The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-02-13

Subjected for nearly five hours to N
,ireless aud mcrciIcss cross-examina-
tion by Harry NJ smith. of counsel for
the prosecutions Adon a. Yoder. in his
trial for alleged criminal libel against
Police Commissioners Manning and
Gordon and Police Justice Crutchfieid,|
admitted yesterday that j. Marshall1
Atkinson. former proprietor of the PARK
Hotel. had supplied him with most of
the information for his first articles.
Yoder failed absolutely to bring for
ward single proof In substantiation
of his charges and inslnuatlohs aBaliise
the prosecutors.
Yodcr was also forced to admit that
he had borrowed si22 from Atkinson
and had not repaid a cent, and that MS
brother received free board at the PARK
Hotel as part of his hire by the pamph-v
letter. Pressed closely for his charges
of crookcdness, graft and poiiuca1t
knavery, he was unable to show
single proof. though lie insisted andI
persisted up to the last moment thatJ
his charges were tr1e. Constantly no.
took refuge behind rumor OF the|
streets ana hearsay evidence, or in.,
forma ton at second hand.
Evidence From Ledman.
The evidence that the Police Com
.missfoners used free passes on theI
street cars was supplied him by hisI
friend. S. L.. Ledman, who has BEEN
prominent of late In demanding more|
rigid observance of the Sunday blue|
law AS to his charges that "sus-|
5picion is already becoming prevalent
that somebody is getting a rake of.
he replied that Ile Just meant some
f,; iaI hat r.
I.caman had the reputation Of goinK1
through the district" to collect
money, but that he didn't make the
direct charge.
Though the record OF tho heartnEt
OF former Policeman Moody by tho}
Board of Police Commissioners. on tlie}
charge of conduct unbecoming an OIL
ficer, was placed before him. and rel
corded proof was shown him that E'o-}
licemau Griffin was elected to fill theI
vacancy caused by the retirement on
Officer Logan Robins, he still per-
sisted that 1t was ''put-up Job be-
cause of Moody's enforcement of law.
admitting at the same time that he1
believed the record.
Counsel for the prosecution brinE-I
ing up his charge that some one wasl
paid for the election of officers TO theI
force, in which he said he referred to
tho commissioners, he replied. after
other questions and answers. that u
was merely an enquiry but that Il
he had tinc he could prove tho
charges.
Mr.. Smith rose to his feet, and ask |
! ed the court TO allow the witness thcI
chance TO prove his charges or his
''inauiry.n But the court overruled the
upitpcSs ana ATTORNEY request
Thinks He Helped City,
Questioned as to an article appear
ing IN ono OF his pamphlets asking
If people realized TO what depths the
dcpartmcn,s of Justice aud law en- |
forcement had descended. he replied
that "a Judge may render a corrupt
decision, but himself he not corrupt"
the remark exciting smile among thel
attorneys and spectators. Once hisI
counsel had TO call him TO order WhsnI
he still insisted OH giving his opin-
ions. He stated that he thought con-I
ditions had improved since his ar-|
rival In Richmond. and there was an
other smile. Up To the last he Geit-
Grated that his charges were trua,
Some of his Information as to Gritfin,s|
election, he said, WAS obtained fromJ
six policemen, but he did not give|
their names when asked TO do SO.
Frequent tiits occurred between Yoder|
and the attorney for the prosecntion.|
and the Judge had TO call both to|
order. 49,
Much OF The time he spent on 1.-The
stand Toder sat with half#cioscd eyer,
aud frequently he, gave Vent 70 wide
yawns. often he asked that the tury
he allowed TO place a const runtior