Mayor's Court.
--The following cases were acted on by the
Mayor yesterday:
Rebecca Chandler, a white girl about eighteen years of age, charged with cutting and stabbing
Henry, slave of
Wm. A. Wright, was examined and committed to jail in default of security for future good behavior. --Watchman
Lucas, who arrested her, testified that on Wednesday night about nine o'clock he was accosted by Henry at the corner of 14th and Main streets, and informed that Rebecca had stabbed him. Hearing some further disturbance down the street, he proceeded to the spot, and there found the accused in a violent rage, cursing at every one passing along and brandishing a large sized bowie knife, whereupon he took her in custody.
When asked by him why she had stabbed the negro boy, she ripped out a horrid oath and threatened to cut him (the witness) also.
The prisoner did not deny the evidence given by Watchman
Lucas, but stated in extenuation of her conduct that the negro fellow whom she stabbed had dogged her about the streets and made insulting propositions to her. The verdict of the
Mayor seemed greatly to disturb her equanimity, and she retired to the prisoners' enclosure gritting and gnashing her teeth and threatening dire vengeance upon His Honor, the police, and all others who might come in her way.
Jerry Donnovant and
Lee Whitehurst, charged with stealing a diamond breastpin from
Lieut Col. James Nelligan, were committed to jail to await the arrival in
Richmond of important witnesses.
This case has been continued for several days, and the
Mayor determined he would not again set any particular time to take it up, but would grant a reasonable time for the parties interested to collect their testimony.
To an inquiry from
Mrs. Donnovant whether her son would be allowed bail, His Honor peremptorily objected, remarking at the same time that he was one of the worst scamps that now infest the city.
Eliza Whitehurst, the mother of one of the above-named prisoners, charged with receiving the breastpin, knowing it to have been stolen, was dismissed.
George, slave of Eliza Hall, was ordered to be whipped for stealing $35 in Confederate money from
Augustus Hebermehi.
Two negroes, named respectively John, slave of
Rebecca Leach, and
Henry Stanard, free, arrested for conducting the restaurant business in violation of law, were, upon the first hearing of the case, fined $50 and ordered to be committed to prison; but in a short while afterwards, upon consultation with the reputed owner of the establishment, a white man, they were discharged. --These negroes have for some time back been to all appearances proprietors of the "
Bragg" Saloon, on Governor street, and if the truth could be known no one but themselves have ever had any interest in it, unless it is to go there and drink "on the free"--a privilege which negro fellows might well afford to, and often do, grant any white man who will stand master for them and claim ownership, thereby shielding them from the law. There are fifty establishments in this city carried on by negroes upon this principle, and doubtless not an exception would be found where, if search was made, stolen property is not secreted in them.
