Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-29
HOPEWELL JUROR
IS SENT TO JAIL
Had Agreed to Celebrate Ac-
quittal of Man He Was
Then, Trying.
MISTRIAL IN PORTER CASE
Detective Accompanies Juror
Lucas on Drinking Bout
With Accused Men.


police lieutenant OF Hop-well. charged
with bribery, came to an abrupt end
at Prince George Courthouse yester-
day when Judge Jesse +. West sent
4. S. Lucas. a member of the jury, to
jail for contempt of court. Lucas, who
is member of a well-known Prince
George family, had gone to Hopewell
Thursday night with several of the
principals indicted in the bribery in
vestigation and agreed to return there
last night to celebrate Porter's ac-
quittal."
Instead. Lucas will spend ten days
in the Prince George Jail and pay
a fine Of $50. Judge West directed
that mis-trial be declared and Por-
ter's case was continued until Septem-
Der L. He was released on $4,000
bail.
CHARGES OF '"rAMPERING WITH
JUROR" May DE PREFERRED
No action was taken against former
Chief of Police w. D. Henderson,
Tony Becese. cabaret proprietor; Sam
uel Safer and II. w. Pollard. former
policemen, who were among the COM
panions Of Lucas on his visit to Hope
we'll. All four are under indictment
for felonics in connection with the
bribery and graft revelations at the
powder plant town. The rule, issued
by Judge West against Lucas for con-
tempt recites that they were much
interested in seeing the jury return
n verdict acqu!tting Porter.
The quartet are out on bail In
amounts ranging from $4,000 to $1,000
each. and have been interested spec
tators during the Porter trial Juror
Lucas was seen in their company
Thursday afternoon at Prince George
Courthouse. and Detective A. Is. Martin,
of the Baldwin, Felts Agency. attached
himself to the party, which visited
Petersburg as we'll as Hopewell Mar
tin reported the circumstances to Com
monwcalths Attorney Timothy Rives
and Special Prosecutor George E. Wise,
Of Richmond. who took the matter up
with Judge West.
ALL EVIDENCE IN PORTER
CASE HAD BEEN HEARD
All the evidence in the Porter case
had been concluded Friday afternoon,
and the attorneys were preparing to
argue the case yesterday morning
when Mr.. Wise requested that counsel
for the defense join the court and at
conference. After lengthy session.
during which the rule against Juror
Lucas was prepared. Judge West made
the announcement, which brought to
light another OF the many sensational
episodes which have followed since the
veil was torn from la wless conditions
at Hopewell less than month ago
Before calling Lucas by name. Judge
ba y, =,
called upon to meet condition with
which he had never had to contend in
his twenty-three years on the bench
He mentioned that member of the
jury had so conducted himself that IL
was necessary that the court should
take cognizance of and resort to dras-
tic action.
The Jurors looked from one to the
other. but Lucas gave no sign of guilty
knowledge. He was called to the bar
and, after the rule had been read to
him, he was asked If he had anything
to say. He did not appear moved in
the least but more like man daZed
and seemed not 10 realize the situation
at all. Lucas made general and half
hearted denial that ne had done any
thing improper.
POINTS TO DETECTIVE MARTIN
AS ONE OF COMPANY
When Judge West asked him if he
had any witnesses he wished to be
heard. he glanced around the court
room and pointed out Detective Martin
II believe that man was there" he
said.
Attorney Harrison Wilcox Of Peters,
burg. who has been retained to defend
Henderson. was called to represent the
accused juror. Mr.. Wilcox asked that
the court be as lenient as possible with
the offender. and pleaded extenuating
circumstances. Clerk w d. Temple
also made statement in behalf of
Lucas. He said he had known him for
years. and did not believe that he had
deliberately acted in such n manner
Judge West, in imposing sentence,
reiterated that such conduct was with
out precedent in his courts. but that
he would not give Lucas the maximum
penalty.
United States District Attorney Rich
ard II. Mann and r. T. Wilson, of Pc
trsburg, Porter's attorneys, made no
statement.
The rule against Lucas recites that
on Thursday Juror Lucas left Prince
George Courthouse, after the adjourn
ment of court. and went to HopcwclI,
where he drank liquor in company with
w. d. Henderson, a. II. (Tony) Beccse.
Samuel Safer and II. w. Pollard. who
are under Indictment for felonies and
''muc.i interested in the acquittar Of
Porter: and that the liquor was fur
nished by one Mike Lidas at the request
of Henderson.
PLANNED TO CELEBRATE
ACQUI1'rAL OF PORTER
1t is also stated that Lucas did plan
and agree with the said Henderson, Be-
cese, Safer and Pollard to celebrate the
acquittal on Saturday night, August 90,
Of the said Porter, 1T being understood
that the jury (of which Lucas was
member) would return n verdict Of not
guilty" Another count in the rule