The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-09-13
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATTERS.
AssdEaiaS WatcAmaD.-Some few MORNINGS
since, a. jas w. Reid, enc Of the Night Wateb
was making his rounds to sxtinruish .bs -.
lamps, he discovered two suspicious Iookine u.r
in Virginia street, in front of Hunt & Hs,vis,.
store, and supposing that they were sftsr sons.
thing wrsng, attempted to approach them bv
creeping along in the dark shadow of the bous.s
to where they were stationed When be got
within few yards of them they discovered him
and Immediately took to their heels Hs. al
course, gave pursuit, and overlook one of the IN.
gitives near Shart's plaster mill but unfortunate
nad dropped his stick in the race As soon a. hs
iaid hands on the fellow, he was dealt a vioIent
SioW IN the face, and the two doubling upon him
ne WAS compelled to release his hold. when thav
jumped into the canal, swan across to the south
sbinL ttdn Ano made COED their escape. Waschman R.
.I .nKs one OF the fellows WAS white and the othsr
p,.ck, u OUT could not recognize neither OF them
NOT at all improbable that they were about tn
an entrance into some Of the large establish
driven Off '''eo sno
Paaa. ameaEsIrhe elegant comedy of "M.sks and
races, or before and behind the curt.in was 70.
pea,eu iast Thursday night and passed off re
nAaoiy we'll Mrs. Davenpor.'s "Pep Waf
uns'on was capital piece of acting tbrou ghout
Hau savs entife satisfaction to her audience Mr.
n ehpof' played Sir Charles pomanSer', yerv
well Mr. Jeferson's "TripIeto was na-fsc, "a
niss De.nn as Mrs. Vans" all that the author
himself, II lie had been present could b.vs AZ.
s'red. The ether characters were yerv GOOD in.
Decd after the conclusion of tba comedy Nf;ss
DeveTe entertained the audianco ,,t,h is
dance In which she displayed such srt;st;c AZ Il,
such grace, such elegance, and such modastv that
she was compelled to repeat it, in order to stilI the
socilerous ean' OF her many admirers Miss D.
promises to becsme q general favorite with ali
VINO attend the theatre. This eyenino ,ba h;II q;
most enticing one, and If the weather nrovas G..
vorable, cannot fail to attract a crowded honse -
Mrs. Davenport will personate the Character of
'Marianna," in the tradegy of Jack Cade.
Habsas COrpus.-Alexander Jackso q free ne-
gro, charged with committing rape upon Caro-
line E. Swan, free negro, was brought before
Judge Meredith yesterday on writ of habeas cor
pas. When Jackson was FIRST examined before
the Mayor, he was inadvertently sent to the Hus
tings Court for trial on his honors certificate, and
en- Wednesday last was tried by that body as
court of oyer and terminer, and acquitted. two of
the justices believing him not guilty, and four of
them guilty. Immediately after the accused left
the court room, the Attorney for the Common
wealth, in examining the law concluded that the
crime with which the prisoner charged was
a capital offence, and that instead of being tried
be should have been examined and sent on to
higher tribunal He therefore had Jack son rear
rested, and then moved the court to allow him to
enter noHe prose9ui, so that the accused might
be returned to the Mayor to be examined and sent
on in proper form. After some discussion, the
Court agreed to remand the prisoner till the next
morning, which was done, ia order to allow the
counsel on both sides to search for authorities
When the Court met the next day. the Attorney
for the Commonws salth was permitted to enter q
aolie prOsequi, and renanded the prisoner to the
custody OF the Mayor. In order to test the ques-
tion whether the decision of the Hastings Court
was in conformity to law or not the prisoners
counsel had him brought before Judge Meredith
yesterday, who, after hearing the argument re-
fused to discharge the accused. He was therefore
sent back to Jail, and will be examined before the
Mayor this morning on the charge of rape If his
honor believes that there is reasonable evidence for
having the matter further enquired into, he will
send the prisoner before the next Eustipgs Court
for examination and then. If that body does not
believe he is innocent, he will be sent on to anoth
or curt to be tried by jury for capital offence
Mechanics Library Within the past month sew.
eral valuable volumes have been presented to the
Mechanics Library, by gentlemen who declined
making their names known. II any of our read.
era have book which they desire to give to the
Mechanics Institute for its Library, they will please
send them to the Hall Of the Institute, Northwest
corner of 10Th and Main streets, soon as posi-.
ble inform the Secretary of their wish that he
may send for them. This library is designed es.
pecially for the benefit of young mecbanics and
we hope to see 1t become not only large but vaIu.
able.
Dangerous Sport-A number of boys continue
to assemble in the gully at the northern extremity
or ana StTeeto, 10 pistols ana endanger
the lives OF persons who may be passing. A mer.
chant residing near the firing ground informed US
day or two since that he was often compelled to
prevent bis children from playing In his own gar
den, ~ they were in danger of being shot by the
Youngsters who were amusing themselves by firing
pistols in the neighborhood. Young America de.
fies the law at pleasure, and the old fogies who
witness the violations, are afriad to open their
mouths in defence Of their own rights Go It. bows
your race will be ended when the police discover
you.
Circulating Petitioa.-We understand that
petition is in circulation for signatures asking
Governor Wise to reprieve WILLIAM VEST, sen.
fenced to Jail and labor on the streets for ninety
days, by the Hastings Court conviction of hog
| stealing. Vest is so well known to our police and
citizens, that we presume very few persons can
be induced to give their signatures to any memo
rial which has for Its object his release. The po
lice records will show that he has spent many
months in the city Jail within the past ten years,
and that he has been arraigned on the charge Of
theft great many times. The Governor knows
too well the Importance Of rigid police regulations
in a community like this, to interpose his power
and thereby thwart the objects Of the Court
Stencil Traps are necessary at nearly every en-.
trance to the public sewers, in order to protect
our citizens against the unpleasant odors continu-
ally emitted from them The Commissioners of
Streets have had several put In, to the great re-
lieve Of certain neighborhoods, but there are yet
many mole needed.
7obaccoais.s should select samples of their best
work to send to the Mechanics Fair next month.
We understand that number of cosntry manu-.
facturers, well as several In Lynchburg Peters
bug Clarksville, Danviile and Farmville will
compete for the premium, and that the exhibition,
in that particular, will be extraordinarily fine.
French Garden Hill is very much in need of
Chapel for Divine Worship, and = suitable place
in which to hold Sabbath well day school
building to accommodate all these objects, could
be had at . trihing expense, and we are therefore
surprised that the residents Of the hill have not
gone to work and put it up. On this hill many of
the families are those of industrious mechanics,
who need a convenient place for public worship
a, well as for Sabbath School for their children
II some of then, would make the effort they could
readily get the means to accomplish their wishes,
for there Ia scarcely man in the city who is not
always ready to contribute his mite for such An
object.
Sornn-After several days of sccrching, melt
ing sunshine, our city has been visited by heavy
rain, which fell for several hours yesterday morn
ing washing of the streets and cutters. and rer.
dering the atmosphere cool and pleasant.
Poultry Ro1bry-Last Thursday night, some
cunninp thief entered the premises Of Captain