The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-04
Evidence Of Preliminary Nature
Heard in Petersburg Bank
Cases.
NOT TO KEEP JURY TOGETHER
All Witnesses, Including Charles
H. Davis, Excluded Until
Called.
Times-Dispatch Bureau.
l09 North Sycamore Street.


are pending various indictments,
charging the making of false entries
on the books of the bank. by means of
which money was unlawfully obtaineo,
was called to trial in the Hastings
Court. Wilcox e WILCOX appeared
as counsel for the defendant.
The special Indictment on which Mr..
Bishop is being tried is that known
as No. .. in which 1t is alleged that
n false entry OF s206s5 was made
on October s. 1905. TO this indictment,
on arraiSnment yesterday afternoon,
the defendant pleaded not guilty.
First Jurors Chosen.
il had been expected that much diffi-
GUILTY would be encountered in secur-
ing Il jury. on account of the wide pub
licity and discussion of the case for
many months. but out of the venire of
twenty men summoned TO court ten
we're accepted by the court as salts
factory Jurors before IL o'clock no
several of these. however, the defense
excepted. Others OF the venre were
excused for various reasons
AZ IL o'clock tho court ordered an
other venire of twenty men TO be sum-
moned and took a recess until
o'clock. The questioning OF venire-
men was very rigid. Not only were
they asked the usual questions by
'he CouIl WHetHcfdt or not they had
formed or expressed an opinion as TO
the guilt or innocence OF the prisoner.
whether tney were preJudiced for or
against him. whether they could give
him fair and impartial trial, but they
were questioned closely by counsel
for the defense as to any relation or
association with the bank and It's ofii-
GERS and directors; whether they or
their relatives owned any stock in the
n a lnc, a.
whether they had discussed the affairs
OF the bank and formed any impress
sion one way or the other about it, or
mad formed Impressions that IT, would
require evidence to remove. The ease
with which the first ten jurors we're
secured was surprise TO both sides.
Jury I;mpnnelicd.
The court met at l O'Clock and OUT
OF inc second venire soon full jury
was einpanelled and sworn, as follows:
T. .aton Adkins. w. A. Brockweli,
frank I. Plummcr. Charles H. Godscy,
Kenneth Ledbetter. Joseph D. Mann.
James d. Mckcnncy. 20. f. Brunei,
John 3. Hubbard. john j. helms, James
+. Goodrich, Il. a. Balm.
The jury is considered a frst-ciass
one In intelligence. All of the Jurors
are men of high standing, and inany OF
them merchants
the defendant stood while the long
Indictment. TO which he had pleaded
not guilty yesterday afternoon was
read to the jury The court stated TO
counsel on both sides that they had
ths right to make an opening state
ment to the jury. but each side waived
the right.
Counsel for the defendant asked that
me jury be kept together, which re-
guest the court took under considcra-
ton, indicating, however that IL was
not disposed to do so
The court adjourned to o'clock,
when the prosecution began its evil
dence. nm
The court reconvened at 4 O'Clock
ana proceeded at once to the hearing
OF the case. Counsel for the defense
withdrew their request 10 have the
jury Kept together during the trial. as
II was learned tina the trial would last
longer than had been anticipated. Wit
ncsses for the prosecution, to the num-
per OF hfteen or eighteen, were called
and sworn. and at the request of the
octense were excluded from the room
until they should be called to testify.
Ihis was made applies BILE ulso 10 Wit
nesses for the defense and among the
witnesses for the defense is Charles
nan Davis. jointly indicted with Bishon
for false entry
Protests Against Exclusion.
John r.. Lee. counsel for Mr.. Davis
protested against his exclusion, CON
tending that, though not defendant
IN thls particular proceeding, he was
uecply Interested in IL as a Joint de-
iendant. and as such should be allowed
10 remain Commonwealths Attorney
Mann held that Davis was stranger
10 this proceeding. and the rule of ex
clusion should apply 10 him as 10 other
witnesses. 8tH m.
The court regretted that the motion
to exclude Mr.. Davis had been made,
nut having been made. he must be OK
ciuded though not defendant i'm The
case.
Commo observation-disclosures Mann introdpces
IN evidence the act granting tho charter Of
inc petersburg Development and Loan Com
pany. the predecessor OF the Appomaftnx
rust company. the certificate OF the change
OF name OF the Development and Loan Com
p pan% 10 tnat Q: the Appomattox Trust
company. Med In the office OF the Secretary.
OF the commonwealth In January 1902 This
was esta blished and corroborated by the first
the AppomattoS Trust Company sncs its or
SANITATION to last May. Mr., Worth as ser
rotary kept the record books Of. the cor
poration and the proceedings Of the stock.
holders meetings. lie testified TO The chanro
OF name and the acceptance of the change
by the Development and Loan COMPANY: fo
various entries In the record book In tho
election of officers and directors-amone
them Charles Hall Davis. lie did not give
legged false entries. His evidence was main.
ly preliminary. the value of which will ap
pear later In the trial. flt.
Bank Empioye Testines
John l.. GraTes. an employe Of the Apo
mattoN Trust Company was the second Wit
ness. lie was In ;9oS the Individual book
keeper and his duty was to keep account OF
deposits on the checking system. He kept
the individual ledger b" in which Mr.
Davis's account was kept. lie testified thar
on October 8. 1905. there was an entry or
check for seo,6s0 to Mr.. Davis's credit, and
that on the morning of that day Mi Davis
was overdrawn in his account s2e,03a. The
deposit SLIP for this deposit was exhibited
and put in evidence
A. L. Hawse. OF Richmond, who was a
director OF the bank in 1905. was put on the
stand. but he knew nothing OF any over
drafts or alleged wrohgfn acts. and was
excused
To-day's proceedings were comparatively
proceedings will be Tomorrow. when many
witnesses Of prominence, including directors
of the bank. will be nut on the stand and
matters of interest dcyeloped I.i.