Dispatch, January 12, 1889

Untitled

Moral -- AlcoholMoral -- Property crime

Onancock, January 10, 1889.

Judge Garrison has decided against the point raised by Hon. John W. H. Parker several days ago in the County Court at Accomack to the effect that the local-option law was suspended by the new Code in all communities that had adopted it prior to May 1, 1888. The Judge holds that section 4202 of the new Code has reference to the general local-option law, which appears in the new Code substantially as it passed the General Assembly in 1886. The petition, signed by a number of ladies in the town, praying the Judge to grant no one license to sell liquor within the corporate limits of Onancock is to be supplemented by one signed by the men who are opposed to the granting of license.

The case of Eugene Barnes, who was convicted of embezzlement in the County Court last week and sentenced to one year in the penitentiary and who subsequently obtained a new trial, is much misunderstood by people here and in the cities where Barnes had business relations. The facts are these: Barnes was put on trial for embezzlement on the complaint of S. B. Downes, a prominent commission merchant of New York. Commonwealth's Attorney Fletcher, assisted by Hon. John Goode, conducted the prosecution. Congressman Browne, and George F. Parramore, Esq., defended Barnes. The jury found him guilty and fixed his term in the penitentiary at one year. Barnes was then put on trial for obtaining goods under false pretenses. Congressman Browne had to retire from the case, and Blackstone & Gunter were employed to conduct the defence with Parramore. The indictment charged that Barnes obtained goods from Horner & Co., of Baltimore, by making in this county false representations of his means and indebtedness. The prosecution offered to introduce a statement delivered in Baltimore. Senator Blackstone, one of Barnes's counsel, objected on the ground that the document introduced did not come up to the allegation in the indictment, and Judge Garrison sustained the objection and dismissed the case. Senator Blackstone, who had been employed as one of Barnes's counsel, after his trial and conviction for embezzlement, then moved an arrest of judgment against Barnes in the embezzlement case on the ground that the jury was not properly selected. Judge Garrison recognized the force of the objection and refused to pass sentence. For this offence Barnes is to be tried again.