Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-02
LOCAL AFFAIRS

DEFAMATION OF CuARAcrER.-A colored lass named
Pauline, q slave employed . tbe Exchange Hotel, was
using insoleu. language 70 Mas Sarah Rouey, a White girl
employed at the same establishment The warrant II We
mistake not, had the charge "insolence," bat Il Was Of a
character far moro grevious.
The youpg lady stated that having heard nom other
employees 10 tho Hotel, that tho accused circulated rs-
ports seriously detrimental to Der character ;-being no
iess than that she took black and white men into her
room-she called upon her and asked II she said 90, and
she replied, yea she did cay L.
hr. Callahan, sister Of the complainant, and an EN- .
pioyee 10 tho same establishment, testified that she also
vent to the sccused and asked her II she ssid what was
charged to her, (the facts above mentioned,) and she re-
Phed yea hn U. told her she ought to DO cautious how
shs circulated such reports Of any female, and the vass-
oonu negro, tearing that there vas . disposition to taxi
her to task for this report, sought to mitigate tho offence,
oy saying she heard 30 from the stable boy. :
Tue Mayor was about to order her punishment when
hr. rhos, Z. Ballard desired to be sworn Ia tho matter.
The oath being accordingly administered, Mr.. b. said,
tha' his Impression was until no entered Court, that this
matter was permitted to stand over by the parties Inter est.
cd, until his brother who was then 10 New York would
return and Investigate IL fully. He said that reports
circulated freely among tho servants affecting tho chsru.
yer OF MIS- koney In tho manner Indicated 10 her TESTING.
ny but from whom IL originated was yet to DO known.
He asked the stable boy that morning about n aud hs s,id
no had the report from others.
nc SAID that some months ago Mr.. John Callahan the
orother'in law OF the young lady and one of the Supcrin.
tendents OF the establishment came 10 him and reouss,,d
that he would discharge the complainant. He mentioned
MS reason Tor that application to have been her going out
.'no nBn'o contrary 10 his wish. He(hr. b. \ discharged
ner : us request, but upon the application OF Mrs. Calls
nan sister OF the young lady, abe was again reinstated.
mt. cohn Callahan was sworn. lie said the reason Of
us Is',ug made the application for her discharge wa. that
sue nau gone 10 Q ball against his consent. (SIipbt offence
we should supposed She also went on the capitol square .
NV nights with some young gentlemen, his orders to tn,
charge oy her parents who resided In New York and bs
.ooash. IL his duty to restrain her within tho bounds of
p.uuenee' anu go prevent any evil consequence TO her
CHAR. nus intention In getting Mr.. Ballard to dis.
charge er WAS 10 send her back IN hn. ,...... -
entertained the least doubts Of her Character II w..hs,
'NP,uaenee that led him to take the steps referred to.
R,i,as, mayor ssld DO regretted very much that Mr..
nI,iara was examined, since the testimony was csl.
cuiited to throw suspicion upon the comnl,jn,n, N.
"ou'u DC very reluctant to receive the testimony of n fs-
MAJ ma VINO was IN the habit OF going out at night to balls.
alder The circumstances detailed in the FOREGOING testi'
monica lHeavy r%etribution for going to q bxiI.9 n, can.
~. tue accused against ever telling = white person
wnss sne might have heard in the spirit in which she
seemed 70 nave mentioned this Circumstance to tho COM
plainant. IL was not for her to circulate further apy evil
report she might have heard respecting the character of
this person.
1T unoounded faith in the wisdom Of any judicial func-
uonary could warrant a conviction Of infslhbiity In respcc,
10 tue correctness OF his decisions we could well claim 10
regard the Mayor Of this city In such n lirbt Bu, we
must confess, and We do so, with considerable rsIuct,ncs
that We regard the decision in this case as TOO lenient
lhere Is no doubt but that guilt by a white person TO the
ssme extent aseuoed, nay, satisfactorily proven agsins,
this negro woman, won'd furnish undoubted grounds for
an action against such person for slauder. Aud we doubt
u aJary could be found unwilling to award damage, upon
such proof.
Was It not established upon the testimony Of the com.
piainant that this negro woman did adopt the paternity of
that Infamous charge when questioned about ip And as.
Sum'hg the reracity Of the complainant as iupeacl ~
= result Tor which there has beer no Justification, was no,
tne testimony OF Mrs. Callahan, upon whom there was no
impeachment conclusive of Pauline's guilt. She admitted
70 her that she did say there were white and black men in
the room Of this young lady, but being cautioned by Mrs.
7. 10 beware how she interfered 10 that manner with the
enItscter oil a female, che said she only heard it FROM
aho'her. This correction, it msy easily be seen, was &C.
tuated by fear Of some serious consequences which she
unprecedented would grow out of this affair.
she ought At least have received "thirty," and an adj
monitiCn.
The ~vagabond left the Court will, the laugh of triumpb
on her black phiz. f'
We regret having to differ with his honor in this
matter.