The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-17
JURY LOCKED UP
IN FOSTER CASE
Unable to Reach Verdict After
Celebrating for Thirty
Minutes.
WOMAN SPRINGS SENSATION
Mrs. Hicks, of Fluvanna, Charges
That Defense Witnesses
Were Bribed.

After half an hour OF discussion had
failed to bring about an agreement,
the jury In Henrico county court
| which has in its hands the fate of
| Edmund Foster, the inspired preacher.
was locked up at the Lexington Hotel
last night and court adjourned until
this morning. when the jury will again
! attempt to arrive at verdict The
former trial of Foster. who has been
indicted for continued ,niscond,ic,
with girl ward. resulted in dis
agreement.
In the effort to conclude the case
yesterday, Judge West held the court
IN continuous session until after 3
o'clock last night the awycrs agree
Ing TO submit the case TO the Jury
without argument. The court gave the
Jury half an hour III which to arrive
az verdict but at the end OF the
allotted time the foreman reported that
the jury was divided. Ii is likely that
the jury may be SO hopelessIy divided
/, that any verdict Will be impossible,
and third trial made necessary.
Mrs. Hicks on stand
inc feature of yesterdays hearing
was the testimony of Mrs Mamie
Ada kathe rine Mccks, the ward of
Edmund Foster. was born in the wear
lS?S which would make her under the
legal asc of consent at the time of
the alleged misconduct. Mrs. Hicks
hrst took the girl in charge on the
death OF her mother, and committed
Ada 10 the care Of the Childrcn's
Home of Virginia. from which she was
later Entrusted 10 the Fosters In the
effort to refutc her damaging evidence,
Louis Q. WcndcnburE, who is attorney
for the defense. produced "A half-doscn
witnesses from Fluvanna, who ,esti-
fed adversely to Mrs. Hicks's char
acter for veracity.
While Edmund Foster himself took
the stand yesterday, his evidence was
of a negative character He faced n
severe fire of questions from Common
wealth's Attorney Sutton, but was firm
in the denial OF everything alleged
against him Mrs. Hicks's husband
took the stand TO uphold his wife's
testimony.
There was a sensation in the court
room when Mrs. Hicks broke out, un-
der Mr.. Wendenburg's srillng examl-
nation. into a bitter pronunciation of
the defense's witnesses from Fluvauna
who, she vehemently declared had
been bribed.
Says They Were BrIbcd.
hHoW WHO YOU nave brouE ut
down here" cried Mrs. Hicks, leaning
from her chair toward Mir. Wcnden-
burg and know they have been
bribcd They were all promised
plenty of corn whskcy and good
time If they would come down to Rich
mond and testify to certain things"
Mr. Wcndenburg was on his feet in
an instant. his face flaming red. TO
interrupt the course of the WITNESSES
remarks. Judge West also fired several
questions at her. but for the time be-
ing the sensational charge was
dropped. There ~ a possibility that
this side of the case will be pressed
further when the trial has been con-
GUIDED
The defense scored we'll when It in
trodmccd j. W. Davis. a Fluvnnna
farmer. who swore his age was ninety
two years to testify against the good
character of Mrs. Hicks His evidence
was somewhat nuilincd by the Com
monwcalth's attorney. hut the age of
the witness appeared TO exert con
siderable influence with the Jury. Judge
West himself frequently took hand
in the examination of the witness, and
showed by the nature of his ques-
tons that he is eminently ftted for
the ho"or he holds. ". !. Meeks the
father of the girl. took the stand for
the defense but a s he has at one time
hecn In asylum his hazy and CON
Trajectory evidence was OF little value.
The whole case seems 10 hinge on the
age Of Ada Meeks.