The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-07
LOCAL MATTERS.

NOTORIOUS THIEr.-Wiiliam Henry Ross,
free negro-wel known to the police Of our city as
. most desperate rogue-was brought before Jus.
uce Evans yesterday, on the charge Of breaking In
to the shoe shop OF Christian Mil er, the evening
Of the Goth of August last and stealing therefrom
several pair of second hand boots and shoes, valued
at s12.
Wa,cbman Snead stated that on that evening,
about 10 o'clock, near the basin, and within
square of Milers shop, he saw a negro walking TO-
wards one of the canal boats named the Baltimore,
with several pair of boots and shoes In his hands.
Witness and his partner followed the negro and
saw him 60 on board of the boat and commence
trying the boots on. They approached the boat
and entered when the negro went into the stable
the stern, threw off his clothes which were very
scanty, jumped into the basin, swan across, and
made his escape. Snead could not say whether
the negro was Ross not, but learned ubsequent-
~ from the captain of the boat, that it was Ross,
and that he had been employed on the boat. They
secured the boots and shoes which Miller claimed
and obtained the next day. 1t Johnson stated
that Ross told him when arreeted, that he bought
the boots from negro named William Joiner at
the foot of Myers bridge, that evening-and that
after swimming across the basin he came back to
the boat and obtained some more clothes-the
watchmen having seized upon those he took off
previous 10 jumping into the basin. One pair oil
boots Miller had failed to secure. Justice Evans or
dered Ross 80 ashes for receiving the stolen goods
there not being sufficient evidence to send him on
upon the charge Of burglary.
MIR. Bachrach storekeeper on 18th street, also
ID e 1n1,,.
coats and pair CT boots from his store some three
months since. Mr.. B. stated that two coats were
stolen from the front oc his store WHARF they
hanging, about three months since. He determined
to watch for the thief and next put out pair of
boots. Soon after this, Ross came into the store
and after chaferng about pair of stockings, left,
and on going out, took down the pair Of boots and
made Oft with them, making good his escape
Bachrach saw Ross not long after and attempted to
seize him. Ross threw Bachrach down and drove
him away with stones. Not long after, when in
company with friend or two on Cary street, Bach
rach saw the negro again aud gave chase This
time Ross climbed up the side of house, leaving
the remnants off ver5 ragged coat tail in the hands
of his pursuers. In the emphatic language of Mr.
Bachrach, and greatly to his establishment, 1.-The
negro got on top OF the house and jumped down
two hundred feet and running clear off, This ex =
animation only proving that Ross stole the boots,
he was ordered 80 lashes, to be admin stored to.
day.
Officer Tyler then made complaint that Ross,
who is an emancipatsd Degro of Tucker Coles es
tate, and native OF Richmond, was notoriou US
thief, negro of bad character and pc st to the
commonwealth. From the police record it appear
ed that Ross was convicted OF stealing on the 3Ush
Of May, 1851 and also the lIth Of August and on
the Goth of September last. Another charge against
him was yet to be tried-that of stealing eight dol
lars and some cents from Peter Mingo on the 18th
of April last. In confederation of these facts, Jus.
tice Evans committed Ross to Jail for 10 months
in default Of $500 security for future good behavio
Ross has been very successful in eludng arrests up
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