The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-10-19
LOCAL MATTERS.

CIRCUIT CoURT-JUDGE MEREDITH, PRE-
SIDING This Court met at 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning, and proceeded at once to business. The
first called was that of Otway Smith, charged
with forging the of Robert /. Pace nego-
table note and passing the Off genuine
After calling the witnesses for the Commonwealth,
all of whom answered to their Names M. johnson,
ESQ., Prosecuting Attorney announced his readiness
TO proceed with the trial John Fl. Giiner, Esq,
counsel for the defence, moved continuance OF the
trial, owing to the absence OF an important witness
aud the defendant being sworn testified he consid-
cred Mrs. Pace, his sister, important to his
Mr.. Johnson opposed the continuance, when, after
further argument, the was adjourned over until
Tuesday next in order to give the defendant ample
time TO secure the attendance of MS witness.
John Kennedy and John Come ton-two very small
ing gold watch from Hector Davis, valued at $50,
on the 29th of June last The evidence in this
proved that Mr. Davis had hung his watch up in his
Office and stepped out for short time, and during
his absence the prisoners stepped H. took II down and
made way with 1t.
Mr. johnson. in presenting the case to the jury,
suggested that it would be well to commit them TO
the common JAIL owing to their infancy, rather than
cousgn them to the Penitentiary.
N Mr. A. j. Crane, who appeared for the defence, Of
fered an eloquent appeal to the jury to the pri
soners from that school for vice and crime-the Jail
where feops, black and white, of every grade were
hdddled together in ideness, and where no youth
could remain short time, without suffering
from the communicating influences with which he was
surrounded He would not undertake to argue that
the prisoners the bar innocent of the theft
for they had promptly confessed their guilt, but he
felt perfectly satisfied that they had committed the
therefore, be looked upon criminals of
age, who had the mental capacity to conceive atheft
and then to hide it. The frankness with which they
owned having taken the watch and the peui:ence
they exhibited afterwards, clearly evident that
they had merely taken it because they il, and
without knowing its intrinsic value, they would
not have sold it for the paltry of fifty cents -
Mr. c. appealed most feelingy TO the Jury, as men
and fathers, to the prisoners from the degrade
ton that would attach to them from such
victon. His remarks rivetted the attention of ell
who heard him. Mr.. Johnston closed the case, in
short but forcble argument-afer which the papers
handed the Jury, who retired for short time
and rendered their verdict that the prisoners
guilty only of petit larceny, the real value of the
watch being only $40. The duty devolves upon
the Judge to say what length of time they shall be
confined in the city Jail, and presume, therefore,
thar ne will pass sentence upon them this morning.
The following cases were then set for to-day:
William Bowles and Silas NJ. Johnson, for cutting
and stabbing James I. L. Chandler
Henry Clarke, for stealing $t5 in money from Hi
ram p. Poulson, the 10th of June.
William H. Jones and ThaGdeus Williams, for
steaiIns &23 in money from Williamson L. Kirby
The Court then adjourned to meet this morning st
10 O'clock.