The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-02
WITNESS 'FlUIE'
FLOORS COMMONWEALTH
State Asks For "Not Guilty" Verdict
In Porter Ease, ON Reeves Bril-
berry Charge.
GOOD WITNESS FOR HIMSELF
Accused Police Lieutenant Made Good
Impression ON Jury-Prosccution
Could Not Make Out Case When
Witness Failed TO Stand by II.

Especial to The Richmond virginian.)
Prince George Courthouse, Va.
Dec. 1.-The trial of John A. Por-
ter came to close today with a YER
dict OF not guilty. This trial had
lasted for six days and had been one
of the hardest fought legal battles
ever seen at Prince George Court
house.
Porter was formerly lieutenant of
police at Hopewell, and was arrested
on three charges of bribery when the
Governor took steps to cleaning up
Hopewell.
r. H. Mann and r. r. Wilson rep
resented Porter, while William A.
Cooke. the special appointee of At
torney General Pollard in the Hope
we'll prosecutions. and Common
wealth's Attorney Timothy Reeves
represented the State.
Porter has been tried previously
twice on one of the charges against
him, the first trial resulting in
mistrial and the second trial result
ing in hung jury. eight being for
acquittal and four for conviction.
When this particular case was call
ed Thanksgiving day the prosecution
picked another Indictment to try Por-
ter on. one charging him with offer
Ing bride OF $50 to O. NJ Reeves.
every legal point has been hotly con-
tested, but when Porter left the stand
on yesterday II was the consensus OF
opinion that he would be acquitted,
rs he had made q most excellent wit
ness for himself
Attorneys Spring Surprise.
This morning the attorneys for Por-
ter sprung on the Commonwealth the
greatest surprise which has been seen
In any of the Hopeweli trials. when
they presented certain Instructions.
which, IL given, would result In Por-
ter's acquittai. The Commonwealth
was astounded when the attorneys for
the defense began to show that the
Instructions were proper and that the
Commonwealth hal not made out
case. After several hours OF argu-
ment and deifberation the attorneys
for the State became convinced that
the stand taken by the defense Was
correct. As result Special Prose-
cutor Cooke asked the jury to bring
in verdict of not guilty, stating the
following to the jury and the court
as his reason for so doing.
at has been our rule in the past
never TO ask u jury to convict any
man unless We believs from the evil
dence In tho case that the Common
wealth had proved the case. A charged
in the Indictment, beyond reasonable
doubt
The indictment In his case charges,
in effect. that John Porter gave o. NJ.
Reeves $50. with intent TO influence the
said o. NJ. Rseves to conceal and not
TO make any arrests or give evidence
Of a wrongful arrest OF an italian.
and that the said John Porter had un-
lawfully and wronsfuily extorted. or
caused TO be extorted from said per-
son or persons 50 arrested . large
sum of money, to-wit; the rum Of 3ao.
aid paid the said Reeves $50 OF said
sum not to make any arrest or arrests
therefor or give evidence thereof. that
In, or the matter OF said unlawful ar
rest and extortion.
While the evidence, as viewed by.
the Commonwealth. shows that the
prisoner. John Porter. gave TO Q. NJ
Reeves improperly that $50 referred to
In the indictment, yet. on account of
the fact that one of the witnesses
for the Commonwealth failed TO tesu-
fy as he had testified heretofore, and
as the Commonwealth had every rea-
son TO believe he would testify In
this trial. the Commonwealth has been
nable to prove. beyond a reasonable
doubt. the offense AZ charged In the
indictment.
The conclusion reached BY the at
torneys for the Commonwealth In this
case I. not intended to affect in any
way the attitude Of the Commonwealth
as 10 any Indictment In this court
against John Porter, or other parties
now under indictment for bribery at
HopeweH.
And for the foregoing, we submit
the case. and ask that the jury re-
turn a verdict of not guilty on this In
dictment."