The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-14
ALFRED WR|GHT'S
DOOM IS SEALED
SUPREME COURT AGAIN TURNS
DOWN APPEAL or THE
NEGRO AssAILANT.
CITY WINS AND LOSES
JUDGE JOHN CRUTCHFIELD CAN
TRY ALLEY CASES, TRIBUNAL
sAYS-sUMMARY OF THE
OPINIONS.

Alfred Wright, the negro whose at
torney carried his case to the State
Supreme court even after he had
made a complete confession of the
crime for which he was under sem
tence OF death, must go TO the cleo
trio chair. The Supreme court yes
terday refused his appeal
Wrights crime was criminal assault
upon young widow in Appomattox
county over a year ago. He was
brought to the State prison to avert
a lynching. After his first appeal TO
the higher court was refused the negro
confessed, but despite this fact the at
torney went back to the Supreme
court and prayed B writ of error on
the ground of newly discovered evil
dence.
City Wins and Loses.
Among a number of other interest
ing opinions handed down by the
States highest tribunal is the decision
that Police Justice Crutchfield has the
right to try cases involving the open
ing of alleys In the city of Richmond.
The case was entitled city of Rich
mond VS.. Sutherland The latter, an
undertaken. wanted to, open an alley
in the West End The matter got
into court and Sutherland insisted
upon trial by jury. The city held that
the Police court was the proper trtb-
unai for such matters. The Supreme
court upholds that view. In another
, case carried up to- the court the NUM-
cipality loses. This was the action
of T. c. Williams, Jr., who claimed
damages for expense to which he was
put when the city condemned prop
erty on Seventh street for the purpose
of widening that thoroughfare. The
court decides that when the city con
dennis property for a street, II must
pay for any expense to which resi-
dents are put by reason thereof.
Southern Must Pay Up.
Under the ruling of the court the
Southern railway must pay Mr.. Bap
tist of Halifax county the $4,000
awarded him by the lower court over
two years. Mr.. Baptist was assisting
his father-in-law in preventing a
! frightened horse from running in
front of a train. and was himself
thrown under the train, sustaining
permanent injuries. The plaintiffs con-
tended that the engineer made no eff
fort to stop the train.
The application of ". y, Settle, an
Alexandria attorney. for a writ of
habeas corpus. was refused in an
opinion handed down yesterday. The
case attracted much attention at the
time. r. Gordon F'inney, special trial
Settle SIS for contempt of court in
that Settle questioned his legal right
to act III that Capaciy and refused
To appear for his client In Ftnney' 8
court. Settle refused 10 pay the fine
was nominally under arrest when the
application was made. Finney was
appointed a special magistrate by act
/ Of the legislature, though no provision
was made for his remuneration, The
Supreme court holds that the act is
constitutional and. therefore, Mr., Fin
ney is a magistrate even though he
is serving without pay.
Natural Daughter Heir.
The court decided yesterday case
I Of some little human interest which
has been hanging fire for years VIII
liam 3. Williams "a negro huckster Of
Richmond, who died several years ago
leaving an estate valued at SIS, 900
williams left two daughter--one. a
! natural daughter and the other his
legal daughter, and both laid claim
10 the estate. The Chancery court
of Richmond decided that the legal
daughter-Mary Brown-was the
proper heir. the higher court re-
verses this and holds that Gertrude
! jackson. the natural child, is the
legal he'll.
/ Following is a complete summary
I of the opinions handed down yes
terday;
BY James Keith. President.
I Burger ct ais. VS.. State Female Nor
NAL school. Circuit court of Prince
Edward county. Judgment affirmed.
! City of Richmond VS., T. c. Williams.
Jr., ct al. Hastings court of the city
of Richmond, part II. Judgment af-
! firmed
| Morris. by. etc. VS. Bernard ct ais.
Circuit court of Campbell county. De-
/ cree affirmed,
Eek parte Settle. Upon a writ of
habeas corpus. Writ dismissed.
The Dismal Swamp Railroad COM
pany VS. John l., Roper Lumber conn
/ pany. Circuit court of Norfolk coun-
/ ty. Judgment reversed.
Kabler VS.. Spencer's administrator
/ ct al Circuit court Of Buckingham
county. Decree reversed.
| by Judge IL. FL. Cardiwell.
| ]. II. King 4 Co. vs.. G. w. Han
I cock & Sons. Circuit court of city of
/ Lynchburg. Judgment affirmed.
/ Halls administrator ct ais. VS..
White ct ais Circuit court OF Buck
ingham county. Decree affirmed.
/. Cardwell VS., Norfolk and Western
Railway company. Circuit court of
Campbell county. Judgment reversed.
/ Buchanan, Harrison and Whittle,
judges, concurring.
ais. Circuit court of Rappahannock
county. DEGREES reversed.
Culpeper National bank. OF Gull
pepper. Va, Inc, VS.. Walter & Walter.
Circuit court of Culpeper county.
/ Judgment reversed.
BY Judge George VI. Harrison.
Southern Railway company VS..
Baptist. Circuit court of Halifax
county. Judgment affirmed.
! Woody eft al vs., Taylor, executor
etc. Chancery court of city of Rich
mond. Decree affirmed.
! Wright VS.. Commonwealth. Cir
cult court of Appomattox county.
! Judgment affirmed
/ Northern Neck State bank, Inc, VS..
+ Gilbert Packing company ct ais. Cir
cult court of Westmoreland county.
/ Judgment affirmed.
/ Adams ct ais. VS.. Booker. Circuit
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