The Washington times., 1922-10-27
JURY HANGS IN !
bR|bERYTR|AL
At HANPT0
10 Discharged When Unable tc
Agree In Case Against
Phoebus Officials.

HAMPTON, Va, Oct. &c
Mistrial was the result Of the
jury's deliberations .spon evidence
in tho case. of Mayor Joseph z.
Dixon, Town Sergeant George II.
Lancer and former !. Policeman
william r. Williams, Of Phoebps.
who were tried In Elizabeth City
county circuit court here on q
charge Of accepting q bride of
$3.50 from ID. E. Garrett, alleged
moonshiner, on July4, 1921.
The jury after being out since
shortly before s o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon, reported TO the
court at noon yesterday that 1t
was unable TO agree on . verdict
a. to any one. of the three do
fendants, and that there appeared
no prospect Of reaching an agree
fnent. 70
Judge Clarence w. Robinson. who
presided. discharged the jury and
ordered q n,istrial. The case will
be taken up at the next term Of
the court, at which time another
indictment against the three
Phoebus officials, also alleging ac'
ceptance Of .bribes,' may be taken
up for trial.
Pending disposition OF the case
none OF the defendants are serving
their offices. Investigation OF the
rumors concerning their conduct Of
the Offices was made at the request
Of the defendants.
''It is q frame up" asserted
Mayor Dixon today. =
The case was presented for the
prosecution by Roland d. Cock,
commemorative attorney. while the
defense was handled by attorneys
c. v. Speatley and r. 8. Collier.
Garbett and Williams. Lancer and
Dixon denied all charges relating to
any bribe either given or received.
Garbett denied he had ever been
chased out OF any State. or that
he had ever been charged With any
crime before, or that he had
threatened his son.
Mrs. d. e. Garbett testified that
she handled the pScketbook In the
Garbett home and that II any
money had been counted out to pay
OFFICERS or for any other purpose
she would have known It.. !" She
and her husband were putting every
penny they could bet and s,ve' into
he new bungalow. In which they
re now living.
The chief witnesses against the &c.
used were Robert Garbett and .ais
wife and DR.. D. L. Lekites. who
charged that the three deten:lant'
ha daccepted from d. e. 3arbstt
on July 8. 1921. Q bribe Of $50
under agreement and with the un
derstanding that Garbett would bt
protected from the action Of the
law In the unlawful manufacture
Of ardent spirits. 49,. D..
Williams was acquitted OF accept
ing a bribe from Charles Simpson
OF Newport News. = Is.
Robert L. Garbett, son of the mar
alleged to have paid the brfbe to WI
"ams, Dixon and Lancer. was tht
first witness. He told Of q raid ol
July 3. 1921, by the three officers OF
an unoccupied building on Fox Hi
road where stills and q quantity o1
mash were found, The two Garbetti
were arrested. They were locked uI
DeChube tney Wcfe hUuud vi tuC ptVtu
ises where the stills were located
and later bailed. They waived ex
animation before Mayor Dixon. bu
protested no knowledge Of the stills
The grand Jury returned not tru'
bills in their case. -, ..3
Paid Over $780,. - f.
Young Garbett testified that hi
father met williams on the night o
July 4, 1921, and paid him $3.50 :,
''let the case drop" and not bottle,
him any more, and that Williams telt
his father that he would have I,
"go out In the sticks" -
The testimony of, Mrs. r, L
Jarrett. corroborated that OF hel
husband as to the counting QUIT o.
$3.50 and starting with It to NEE
Williams. Both testified to mis-
reatment by the elder Garbett o.
his son and of alleged threat
against young Garbett's life.