The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-17
BARTON GETS TWO
YEARS IN PRISON
Confesses to Having Obtained
Money From Hotel by
Fake Telegram.
HUsTINGs COURT C0NvENEs
Good Business in Parcels Post.
Death of Mrs.
Spotswood.
The Times Dispatch Bureau,
S Bollingbrook Street,
lPhone 1850.

The Times Dispatch Bureau,
Bollingbrook Street,
(Phone 1855.
Petersburg, Va. January 10.
In the Hastings Court this morning the
irst case called was that of w M
Barton. indicted for grand larceny, IN
obtaining from the manager OF the
Stratford Hotel the sum OF $50 oy
means OF fake telegram and
fraudulent draft on the Southern
Cotton oil Company. of Charleston.
S. c. This was on the 18th of December
and some days later Barton was ar
rested in Brooklyn, -. Y. on peihg
arraigned. Barton asked the court III
the indictment charged the stealing
and taking Of the money. II so, he
would plead not guilty. but would
plead guilty TO obtaining the money
under false pretenses. On being IN
formed that the two were the same, ne
pleaded guilty. decided 70 dispense
with a jury TO fix his punishment. ana
20 throw himself on the mercy OF the
court. This was his first oSense, ne
said. and at the time Of drawing the
draft he did not realize the seriousness
Of the act. He lie man Of nne appear
ance and says his home is In Texas
The court sentenced him 10 a term OF
two years in the penitentiary.
At the time that Barton declared 10
the court that this was his first orense'
Chief Ragland. who was In the room,
had in his possession warrant Tor MS
arrest. sent from Charleston. ;. g.
charging him with grand larceny, In
obtaining on fraudulent draft the
sum OF 500 from the manager OF the
New Charleston Hotel. This was done
on December IS. the day before he came
TO Petersburg. He sent a telegram from
Charleston 70 himself here, stating the
Southern Oil Co. would honor his draft
for $50.
January Term of Court.
The January term of the Hastings
Court convened this morning. WITH an
unusually large criminal docket. rms
is also civil term of the court, with
number OF cases on that docket
To Investigate Tax-Returns.
The court. in charging the grand
jury, alluded to the fact that reference
had been made in the press 20 propa-
biiity that the court might charge the
jury to Investigate for the purpose OF
ascertaining whether persons. IN listing
their property in 1919, had failed 10
make proper returns. The court said
that this duty had been discharged al
the July term. as required by law. and
the grand jury had reported. ne
court said it doubted the wisdom, even
If it had the power. OF again directing
an investigation OF the assessments OF
1912. 1t is its purpose. however. 10
summon a special grand jury for the
coming July term, to make an inyestiga-
ton of the assessments OF Iel3land 70
direct the jury to. make full and care
full xamination-and not mere
perfunctory one, as II apprehendeo mao
heen the custom heretofore The
court is satisfied that this agitation
has resulted in much good. as u has
sharply drawn attention to violations
OF the law in this respect and thereby
making parties listing their property In
future more careful-especialiy II they
AZ
more drastic investigation by grand
juries than they have made heretofore
George House. negro. pleaded not
guilty to the theft OF two womens
suits and set of ftirs. which had peen
sent TO a purchaser at Stony Creek
He was convicted and sentenced to the
penitentiary for two years.
Edward Williams got one year IN the
penitentiary for house-breaking-
The case of Robert Brown. for the
murder of Otis Curtis. was set for trlai
on January q; and that of Joseph Hill.
foe the murder OF Henry West was set
for January 20 Both are negroes.
Good Business In Parcel Post.
The parcel post business al the
Petersburg post-oTice has been DISK
since January /, when the system went
in operation, and matters have worked
smoothly and without hitch or delay
In making his report TO the department.
to-day on parcels received and sent
out between January I and January IS
inclusive (which includes two Sundays
and one holiday on which the office
was closedD. Postmaster Stith Boiling.
gives the following figures:
Parcels or pieces received, 2eoi.
weighing 2.574 pounds. on which the
postage was SlS-6-
weighing 1854 pounds. on which the
hostage was $50 l6
Convicted of Murder.
John Mason, negro. who, because OF
a grudge against the woman, armed
himself with a gun and went 10 the
home of Gertrude Smith, coioreo, IN
sussex County and shot her to death
in the presence of her children. IN
December last. pleaded guilty in SUSSEX
Circuit Court yesterday. and was con-
victed of first degree murder sentence
will be passed before adjournment OF
court After killing the woman, Mason
walked all the way to Petersburg. sur
rendered himself to the. first police
officer he met. and told what he had
done In communicating with the
Sussex authorities. Chief Hagiand was
Informed that the murder had been
committed. but by whom it was not
Death of Mrs. Spotswood-
Mrs Lucy 8. Spotswood. of TINS
city. died this morning at the ElIerslie
Farm. In brunswick COUHll- u Re.-
aivsis. with which she was stricken sew
cral DAYS ago. She had been visiting
A. Ellerslie since early in Decem per
Mrs. Spotswood was the widow OF the
late J. r. Spotswood. and was greatly
esteemed in the committee. She u sur
vived by three sons. William r, OF
Norfolk and J. B. and T. b Spots
wood. Of Petersburg. The body was
brought 20 the city this afternoon
Petersburg Fair Association
The annual meeting OF the STOCK,
holders OF the Soutbside Agricultural
and industrial Association was nelo
iast night in the rooms Of the CHAMBER
or Commerce a satisfactory report
OF the affairs Of the association was SUB
mitfcd by the president. r.: H Mann
and the following board OF directors, ID
crcased from nine 70 fifteen. was eiccteo
n II. Mann. Jas. Mel. Runin. n. i
smith. W. A. Totty. a. w, Gray. ". >
rvev Wm Orossman. Jr-. EdTarc
Eigenbrun. J. o. faison. NJ N Weet.
J. ". Warren. a. ?, Lee. A; O; Butter
worth. A A Stagie and J. Jones,
Among the directors are ciuzcrs ot
ecveraI of tho southsidc counties. Inc
directors will meet at an early Gay 70
clett officer and begin plans for the
fsir 10 DO held this year.
youne Mitchell Acquitted.
In the Sussex Circuit court zee
day. Robert Mitchell, son Of postrnaster