The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-24
OR EGORY TRIAL
MAY Be DELAYED
Likely That Court Will Be
Asked To-Day for Brief
Postponement.
NO PLEA OF GUILTY EXPECTED
Former Railroad Cashier Must
Answer Charge of
Embezzlement

Although the trial of Louis L. Greg
DRY. former cashier in the freight de-
partment OF the Atlantic Coast Line
Railroad on charge Of embezziement.
Is on the docket Of the iIustings Court
Tor to-day. it was intimAied yesterday
tina, brief delay might he granted.
There Is no formal motion for post
poncment before the court and the
prisoner has asked for a speedy hear
ing, but there are one or two details
which might make change in the trial
date advisable without detriment TO
either side.
Since his arrest in Denver on June
II. on Information telegraphed the po-
lice OF that city by the Richmond de-
partnlent Gregory has been in prison.
He wus brol-5ht back on rcquisition
papers. and ne made no application for
bali, stating on his arrival here that he
wanted the matter ended as quickly as
possible.
Not LikcI. to Plend Guilty.
~ the Guy Jail within the past few
weeks he has talked freely about his
troubles and while he has stated that
sensational evidence may he brought
out THIS week ne has never charged
mat any Of his associates were guilty
III stealing railroad funds. He Will be
DEFENDED by Harry NJ Smith. Jr.. and
Robert IL Tate!. In certain quarters
there is Il belief that he VIII plead
guilty and ask for minimum sentence.
but lie has never made such Il plea yet.
and he may make Il bitter night for
freedom lie mas claimed. however.
that the amount OF his shortage is not
as much az the railroad has announced,
the conpany's statement to the bond
ing company showing that his alleged
dafalcat.on will reach nearly $4,000
The road lost nothing in the end. the
shorta ge having been made good by the
American Surety Company. OF New
York which had bonded him in the
SUM of 10000
Ovrrshndowcd just Now.
While the Gregory case has been
temporarily ovcrshadowed by one OF
greater magnitude. IL attracted wide
spread interest during the latter part
Of May. after the story of his disap-
peatance' was first printed in The
T!mes-Dispatch. On the morning OF
May q a Waterman picked up just be-
tow the Old Dominion Wharf a bunch
OF keys, some papers and a letter ad-
dressed 10 Mrs. Gregory. Within few
hours. Brookiand Park. where he lived
heard that Gregory had committed sui!
eide. He had in,imated in the message
10 his wife that he would destroy him
self and while that theory was accept
ed at first. the fact OF his troubles in
his Office forced the conviction that he
had absconded But while II was
known by his employers that he was
short in his accounts. no warrant was
issued for several days. IL having de-
veloped later that Gregory left Rich
mona for the South over the Seaboard
Air Line Railway at l0;f5 O'Clock on
the night OF May 20, eight hours be-
fore his farewell note ~ his wife was
found on the bank of the James.
Led Gay Life.
Going on the old principle that 1t is
proper 10 kick a poor devil when he is
down. the city dragged from the high
ways and hedges the story OF Gregg
RVS spectacular life. And IL was spec
a month. handling thousands and
thousands OF dollars every day. he
blossomed out as the big spender of
Richmond. 4 motor car was his first
hobby: then another motor car was
bought, and before long he was pres
ident OF an automobile agency. He
never made any secrecy OF his spend
Ing. There were many lurid reports
OF his life. but most OF these were
overdrawn. and aside from the charges
against him in court, his friends de-
was painted. While he was in deep
trouble himself. fearing, TOO. that he
might be trapped at any moment, he
gamely came to the front with a big
contribution to make good the short
age Of a friend, who had skipped to
evade arrest. over at Brookland Park
where he lived. he did nothing to
arouse suspicion. but in town he SIM
ply tossed his money to the hounds
Made Quick Getaway.
On the afternoon OF May 20 auditors
found glazing discrepancies in his ac-
counts They found things which had
10 be explained. 1t was a shock, for
he was popular In the Office, and.
strange TO say, nobody suspected him,
while everybody else was wondering
how he could spend money so lavishly
on the salary of a clerk. After the
ball game he was called to the office TO
explain He said he would return In
a few moments; that he wanted to
drive home with his wife. and that he
would get back after tea. Then he
prepared for flight He had several
checks cashed downtown; he wrote the
note to his wife. and put it on the
wharf with his keys. looked again
around the white light places and
caught a train. Wherever he went ne
had to dodge people who knew him
intimately. and he had made his last
stand in Denver. when he foolishly gave
away the tip which led to his arrest