The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-07-13
JOHN q. ADAMS,
J. G. CALHOUN,
JOHN MCLEAN.
CRIMINAL COURT.

CKlMl4N Nj COUNT
RICHMOND, July 5--We are indebted
to friend for the following interesting
Sketch
Judge Brockenbrough, the Judge of the
Superior Court of Law for this county,
held term for the trial Of criminal causes
during the last week. During the term,
the trial rf no indictment excited much in
terest except that against Macon Green,
which, from its novelty and sngularity,
could not fAil to excite some attention.
The following is a brief statement of the
cases which occupied the court;
Eidridge BridgeDater, IA free man of
color, Who was indicted of larceny in steal
Ing piece of coarse wooden cloth, Of the
value OF $40 George DIXON, free man of
color, who was Indicted of burglary and
larceny aud Joshua Jones, a free man of
color, who was Indicted Of rape upon
Charity Maxwell, a free girl Of color, were
severally convicted OF those offences
and adiudged to be sold as slaves and
transported and banished beyond the limits
of the United States in the manner prescri-
bed by law. Beside t'is, they were each
sentenced to be punished with stripes TO the
number fixed by their respective .nres,
which number in the first mentioned case
was two; in the second five, and in the
third fifteen.
Matilda Jones, a free woman of color,
was convicted of petit larceny and senten
ced to be Imprisoned IN the county Jdl on
low and coarse diet four months, and tn be
punished with stripes nj different times 10
the number of twenty-five.
ViHidm Kemp Was convicted OF petit
larceny, and sentenced to be imprisoned in
- L., a dit
months and to be punished with stripes AZ
in The last case
UiHinm adams was convicted of a mis-
demeanor in keeping and eXhihltng Faro
bank table. Upon the trial OF this ildlct-
ment, the prisoner By his counsel moved
the court to be permitted To address the
jury, to prove that the law, which inflcts
the punishment fimprisonmenta and stripes
for this offence, is contrary In the Bill of
Rights and Constitution of the Common.
wealth. so far rs it fixes that punish ncnt TO
the offence, but the court, deciding that
the lan was not contrary To the cnnstitu-
lion, refused To allow him to address the
Jury. The court afterwards proceeded to
Judgment against the prisoner, aud senlen.
ced him to he inprisoncd in the county laIl
on low and coarse diet, three months, and
To receive ten stripes upon the last day OF
confinement
limos Ro0fe, who was convicted "fEl"ny
IN breaking open store house and stealing
goods aud chattels and VtHtdm hlng, a
free man of color who was indicted OF
grand larceny, we're found not snhly by
their lurirs, and acquitted and discharged.
Thomas Spencer Speed, convict N the
penllentiary,w who was reported by the kee
per 10 have been 4 second time convicted
and sentenced to confinement therein for
DEMONSTRATING, an offence punishable by
imprisonment for not less thaG FIVE years
and John HGiker, convict rrponedhy the
keeper To have been a third time con,lcttd
and sentenced To confinement, were found
by IA jury to ha,r been confined the several
times stated by the keeper, and sentenced
IL be imprisoned III the pen;lrntlary DUNG
life.
After disposinS Of the two last cases, on
Friday about one O'Clock came on the trial
Of the Indictment against MACON Green for
Il msdemcanor. The indictment contain
ed two counts. In the FIRST, ii MAS alleged
in substance that. on the 29th of April last,
the rri oner did place, and cause 10 be
placed IN house occupied ny one James
Lyons a in the presence OF the satI iy.
ons, within the distance OF e'Ght feet from
Lyons, box containing kes OF aunpow-
der cont wed and intended by him 10 ex-
plode by means of two burning candles ny
him placed in the box, aud inserted IN the
key Of suupowdrr with intent Ia Kill aud
rarder the said Lyons. The second count
charged hun with soliciting and procuring
person unknown to place in the house II
box Containing seven pounds of sanp"wder
anI two candles lighted (Which he had put
ah1 caused tfs-be put 10 the box cdntfI'rd
and inf. ndcd by him 10 explode VI the
space offn u feet from Lyons, With a like
intent. To support these charges. the at
torney for the L pmnonWchlth relied upon
circumstantial cv,,!eucr. No posI'''e cyl
dence of The guilt of the prisoner can be
adduced. The examn, atom ol me wines
'es, who we're UuinerhH-- orc P"u '''
e0nrt till four O'Clock ON that haN' "'''' VA
the next from 10 ill 3 O'Clock. h''' '''"
Robertson, the ATTORNEY general, 'ieu -
inrnced the argument of the cast pe' ~,
- The jury on, the part of the eommonwe" n'
md was fn lowed by Whitaker anu MI
Leigh, on the part of the prisoner he
attorney general concluded the arHuh,ehi
.houi O'Clock at night and the jury the
's,itedto Ssa.ull 9s their verdict Ala