Culpeper Sheriff Decision

Culpeper Sheriff Decision

Left to Trial Justice

The case of the Town of Culpeper versus Sheriff B. Hood Wayland, charged with assault and battery against Town Policeman

^ Horace Johnson, was heard Fri-^ ' day, September 29, before Trial Justice C. E. Reams, Jr. The judge will announce his decision later.

The hearing was an outcome of an altercation in the county jail September 1 when Officer Johnson went to the jail to remove a prisoner for bond, and was ordered out of the jail by Sheriff Wayland.

At the hearing Friday Officer Johnson testified the sheriff struck him twice with a blackjack, while he defended himself only with his arm. The prisoner he had sought to release corroborated Officer Johnson’s testimony. _Following the hearing of testimony in the .crowded office of the Trial Justice, the defense attorneys, Clarence Carter of Orange and Jackson L. Fray of Culpeper, asked to review the case. They retired from the courtroom with the town attorney, State Senator Robert Button, the defense witnesses, and Sheriff Wayland. Upon their retmrn, both sides expressed the desire-“not to argue the case.”

A reporter from The Evening Star stated: “The judge smiled and said he would make his decision later. His secretary, Mrs. Virginia B. Wood, who had been knitting throughout the proceedings, looked up and smiled, too. Asked by a reported when he thought he would reach a decision, the judge answered, ‘It may be a day or it may be a year.’ He was certain, though, it would not be today.”

Sheriff B. Hood Wayland, 63, has been sheriff in Culpeper county for 11 years. Officer Johnson, 46, has been on the town police force 13 years.

It is stated that the sheriff and the town officer had not been on ,friendly terms for some time, reportedly since the town officer gave the sheriff a parking ticket some months ago.