The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-07-20
MISSING WATCH
FOUND AT LAST
MoND vA-snoc,aI

r G H NJ o n D, VA--Special.-
GLOWING an exhaustive inquiry
which occupied most OF yesterday
morning and afternoon, the grand Jury
Of Henrico County Circuit Court, in
the case of the missing watch and
chain and cash of William Shubridge
reached the following verdict:
We, the grand jury, in the matter
OF the loss OF a watch and chain and
money sustained by William Shu-
bridge, have gone into the case very
carefully and report as follows:
c. w. Pemberton, a special officer
on duty at the Fair Grounds last Oc-
tober, stated that he took charge of
MI Shubridge, who was then in a
drunken condition, and that under the
direction OF +. y. Traylor, who was in
charge or the police force at that Mace
and time, removed from the person of
Shu bridge one gold watch and chain
ana so cents in currency, which he
then and there delivered to Mr.. Tray
Tor in person. Since then he has not
seen the articles
Mr.. Traylor stated that he was not
present at that time; that he did not
seen them.
Robert Kidwen stated that he was
present at the time the articles We're
removed by Mr.. Pemberton and that
Mr.. Traylor was not present at that
time. The last time the articles We're
seen by Mr.. Kidwen they were in the
possession OF Mr.. Pemberton.
(Signed)
EDWARD J. WILLIS.
Foreman"
The grand jury also protested
against the lack OF system of the coun-
~ police at the fair last year as mani
rested by investigation OF the present
case. 1t said:
I'm connection with the matter of
watch and chain and money taken
from William Shubridge October 3.
1910, and the testimony secured bv
your grand jury in the case:
we, your grand jury, desire to call
the courts attention to the exceeding
ly loose condition Of the county police
force at the time Of the last State Fair
and TO the bad management Of the en-
tire force. There appears an utter a b.
sence of system, form, orders. hours
and records, without which your Jury
cannot ascertain facts, nor in our
opinion, can the criminal element be
properly controlled.
EDWARD ]. WILLIS,
Foreman"
To add to this, as well as to the gen
eral mysteriousness of the case. the
watch, chain and cash were found. if
was reported in the vault of the
sheriff's Office by Deputy Sheriff Gar.
| nett a short time after the findings OF
the grand jury.
The envelope, in which the missing
! articles were wound, bore notation
in the handwriting of Deputy Sheriff
| w. w. SydnOr. which gave the date OF
! their receipt at the sheriffs office al
! october Z, 1910. Sydnor was com.
| PEELED TO admit that the articles mus
| have been delivered to him, but said hi
| could not remember who had brough
| them to him. Officer Pemberton still
maintains that he delivered the things
to Deputy Sheriff Frank B. Traylor
who just as resolutely denies the as
sertion.
Sheriff Kemp said today that he haC
never before received a complaint tina
the work OF the officers at the Stat,
Fair had been lax or unsystematic, blu
had on the contrary had compliment
tary letters from officials of the fair a
to the work of the police.
Frank b. Traylor said the "whol
thing is political trick, and has beer
done for the purpose of defeatin,
Sheriff Kemp for reelection. / an
going to have whole lot to say in
few days about this matter"