Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-01
E'E||'I'[Y TWO FROM PRISON
N|n AGAIN STAND TRIAL
Hardened Criminals TO Face Judge
Vi Scott Toay In City Circuit
-, Court.
PRISON ADoNIs AMONG THEM
Dan Hobbs Again in Trouble for
Attempting to Escapc-Othcrs
Answer for Infractions Of Penal
Coue,<

4 Trying the tried and sentencing
tho imprisoned will ue the order OF
the day in the City Circuit Court
today. Fifty-two stripe-clad conricts
rS1ll be led from the grim Enclosure
w. the Virginia state Penitentiary.
II sarched to the courtroom and tried
ssuy jury of their peers for offenses
n ommitted within the prison.
Z, This brief excursion into the sun
Ilit spring time may be the last
glance ct the outof-doors for sew
ssefal of the unhappy lot. who arc
y eubject to life Imprisonment for re-
Z peated convictions.
The annual proceedings are In
81 teresting 10 many as study OF
hardened types, who seem 10 be
4 crimes affinities. Three men will be
4 tried for having been convicted and
4 sentenced 10 prison three separate
J times. One individual, "Peachy''
Belts, has established a modern
Il record BY being sentenced on four
separate occasions.
X Court attendants. who rarely re-
member the name or record of any
& individual among the thousands
brought to the bar OF justice, are
..wa. ching with keen interest for the
reappearance of Dan Hobbs, known
y as the handsomest youth ever re-
! ceived at the pcnitentiary.
To Try Prison Adorns.
Because of his proud carriage and
striking appearance. Hobbs attracted
much attention when arraigned be-
fore the same court several years
ago. The charge was attempted
escape. Two indictments for the
same offense will be brought agains,
him today.
Hobbs is country youth and ap-
parently made only one excursion
from the path Of virtue prior to his
Imprisonment. For footing a store
house of useful articles. such as
shells for his gun, tobacco, cigar
cites, shoes and clothing, Hobbs
was sentenced from Grecnesyillc
County to five years in prison. AL
though he was a boy in years at the
time of his first and last crime
| against society, Hobbs will probably
l spend the remainder OF his life in
a prison cell. unless he manages &c
i restrain his craving for freedom and
i becomes peaceful, model prisoner
+ He is charged with attempted escape
on November IL, 1918. and on March
IL 1917 and will stand trial on both
indictments today.
Convicted Four Times.
& Belts, the four-conviction man
started in 1899 In Danvillc, where II,
4 was convicted of burglary. Agai.
i in 1904 "Peachy" was incarcerate,
) for house breaking. Convicted o
4 burglary in Lynchburg in the fol
4 lowing year. ''Pcachy" automaticall
became a life prisoner, under tn
existing law. Having served four
teen years. he was pardoncd by Gov
I ernor Davis in June Of last year
Il After six short months at large, tn
X former .'lifer" was convicted @
y burglary in Danville. and sentence
to-. Aye years. Under the new Law
4 the judge may use his judgment !
dealing With offenders who woul
!, ghaNe. Ifawn life terms under the oil
ss.s law. r.
! SIS Another. singular case is that q
sam Davis. convicted of burglary O
\ \ two counts in the Hastings Cour
u In cl901 = and sentenced to Il total o
thirty-siX. years. He was ,pardone
4 by Governor Davis in 1915, with les
thar half of his term served.
+ DesHnIber,. 1919, he was convicted q
the Same ,offenSe in the same cour
and sentenced TO eighteen years.
Judge II. Carter Scott viii pres Id
Il over the tifty-two trials and impos
s@ sentences on those brought befor
him. The trials will last not NOR
than two days. il is thought. mos
X of the convicts entering pleas O
4 guilty to the indictments