The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-24
MAY TERN Of AUsTlleS
COURT HAS BIG DOCKET
Resriai OF Alien Case VIII BE Gone
Into on Thursday by Judge
Mullen.
NOEL CASE SET FOR NAY so
Understood That Plea of Insanity VIII
he kntered--Comnaonw Has
Damaging Evidence, IL Is Reported.

! Petersburg, Va, May 23.-The
Hastings Court, Judge Mullen presid-
ing. reconvened In May term at 4
O'Clock this afternoon with one OF the
most lengthy and important dockets
in recent months. when court open
ed the case of the Commonwealth vs.,
E J. VIM. coiored. indicted for the
murder of Fred Smith. colored, in a
barber shop on Gin Street some weeks
ago, was called. and the examination
OF witnesses was commenced. VIM
is represented by Attorney O. A. Pol
lard, and the case Will probably be
concluded early tomorrow.
Other important cases which have
been SET for trial are the following:
Commonwealth vs.. II. II. Allen, in
dicted for grand larceny, Thursday,
May 25. Allen was convicted at the
April term of the court and given
one year in the penttentiary but the
turys verdict was set aside and the
accused granted new trial by the
court.
Commonwealth vs James Henley.
indicted for the murder OF James
Lewis. Waterman at the Battersea
Cotton Mills May %,
Commonwealth VS. James T. Noel,
Indicted for the murder OF Mrs Lot
tie NJ. Robertson. May 80
i IT'S fdS6 OF .NDet rs HtlTANLiHB
widespread attention than any which
has been upon the courts docket in
recent years. 1t Is understood that
counsel for the accused will enter
plea Of insanity. but the evidence at
the hands OF the Commonwealth
against Noel. which has been accumu-
lated with the assistance OF two able
detectives engaged by the family OF
the murdered woman. Is said to be OF
a very damaging nature. The muir
der, 1t will be recalled was COM
mttted on Sunday, May ID, at 2l7
High Street, where Mrs. Robertson
had been forced through the worth
lessness of her husband to engage In
the conduct of boarding house for
the support. of herself and nine-year-
old daughter. Noel, who took hts
meals at Mrs Robertsons went to
her Aeme about 2;s1 o'clock Sunday
afternoon. and according to the prin-
,cipal witness of the Commonwealth,
tried to borrow money from her
When she refused to lend II to him,
he Ia said TO have shot her down in
cold blood The accused Is n native
Of Chr1stiansburg, though he has lived
at Radford. and for the past six years
has been engaged as druggist by q
looa! merchant. 1t is believed that
his counsel will have a difficult task
in convincing a jury of his insanity,
in View of the evidence which the
Commonwealth will present
The husband OF the murdered wo-
man. after having served q thirty-day
sentence here some months ago for
vagrancy, left here for Hopewell. and
he Is apparently making an effort to
aid counsel for Noel in his defense.
Ready For New Highway Work.
All ARA engagements have been COM
pleted by the board Of supervisors Of
Prince George County for the work
of construction OF the Petersburg to
city Point permanent highway to be
commenced. The Austin Bennett Com
pany, of Baltimore, contractors for
the road. will commence work "a soon
as the necessary force and machinery
| can be assembled, The road will
have a fourteen-foot concrete base
and will cost 100000. or this
amount Petersburg contributed $25,-
! 600, tke Dupont Company s2B, 900 and
| Prince George County 100000 The
remaining $4,000 has been raised by
public subscription.
| Young Man Confcss@es
At todays session OF the Police
Court Frederick T.. Green. a young
white man, recently in the employ al
the Southern Express Company
| charged In two warrants with larceny
confessed TO the theft OF a watch OF
the value OF 81 from the company
and WIS adtudged guilty upon the
charge OF the theft OF a. Colts re.
yolver of the value OF S16 and sen.
fenced TO fifteen days In Jail The
young man was very penitent and
wept bitterly durin" his examination