Mayor's Court.
--Before the
Mayor, on Saturday, the following cases were considered:
Henry M. Jones a detective in the
Chief-of-Police office of the
Confederate States, was charged with fraudulently obtaining $1,600 in Confederate money upon the illegal sale of a negro named Jim. From
Mr. William B. Cook's statement, the complainant, it was shown that the accused borrowed money, from time to time, from him, upon the promise of personal responsibility; but, in consequence of repeated failures to comply with his word,
Mr. Cook began to suspect the fair dealing of the defendant and insisted upon a settlement.
Jones did not have the money, but offered to cancel the debt by selling a negro girl which he claimed as his property.
Cook agreed to the proposition, and went to lock at the girl, but was unable to find her at either of two places where he had been informed she was living.
He then became importunate, when
Jones offered to and did sell him the negro man, Jim, giving what the complainant supposed to be a genuine bill of sale,
Cook paying over the difference between the amount due him for borrowed money and the price asked for the negro.
Nothing more was thought of the transaction (
Cook believing that he had bought the negro from a party who had the right to sell him) till about two weeks afterwards, when he was called upon for the hire of Jim by
a Mr. Evans, who produced a letter from
a Mr. Knoxville, of
Prince William county, empowering him to act as agent for receiving said hire.
It was at this stage of the case that
Cook obtained a warrant for
Jones's arrest.
Several witnesses were examined for the defendant, their testimony going to prove that he had been empowered by
Knoxville to dispose of the negro man, Jim, and invest the proceeds in the purchase of two negro boys.
The good character of the accused was also attested to; after which, the
Mayor continued the case for further consideration.
Lucy, slave of
Robert Collins, charged with receiving two hundred dollars in
Confederate States notes, stolen from
George W. Bagby, she well knowing it was stolen, was discharged.
The case against James, slave of
William Lowman, charged with having a lot of clothing supposed to have been stolen, was continued.
Thomas Starke was charged with drunkenness and assaulting and beating Sally
Starke, his wife.
The testimony failed to establish the guilt of the accused and he was thereupon discharged.
A negro, named
Ned, slave of
Drewry Marrows, was committed to jail as a runaway.
