The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-16
PETERSBURG
DRINK LED HONEST
MAN TO BURGLARY
Jury Accepts Plea That Forrcs,
Bcaslcy Did Not Know What
He Was Doing.
SUNDAY WORKERS. ARE FINED
Seventeen Convicted of Violating
state Law Against Working on
sabbath at City Point I'm Magis-
tratc's Court.

state law Against WORKING on
sabbath at City Point In Magis-
tratc's Court.
Petersburg, April 1.-THE April
term of the Hastings Court Judge
Mullen presiding, convened at 10
o'clock this morning and shortly
thereafter the grand jury reporteo NJ
dictments for felony against the fol-
lowing: joe Harris. Henry Clarke.
alias Cornelius Fields; II. II. Harris.
Edgar Reynolds, occur Smith, w. II.
Preston, J. NJ Caudie, John Britt
and C. A. Kirkland.
The first case on the criminal
docket called was that of the Com
monwealth vs. Forrest Beasiey, in-
dicted for breaking into the factory
of the Totty Trunk and Bag Company
and stealing therefrom three suit
cases, Tho accused pleaded that az
the time the alleged crime was COM
mitted he was so drunk as not to
know what he was doing. The jury
found him not guilty. and he was
Immediately discharged. Forrest
Beasley la a young man well Known
throughout the western section Of the
city and there are none who believe
but that he Is thoroughly honest and
straightforward, and his plea that
drunkenness was the cause of his
alleged downfall Is accepted as
fact by all who are acquainted with
him
At the last term of the court John
Beicher was convicted OF the anne
crime with which Beasley was
charged and sentenced TO thirty days
In jail, with a fine of So. Following
the acquittal of Beasley today Judge
Mullen requested City Sergeant John
h. Evans to let him know when
a..~ fsaNs
mating that he would release him AT
that time and remit his dine.
w. II. Preston, indicted for the
larceny OF Maxwell automobile,
valued at sToo. the property of Ho-
mer Atkinson, trading as w =. At
kinson & Co. when arraigned pleaded
mot guilty" At the request of the.
court. Charles I. lassiter appeared
for the accused. Preston was found
guilty by The Jury and his nunish-
ment was fixed at one year IN the
State penitentiary. He was sentenc-
ed Immediately.
Arrested In Court Room.
A negro giving his name as Jc-
rome Doutan, claiming 10 be from
North Carolina. was arrested in the
Hastings court room IN this city by
Chief of Police Ragland this morn
ing. The negro was in court as
witness before the grand jury and the
Petersburg chief is of the opinion that
he is William Watkins. wanted IN
Warren County. \, G., for assa uflng
q woman On March 81, last lie an
swers the description of watkins in
practically every detail. and Chief.
Ra gland is positive tnat he is tho
man wanted on the above charge.
Arrested For Larceny.
Edgar Reynolds, coiored. arrested
yesterday afternoon al the Union
Station while waiting TO board train
for Norfolk. was Before the Police
Court this morning and was sent on
10 the Hastings Court, charged with
larceny from the person OF Leo An
drews, coiored, OF cash amounting 20
s31.T5. The officers recovered s2s
OF the stolen money. but the balance
had been spent.
Respected Citizen Dies.
Air Washington Irving smith, one
Of -Petersburgs best known and most
respected citizens. died at his resi-
dence on East Tabb Street about
HAS o'clock last evening. following
an Illness OF several weeks.
Mr.. Smith was in the seventy-sev-
enth year OF his age. and for 81 num-
Der of years held the office of collec-
tor OF delinquent city taxes. the du-
ties of which he performed WIN
credit to himself and with great salts
faction to. the city Of petersburg. lie
was a mem Der of Blandford Lodge.
No. 3, y. f. and A. NJ, Petersburg
Union Royal Arch Chapter and OF
Appomattox Commandery, Knights
Templaf, having been associated
with the Masonic order for more than
half q century.
Mr. smith Ia survived by his sec
ond wife, one daughter and I'VE sons,
the latter being being Mrs. Demovtlie
Smith Crichton, OF this city; Irving
j. Smith, OF New YORK: Thomas ".
Smith. of CINCINNATI Harry Smith.
Of Norfolk: b. Foster Smith. Of Big
stone Gap, and Taylor Smith. of Pc
tersiurg, lie is also survived by I'VE
grandchildren and one great grand.
child.
The funeral VIII be conducted from
The residence at 3 O'Clock tomorrow
afternoon with Masonic honors, mad
interment VIII be made in Blandford.
Mrs. Agnes Springfield Faikner
Mrs. Agnes Springfield Faikner,
Wife Of Benz min +, Fplkuer.- died al
her residence, 925 Hinton street. al
1850 o'clock this morning. following
a long Illness Mrs. Falkncr was in
the twenty-seventh year of her aga,
circle of friends. Besides her hah-
band she Is survived by one son,
John william F'alkner; her mother.
Mrs. Mary j. Springfield two sisters
and ono brother, Mrs, George Heath.
of Church; Miss Lillian S. Spring
field and Anderson J. Springfield of
Petersburg. The funeral VIII be con-
Quoted from the West End BAPTIST
Church Mt 80 O'Clock tomorrow a.
tcrnoon and interment win be made
in l5iandford,
Funeral OF Antoine Rott
The funeral of Antoine Rott an ac-
count of whose sudden death has
been mentioned in The Virginian,
was conducted from his late residence
in Prince George County at o'clock
yesterday afternoon and nterment
was made in Gary's Church GENE.
tcry.
Mothers Club Meeting.
The regular monthly meeting oil
tho Mothers Club OF Robert r. Lee
School will be held in the school au-
ditorium a: O'Clock tomorrow az
ternoon, ami on next Wednesday af-
ternoon a public meeting of the club
will lie held in the interest of open
Air Schools
Approaching Marriage
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Cuthbert
announce tho approaching marriage