The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-12-23
LOCAL MATHRa

-
LOCAL MATTHRe.
l
Daring Anmpt 10 Poison Fe.ily- Cautuy, o,a
Confession Of the Poisoae.-On Saturday morn;nc
Iaa . daring attempt was made BY = cook wcman
NoRMEsT Of Tayior's Ferry, King William conn.
ty, to poison her master and his family Tbe foi
lowing are the particulars Of this atrocjous deed
- detailed by . relative Of the family:
ed Martha, . cook, and two house servants of !.
gentleman in this city, and took them to his plan
tafioD. Martha proved to be such vaiuable .nd
trusty servant, that she soon became great favo
me OF MIS- Norment, and was treated by her with
the utmost kindness and consideration eyerv nr;
viiege being allowed her that was at all neces.srv
for her comfort and happiness Indeed so great
was the confidence of the entire family in her ho
nesty, integrity and general department. that
every member OF 1t took pleasure in ninistering
to her happiness on all occasions
On Friday afternoon young daughter of Mr..
Norment, about i've years old, was taken verv
sick, and DR.. Norment, of Hanover ccurtbouse
was sent for to see her. When the Doctor arrived
the chllds illns and prescribed such remedies ss
ne thought best adapted to the case but finding
that the little sufferer continued TO grow worse
suggested to his brother that it had been poisoned
Inc father OF the child would hear to no such in.
snuaton At first. having the utmost Confidence in
his servants, but the Doctor changed his mode of
treatment, and soon had the pleasure of seeing his
patient on the mend.
Last Saturday morning, when Mr. Norment and
bis family sat down to breakfast he helped him.
self from dish of tripe and on tasting IL rem.rL
ed to his wife that its favor was peculiar He
however, took the second mouthful. and. "A soon
as ne swaed it, threw down his knife and fork and
Jumped from the table the remark Of the Doctors,
ABOUT poison, doubtless flashing across his mind
In very short time after this Mr.. Norment was
taken with convulsions and the Doctor was again
sent for. AS soon as he arrived. he gave his bro
tner emetic after emetc, till his stomach was re.
lieved, and be rendered conyalescent DIR Nor
ment then had Martha, the cook. searched and
FOUND upon her person quantity of Jamestown
weed seed and glass. ground together which she
admitted she had administered to her master and
the family in their breakfast for the purpose of
killing them. "
We understand that Martha has been arrested.
and examined before Justice of the Peace in
Hanover by whom she has been remanded to the
Jail of King William county for final trial.
City Council An adjourned meeting of the
Council was held in the Council Chamber yester.
day afternoon at 4 o'clock Present-Ma.srs
Dove, Saunders. Morriss, Epps, Scott Stokes
Roddy, Gretter, Richardson and Robinson
The minutes of the last meeting were read and
approved.
Athenqum-Col. Thomas II. Ellis, from sinh
committee on the Athenaum, presented a petition
| asking the Council to reconsider the RESOLUTION
passed the 18th of October authorispp the sale of
| the Athepaum lot and building; and to have the
| building furnished with gas free of charge. The
petition was laid on the table.
City Quarry.-Mr. Saunders called up the report
Of the Commissioners of Streets made at the last
meeting, on the subject of the CITY Quarry and
read statement prepared by Mr. Gin. showing
the cost of the work done by the city hands during
| the year.
After desutory discussion, the following reso.
luton came up on its passage:
Resolved That 1t is fnerpedient to abolish the city
quarry, at this time.
Mr. Morriss moved to amend the resolution bv
| striking out the word "inexpedient" and inser,
| the word tIpedient-and on that amendment he
called the ayes and noes, with the following re-
| suit:
Ayes-Messrs Richardson, Robinson, Whitfield
| Saunders and Morriss-5.
Noes-Messrs Stokes, Roddy, Gretter, Scott
| and Eppes-5.
The motion was lost by a tie
On motion of Mr.. Gretter the subject was laid
on the table
Richmond and DanriHe Railroad-Mr. Whitfield
presented petition to the Council, asking the i'm
provement of Virginia street and Mill Alley neal
the Richmond and Danville Railroad Depot.
On motion, the petition was referred to the Com
| missoners of Streets for Madison Ward, with the
authority to prepare a walk way from the depot tt
Cary along Virginia street, if they deem it expe
| dent
| That portion of the petition asking to have vir
ginia street widened, was referred to the Commis.
| Gaugas Fees.-Mr Gretter reported an ordi>
nance fixing the Gaugers fee at ten cents for every
cask over sixty gallons, and cents fer every
| cask under sixty gallons. This ordinance was
passed. and is to go into effect on the lst of Jan
| uary next.
After some other unimportant business the
| Council adjourned.
| Democratic .Jubilee.-The Democratic party q
this city had grand emonstration last night, in
| honor of the election of BUCHANAN and BRICK
| INRIDGE, President and Vice President of the
| United States. The celebration commenced by the
| firing of cannon on Capitol Square, and was fol
| lowed by grand and beautiful display of FIRE
works, which proved most attractive to citizens
| generally. A torch light procession was mex;
formed, ana marched through the principal streets
| to the inspiring music of Smiths Armory Band
We noticed that a number of residences were
handsomely illuminated, and observed a variety ol
| 'kerchefs waved to the procession as it marched
| along. Many of the transparencies used on the
| occasion were attractive, because of their gro
| tesqueness, whilst others were neat and well exc
! euted We cannot undertake to say Of what
| ahmber the procession was composed. 1t was
| certainly very long one, and while passing, the
| streets seemed to be one living mass of human be-
ings, OF all ages and sizes. AT the conclusion ol
the parade, the procession halted IN front Of the
| City Hall and were dismissed, hundreds of the
participants shouting at the top of their lungs
| "hurra for Buck and Breck."
Benefit of Mfr. Getz We invite particular atten
ton to the theatrical programme fort .,bt, end
earnestly trust that our play goers will turn oui
| en- masse and give the modest but talented artist
| who takes benefit on the occasion, a large and
fashionable audience. The Kings Gardener" i:
| upquestionably one of the richest and most enter
tanning farces now extant, and as Mrs. aud Mr.
Jefferson are both IL it, the lovers of music and
| fun will have an opportunity of enjoying a rare
treat. Preceding this, will be presented the ma g
nifcent spectacle of The Naiad Queen, in which
Mr.. Getz has displayed his rare powers as an ar
| tist, and won for himself reputation and q name
never to be effaced. Our people have already
| shown their appreciation of his work, and now tina
they have an opportunity OF exhibiting their sp
probation of the man and the artist, we sincerely
hope that they will do 50 at once and that every
| seat will be filed before The curtain rises.
Gone 10 the Tom5s Thomas Watson, Esq, th'
| prototype bard, and only living representative o
Bill Shakespeare. Burns and Milton, was rudel.
thrust into prison last Sunday night and brough
before the Mayor yesterday, for making littl
noise on Cary street, and then abusing WatcLmal
Hill for daring to speak to so great man for charm
ing the neighbors with his melodious voice. Whe
put to the bar poor Tom looked crest fallen an
made but poor defence. He declared that th
| police had wautoniy assaiied him without cause
| and then 1t was that he exhausted the catalogue
| of billingsgate against them. As there were fou
| witnesses against him, however, he expressed
willingness to succumb aud when told that he mu,
| give bail, declared that be had no other propert
but bis person, and said something about the chaj
gang which we did not understand