Mayor's Court.
--
Recorder Caskie presiding.--A youth named
Fendall Thomas was brought up on Saturday to answer a charge of stealing a gold chain, valued at $25, from
George Purcell.
James Hermans, a small boy, testified in substance that
Thomas informed him that he had found a gold chain in an alley, and was going to sell it; and if he (witness) wouldn't say anything about it, he would give him hall the proceeds.
He declined at first, and said he would tell, his sister (
Mrs. Purcell) to whom the chain belonged; but afterwards consented, and
Thomas sold it to a countryman, giving witness $3 as his share.
George Purcell deposed that his wife lost a chain about the 1st of December, and heard nothing of it until a few days ago, when she met
Robert Purdy, on associate of
Thomas, in the street, and he said he could tell her where the chain was; that
Fendall Thomas had sold it, and given part of the money to
James Hermans.
The latter was questioned, and his story corroborated what
Purdy had said.
Witness then got a warrant and had
Thomas arrested.
The chain is worth $25.
Robert Purdy was then sent for by the
Court, and deposed that all he knew about it was that he overheard a conversation between
Thomas and little Hermans, the substance of which was that they found the chain, that
Thomas sold it for $8, and that they went halves.
Never saw the chain or the money.
James Hermans recalled.--I did not find the chain,--He found it, and gave me half the money for not saying anything about it.
A lady of genteel appearance was sworn for the defence.
She knew nothing about the chain; but the boy
Thomas had lived with her ever since he was a child, and was perfectly honest and upright.
He was never accused of stealing before, and would not have been now, but for the fact that
Purcell got mad with him because he called him ‘"Yankee."’
Mrs. Hermans had told her that she had two (sons who would steal anything they could lay their hands upon, and that she had to keep everything locked up.
This statement was corroborated by another lady.
The
Recorder then said he would remand the accused, to be examined before the Hustings Court, on a charge of grand larceny.--The lady, whose testimony we have given, invoked the
Recorder to admit him to bail, on the ground that the testimony was liable to much doubt, and that the boy's health was seriously impaired; but the request was declined.
Henry Miller and
Augustus Miller, charged with getting drunk and fighting, seemed to have forgotten the words of the Psalmist--‘"how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity."’ Hence it became the duty of the
Recorder to require each to give security in the sum of $100 to keep the peace.
George Watts appeared to answer a charge of assaulting and beating
Elizabeth Ames.-- The complainant being absent, the case was dismissed.
John, slave of
O. A. Taylor, and
Austin, slave of
M. B. Moncure, were convicted of larceny and ordered 39 apiece.
James Burns was fined $20 for keeping his bar-room open after 10 o'clock, P. M.
