The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-30
LOCAL MATTERS.

SHOOTING BRIcKs.-Ve have heretofore
| noticed q dificulty, which occurred on 10th and
Main Streets last Saturday, and which resulted IN
the accidental shooting Of one man, and The vio
ient beating OF another. Yesterday morning,
some OF the supposed parties--Robert Allen, Tho
mas Mott, John A. Flynn, james Y. Britton, aud
sylvanus Grifio-wsre before the Mayor to un.
dergo an examination, and number o. witnesses
were sworn, tho substance Of whose testimony
we append. Joseph Stanley, one Of the drivers
for Adams Express, Was on 10th street, where he
was met by Allen, who commenced q conversation
with him about sendiGg some packages TO New
York by Express. While they were talking 10 a
lIisndiy way, str niger came up and struck
otanIey violent blow in the face. With this,
Stanley seized Aliens caue, and struck the strzn.
ger once or twice. Allen then caught Stanley,
told him not to strike the nan any more, that he
was o frieud, aud that the blow had been given
by mistake. Stanley and Allen had slight
ecue until Stanley got into the street and picked
up briekbat, which he threw a: the stranger, and
striking bis right pocket caused his pistol to ex.
piode and the ball to enter his right leg. William
brant, another driver for Adams Co.'S Express,
was standing on the opposite aide Of the street. and
nearing 5. Griffin say he wished the assailants Of
Stanley would knock him down. said he did not.
Grhn asked him if he took up for Stanley, and be-
inS answered in the Affirmative, gave him one or
two blows. Brsnt then ran for the Express ofice,
oet was caught ~ he reached the trout door, knock
ed down, and stamped severely. He recognized
Allen az one Of the parties that kicked him. After
tnis, two of the witnesses recognized Brittou in
Main st., with coat off, challenging for a fight-aud
one Of them saw Mott, when the row was over
standing in the middle of the street and Offering
to tight any body that was hungry for a row.
NoLe OF the witnesses saw Flynn in the fight or at
the Express office. The witnesses, as well as the
accused parties, stated that they did not know
who the man was that shot with his own pis.
tol, and we heard in court that he had left for
Baltimore. The Mayor adjourned the invcstixa.
tion until Friday, aud held the prisoners to bail
Q n y hair
CITY OnDiEANCIs.--Int the present un-
Published condition of the ordins noes of the eity
no "Phildelphia lawyer" or Richmond one eth.
er, can begin to tell what they are and how to
steer clear OF their violations. The members OF
the Council, by whom they are passed, are unable
to say what the ordinances are--the Mayor can
form no idea of all their provisions-and as the
ponce cmcers have never seen them, they have
to guess at their requirements aud take the chan.
css OF being right or wrong. Under such laws
as these, many OF them imposing heavy penalties
now Is 1t possible for the people to know when
.ney are violating WHAT they never heard off For
two or three years past, the Council, through a
committee, have been revising and amending
all the ordinances, preparatory to having
them properly indexed and published in one
voiuhe. How near the labar has been completed,
We are unable to say; but until they are pub.
ilshed, either ia newspaper or pamphlet FORM and
given to the masses to read they should be lsni.
emily enforced. We know that the ignorance of
law is no excuse for perpetration Of crms-but ig.
norance OF city ordinances. when there 10 no iy.
ing man that knows their provisions, r,should be re-
garded as paliation for their violation In other
cities, all new ended ordinances are published
IN the newspapers at the city expense, as soon as
they are passed This plan should be adopted in
Richmond, and thus give the people an opportupi
| ty OF becoming acquainted with the ordinances
adopted for their government, aud which they sre
expected TO observe. We trust that the present
Council will take steps to have all the ordinances
published before April ne1 t, 30 that their success.
sors may not have to renew the revision, which
has been in hand for years.