The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-22
GOES TO PRISON.
FOR MEAN THEFT
Arthur Ford is not Insane, Says
Magistrate Connolly After Con-
viction.
MOTHER PLEADS FOR HIM
Aged Woman Believes Son is Men
tally Unbalanced and Not a
Hardened Thief.

Arthur Ford. young white man,
who has had domestic and other trou-
bles in the past, was convicted In Po-
lice Court Wednesday morning upon
two charges of stealing.
For taking the glass jar into which
people had dropped small change for
the Homo for Infants from the Com
mercial Hotel. the young man was
sentenced to serve sixty days, and
like sentence was imposed upon him
for a like offense committed in Shere's
Cafe, In Main street near the corner
of Ninth. No one from Ruegers Ho-
tel, where he lis also alleged to have
entered and stolen contribution box,
was present in court. nor were there
people from Stumprs and one or two
other hotels and saloons that have
charges against the man.
Attempted Suicide.
After being locked up Tuesday af-
ternoon Ford became very respondent
and tried to kill himself by tying
his necktie around his neck and
swinging from the top of his cell,
The neoktie broke. but slip moose
almost strangied him. Officers found
him gasping for breath and called for
the ambulance. He was taken to the
city jail and placed In a padded cell
for the night.
In court Wednesday Ford said he
did not remember what happened
Tuesday afternoon and night. Il was
not drinking and did not steal any
thing. but / don't know what l d
he said in a rambling way.
His aged mother came from the prt-
vate office of Justice Crutchfield when
the case was called and pitifully she
asked that a commission OF lunacy be
had. for, she exclaimed, Il believe the
boy Is crazy"
The evidence did not support her
appeal. however, and the two convie-
lions OF sixty days each was the con-
sequence. Justice crutchf!eid advised
Mrs. Ford that she could have war
rant sworn oct before a magistrate
accusing her son OF being of unsound
mind and that a commission of iun-
acy would pass upon his case. She
retired to the private office again and
Magistrate james Connolly was sent
for.
Squire Refuses Warrant.
Madam. II pains me-" said the
squire, ''but / do not think your sen
Is crazy. He is JUST natural thief.
can't issue the warrant for you. l
am sorry"
This was the explanation of the
tnimitable Jimmy Connolly. who ia
q magistrate When he mas nothlng else
30 do. Parenthetically, he is base
ball rooter and an excursion pro-
moter.
But as to Ford. He 10 not more
than twenty-five years of age and has
been married for several years He
has had many domestic troubles. and
also gotten into trouble with the street
car company and with the city.
few weeks ago he shot himself In the
left foot and before that had an cpl
lepttc fit by the side of the street car
track and wanted damages in the sum
of $4,000 from the street railway
company. He did not get the dam
ages. 1t being shown in court that he
had faxed an injury In order to sue
she company.
His mother believes him insane. but
hic brother. who lives at 1907 West
Cary street. says to the contrary. He
just will not work" said the elder
brother. He Is rs sane SIS l am.
and he ought TO be sent TO the roads
to work. That would cure him"
Ford visited almost every place In
Main and Broad streets Tuesday and
took from at least two out of three
places a collection box,