner. he Just continued to do Sc
and was powerless TO stop the pra'-
tice II was thought that this would
be the line OF defense. but, whea
the case was called. Judge +. f. Non
tague. of Hampton. counsel for the
accused. announced that the prisoner
would plead guilty and throw himself
en- the mercy cf the court Judge Bar
ham imposed the minimum penalty for
each o5ense
Anderson placed on Trial.
Immediately after Bluett's case
was disposed OF. the case of Anthony
L. Andersen. Ct Nansemoud county.
who is charged with stealing a vat
liable sail boat from +. II. Davis. 0:
Morrison. was called No time was
lost in impanelling a jury and the
trial begun before the neon recess.
Attorneys r. NJ. Lett and T. J.
,Jaristisn represented the prisoner
and Captain Charles c. berkeley
prosecuted the case. number Of
witnesses were heard. buj :ne argr-
meut before the jury had not Degu:.
when Judge Barham adjourned court
Tor the day. The trial will he re-
sumed this morning.
Il is alleged that Anderson stole
the beat while IL was tied up On the
waterfront in this city. Several day =
after the loss Of the boa, - -cpOsl-
ed. the local police received iafOrma-
ton that the craft had been seen on
the ether side q James river and Pa
torlmar Giddings. the mariner Of the
police department. was sent across
the river in a launch to look Tor the
vessel. lie found u ana brought "
hack &C. this ci;v Anderson's ar
rest followed later.
Anderson claims TIA: ae and Davis
had a business transaction and thai
the latter declined 90 settle so he
took the boat in payment.
Try Negro For Murder.
Al the conclusion o. EaGcrscn-
trial the case Of John Henry Jcr-
don. a negro. who IS charged with
the murder Of Frcd Dunn. a sailor Of
the crew Of .hc schooner George r
Waicctt. vii b. called Mr.. G Ayieit
fshhy and Attorney Thomas J. New
scme. coiorcd. are counsel for Jor-
dan. Captain Berkeley will represent
the Commonwealth
Jordan CIT Damn At Jefferson ave
me and Twenty 9th street on June
:. The sailor. q seems. made some re-
mark about a ~uuan ut0 was with
5crdan and tae negro siashed him
VITA a knife. inficiing a wound o.
hts hand between the thumb and fore
niger. Apparently the wound was
IN lneiorifc1uf one but a. M I v