Mayor's Court, yesterday.
--
James Donley,
alias Francis, was committed to jail as a suspicious character.
He claims to be a deserter from the
Yankee army; but his conduct when arrested being the of a swaggering, indecent loafer, it was deemed best to hold him in custody. --A drunken white woman, named
Frances Taylor, was also committed in default of security for good behavior.
Frances plead hard for her liberty upon the plea that she had three little children that required her fostering care; but, she being an old offender, and for some time back an inmate of the poor-house, her story made no impression.--
John McNell was charged with drunkenness and lying on the sidewalk.
Upon hearing the testimony of the watchman who made the arrest, the
Mayor determined to commit him to jail; but, as he was about leaving the court- room for that place, a note was received from
Major Maynard, the head of the
Government shoe shop on Navy Hill, stating that
Mac had been given permission to go about the city on the day of his arrest as a reward for meritorious services, when, having a little money, he imbibed too freely.
In accordance with
Major Maynard's request, he was sent back to his place of employment.--
Henry Winston, charged with participating in the burglarious robbery of
Alexander R. Holladay's storeroom, was remanded for examination before the Hustings Court. --A charge was preferred against Ralph, slave of
W. R. Turner, of feloniously aiding and abetting Frances, a slave, to steal $3,000 in
gold coin from
Joseph Brummell, and subsequently receiving the same from her, knowing it was stolen; but, the witnesses not being present, the case was continued.--
Jordan, slave of
Mary Hill, was charged with feloniously stealing five bags of corn, five bags of wheat, four bags of cats, four barrels of flour, a lot of harness, &c., valued at two thousand dollars, from some person unknown.
This case has been pending before the
Mayor for some time, and after the most rigid investigation, his Honor has failed to obtain any positive proof that the articles were stolen.
Having already had him whipped for the irregular and wandering life which he has led, it was therefore thought best to send him to the batteries, which was done.--Two negroes, named Sam, slave of
Nancy Ellett, and Tom, slave of
Jacob Woodson, charged with having in their possession a horse supposed to have been stolen, were committed, after a partial examination of the case, for a further bearing.--
J. W. Philpots appeared in response of a summons to show cause why he should not be fined for refusing to pay the regular fee allowed for measuring wood.
Mr. Philpots stated, in his defence, that he had, for years back been bringing wood down the canal to the city and selling it to consumers at greatly reduced prices, and therefore thought the ordinance exempted him from all obligation to incur the expense of paying the measurer, as he never sold any of it to the dealers.
He had sold the whole load about which the dispute arose to certain parties here at forty dollars per cord, and had delivered it to them when
Mr. Glazebrook, the measurer, claimed the privilege to measure it, whereupon be demurred, but told him if he could prove his authority to do so according to the city ordinance, he would pay it. The
Mayor deferred his decision in order to give the ordinance on the subject a more thorough examination than he had done.--
J. B. Macmurdo was fined twenty dollars for permitting his servant,
Taft, to go at large.
Several negroes were ordered to be whipped for committing petty thefts, which concluded the morning a proceedings.
