The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-01
GREGORY PLEASED
At JURY'S VERDICT
A. c. l.. RAILWAY CASHIER, WHO
TURNS TO JAIL SMILING.
GETS THREE-YEAR TERM
LAWYER DEPICTS WIFE PRAYING
AT HOME AND REFERS TO
AGED MOTHER AND
LITTLE TOTS.

Who knows but that his young
wife is now on her knees praying
that you gentlemen VIII make his sem
tence as light as possible ." asked
Lawyer Harry NJ. Smith. Jr.. in the
Hastings Court yesterday. pleading
for Louis l.. Gregory. defaulting cash
Ter of the Atlantic Coast Line local
freight office.
And think Of his aged mother and
two little children. All. it's sad to
think of them" he added
Meanwhile the father of the two
little children sat with dropped head.
his brother, Allen, by his side. nearby
the jury which had his fate in their
hands. Occasionally he looked up.
cycling the twelve men closely and
doubtless wondering what effect the
eloquent pleadings of his counsel was
having upon them. NO tears welled
10 Gregory's eyes. but ii was clear
that he was deeply affected.
Through his attorney. he entered a
plea of guilty. which was hmm ediately
changed to a technical plea of not
guilty. so that the jury could pass
upon the case and determine the
amount of sentence, instead of Judge
Witt.
Lawyers Suggest Penalty.
States Attorney Folkes asked that
the sentence be fixed at four or five
years in the penitentiary, While Mr..
Smith and Mr. Robert Fl. Taney, also
representing Gregory. thought that
two. or three years at most, would
be sufficient punishment for the ac-
cnsed young man who was soon to
don felon stripes.
Mr.. Folkes insisted on four or five
Years, Notwithstanding the fact that
the railroad company and the COM
pany in which Gregory was bonded
agreed that three years would serve
every purpose of the law.
Gregory pleaded guilty 10 grand
larceny, no definite sum being specj-
fed in the Indictment Opinion varies
as 10 the actual amount Of money
ne stole. the sum ranging from Viz
GOO to $4,000 in estimates.
Sentence of the former cashier was
suspended by Judge Witt for sixty
DAYS, SO that he might assist the rail
way officials and representatives or
the bonding company in untangiing
the books at the freight office.
1t is said to be hardly likely that
Gregory will get any time off for good
behavior, owing to the shortness OF
tHe term neted out to him.
Couldn't Suppress smile.
feiIo"lne the court proceedings
Gregory went back To Jail in the Gus
iody of deputy sheriff. and wearing
a smile Of satisfaction he was unable
to suppress. His usually solemn conn
tenance also lighted M perceptibIv
when the finding of the jury was an
nounced.
Since being brought back from,
Denver where he was located after
a country-w search, Gregory has
made model prisoner at the city
laH, passing his days leisurelv smok-
ing cigarettes and reading the daily
papers. The papers have afforded
much diversion, especially since the
beattie murder broke.
Gregory has never talked of suicide
since MS return to Richmond from
Denver In custody Of Chief Detective
McMahon. although 1t was generally
believed for a day or two after his
sudden and hurried departure from
the CITY that he had DESTROYED him
self. this opinion arising from the fact
'hat ne left note on the river hank
near the Old Dominion wharf init
mating that he was on the point or
ending his life.