The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-04
CHARGES NEGLIGENCE
ON TECHNICALLY
Hcnrioo Grand Jury Finds Jailer In
Charge At time of Jail Delivery
Not Duly Sworn In.
GUARD HECKLER HAD
BEEN LONG IN SERVICE
Grand Jury VIII Take Further Action
Tomorrow, and In Meantime Sheriff
Webb Sydnor Has Nothing to Say
In Matter.

The grand Jury of the Circuit Court
OF Henrico County yesterday after
noon brought In report charging
Sheriff w. Webb Sydnor with negli-
gence in connection with the jail de-
livery which took place at the Henrico
Jail on December l6, 1915, after they
had been twice instructed that an in
dictment should be found. In their
report. however, the jury did not find
an indictment, stating that they would
consider this at any time that the
court may appoint Judge r. Carter
Scott thereupon adjourned the court
until Friday morning, at 10 O'Clock.
The Jury appeared reluctant regard
ing the finding Of an indictment and
charging Sheriff Sydnor with negli-
gence, as they believed that the Jail
delivery was an accident. likely to
have occurred under any condition. SO
strongly were they OF this opinion that
after the first instruction by the court
they reported that IT was an accident.
and would doubtless have taken place
had the sheriff himself been In charge
of the prison.
Had Never Been Sworn In.
Judge Scott stated to the jury that
under the law the person in charge or
the jail should be a regularly consd-
tuted Tailor, whereas it appeared that
Deputy Sheriff Heckler had never
been sworn in as such. This. however,
was not regarded by the jury as IN
dicating negligence. and that II
Heckler had been sworn as an Of
ficer. that would not have prevented
the delivery. Judge Scott, neverthe-
less, stuck to his idea that the law
had been violated. and practically in
struoted the jury that they must re-
turn an indictment.
On returning from second con-
stderation Of the courts instruction.
the fury brought in findings as fol-
lows:
Acting under directions Of the court
We the grand Jury. have carefully and
fully considered the facts in connec-
ton with the Jail delivery, which took
place on the 18th OF December. 1916,
and report as follows:
That tho sheriff of the county had
failed to place in charge duly con-
stituted Tailor or deputy sheriff. that
the only man in charge was one APP
pointed by the said sheriff 10 act as
guard.
That the charge Of the court to
the grand Jury. as to the duty OF the
sheriff. as applied to the facts found,
we report that II Is the finding OF the
grand jury that the sheriff has been
guiity of negligence in that he did
not have in charge OF the prisoners a
TALLER as provided by law.
We are Informed that an indlct-
ment should not be preferred. and are
willing to return at such time as the
court may desire for the purpose OF
acting thereon.
sheriff Says Nothing Now.
Sheriff Sydnor had nothing to say
kn 6nHinC NJ the iMry bJIt
IL is believed that there will be further
developments after the meeting OF the
grand jury tomorrow.
Sheriff Sydnor has occupied that
position in the county for more than
seven years. and he has a high reputa-
ton as an officer. The management
OF the Henrico jail has been along
recognized efficient lines and Sheriff
Sydnor is known as one OF the best
qualified officers in the State. He
has been especially successful in
rounding up violators OF the law,
having been responsible for some of
the cleverest detective work done in
the county.
The grand Jury yesterday found
Percy Gaddy. one of the men who
escaped Jail, guilty OF breaking and
entering the house OF E. j. Timber
lake. and sentencing Him to one year
in the penitentsary He was acquitted
Of the oharse of snteytng the house of
B. l. Durrett.> 4
Amanda Calhoun and Henry Tay-
Tor, both charged with housebreaking
were acquitted.
Indictment was returned In the casa
Of Robert jackson. charged with vol
untary manslaughter OF Walter Stew
art The Jury failed to indict Nick
Ads. charged with forgery.
The case of George Wade. charged
with killing his stepfather, James NJ.
Gordon, at the home of his mother.
near Laurel. will be put on trial on
January 90.