Five Years for Demanding his Own Money – Judge Witt Sets Aside Verdict
January 19, 1895
Summary
Black man is put in jail after threatening his white employer for wrongfully cutting his pay.
Transcription
Five Years for Demanding his Own Money – Judge Witt Sets Aside Verdict
Richard Brown, colored, was employed by Chas. H. Page, a white coal-dealer. The employer was summoned to the Police Court and fined $2 for not having a license on the cart which Brown drove.
It was not a case of reckless driving, but of the failure of Charles H Page to put a license on all of his carts running on the streets as provided by law.
He alleged that the failure to have the cart on the street in accordance with the provisions of the law was due to the negligence of Brown the driver. He accordingly deducted from the paltry wages of Brown $2 without Brown’s consent. This was unlawful. He should have gotten the money by legal processes.
Brown insisted upon the payment to him of all his money and upon the refusal of his employer to pay him, threatened bodily injury. He did not strike or in any way try to injure him.
Page paid him the $2 and had him arrested, charging him with securing by threat money from his person. Brown was tried Saturday, 12th inst. In the Hustings Court and given five years in the penitentiary. A motion to set aside the verdict was made which motion the judge took under advisement.
Editor Mitchell called on Judge S. B. Witt, Monday morning, 14th inst, but as he was on the bench. We visited him again Tuesday morning. In reply to our query about Brown’s case, he said “Oh, I wouldn’t let that verdict stand. I have set it aside. The prisoner pleaded guilty to assault and battery and was sent to jail.” Assuring him that he thought he would take such action, the editor retired. The jury gave Brown upon the above plea twelve months in jail.
Richard Brown, colored, was employed by Chas. H. Page, a white coal-dealer. The employer was summoned to the Police Court and fined $2 for not having a license on the cart which Brown drove.
It was not a case of reckless driving, but of the failure of Charles H Page to put a license on all of his carts running on the streets as provided by law.
He alleged that the failure to have the cart on the street in accordance with the provisions of the law was due to the negligence of Brown the driver. He accordingly deducted from the paltry wages of Brown $2 without Brown’s consent. This was unlawful. He should have gotten the money by legal processes.
Brown insisted upon the payment to him of all his money and upon the refusal of his employer to pay him, threatened bodily injury. He did not strike or in any way try to injure him.
Page paid him the $2 and had him arrested, charging him with securing by threat money from his person. Brown was tried Saturday, 12th inst. In the Hustings Court and given five years in the penitentiary. A motion to set aside the verdict was made which motion the judge took under advisement.
Editor Mitchell called on Judge S. B. Witt, Monday morning, 14th inst, but as he was on the bench. We visited him again Tuesday morning. In reply to our query about Brown’s case, he said “Oh, I wouldn’t let that verdict stand. I have set it aside. The prisoner pleaded guilty to assault and battery and was sent to jail.” Assuring him that he thought he would take such action, the editor retired. The jury gave Brown upon the above plea twelve months in jail.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Cord Fox
Citation
“Five Years for Demanding his Own Money – Judge Witt Sets Aside Verdict,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed January 24, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/88.