The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-12-26
LOCAL MATTERS.

ceytoxs xsSfd66tNg.-Yesteruay afternoon two
men-0Eo. CARL and HuaH KEELY. were se-
verely stabbed in front of Carls houss ON I'd
street Another man. MICHAEL MARTIH re-
celved q violent blow In the face with stone
.nrown oy some person unknown. Carl says
while Kelly and himself were at their din err
Martin came In with his face bleeding and
stated that he had been struck by some young :
ster. They advised him to 90 home and he
ia s.ar'ed % 40 SO. Soon after. some gentleman
IN search Of laborers, came out and called
tnem out. and while they were in conyersa-
tion, Martin returned, followed by RoBERr
bUkcH, JOHN FERNEYHoUGH and another
a parry, ana the three soon got in to words, one
o. them swearing that he coald whip apy
!Iisnman in Richmond. Burch backed into
the street to get stone, but Ferneyhough
uasW uis knife and stabbed Carl severely in the
face; and gave Kelley q dangerous srah in the
leil side, and severe cut on the left hand.
nearly seyering one Of his fingers The parties
"iii probably be before the Mayor Tomorrow.
Serious Rop.--On Friday night last a .er;o..
row occurred at William O'Brian's house. near
tne west end of Broad street which resulted
IN the shooting Of one man and the disffguring
gwen dancing party, by way Of commencinr
the monday frolics, and number of friends
ana strangers had assembled to participate.
among among whom were Richard H. Portewig and
Oorneilus Murphy. At late hour Of the
nignt, when many of the visitors were consid
eraoiy excited from frequent beverages of
sometning stronger than water. OsBrian and
a,tag ,Va.eWig got into an alteration and OBJ, in
aIempting to get possession of p. IS six shooter.
gotta DaIlinto the palm of his right hand infiict.
ing an ugly wound. As soon as it was knewn
...n .nat On1ian was shot, Murphy and others
ara rortewig, and he. to save his hide and
ZONES, shouted murder at the top of his voice.
Jnst at that mement watchmen Gilman and
Blackburn heard the noise. and hastened to
tne men mouse to ascertain the cause. As they en-
tered the door they saw Portewig ON the fiat
of his back, literally covered with feet and
nanos, apparently intending to crush him. and
az once set about res storing order. After a hard
;;,trugxie ;,a tney released Portewig from his per-
come, and that they had some work to do to
save their own persons from annihilation-
GLman In the strife, received sockdolager
on the head with stick of wood, and Black.
burn did not escape his share of kicks and
cuffs. They, however, worked their passage
Lnrough the hornets nest, increased their
iorce, and returning to the attack, succeeded
IN arresting Murphy and OtBrian. and lodged
them In the lock-up. On Saturday morning
the prisoners appeared before the Mayor, and
after undergoing close investigation. were
remanded to be indicted by the next Grand
jury. They both gave bail for their good be-
havior, and to appear and answer an indict-
ment on the second Monday in February next
4 Saturday was busy day with the sellers OF
toys, books, fancy articles, ETC., suitable for
holiday presents. Confection shops, book
stores, Jewelry establishments, and retail
houses generally, were crowded with purcha.
sers, some buying. presents for relatives and
friends, others procuring "nugs' for the
Christmas feast, and others, again. purchasing
the scapt necessities of life from the hard
earned wages of incessant toll. Were none in
worse condition than the latter class, how de-
lightfully pleasant would be the present hoIi-
days to all, who have not vacant seats around
the hearth to lament, that a twelye-month
since were filled by mother, father husb band.
wife, child or friend. But when the minds
eye glances over the community and sees the
pallid cheek of widowhood bending over the
needle, with scarce spark of fire to keep her
warm, and hears the piteous lament of the
orphan for want of bread, much of the plea
sures of the season are dissipated, and the Oft
repeated salutatiOn of "Merry Christmas
sounds almost like mockery. 'sRemember the
poor" is a Divine injunction that should ever
be obeyed, in deed as well as thought OF your
abundance, appropriate portion to the des ti-
tute around you, and thus gladden. their hearts
and increase your own happiness. What a
vast amount of suffering could be relieved if
but one-half, or one-fourth, the money ex-
pended in useless trash could be inves led in
TODD, fuel and clothing for the destitute poor.
Every widow might then have her yulee log
10 make cheerful her gloomy hearth by its
brilliant blaze-every orphan might be made
to rejoice at the tokens of kindness from Santa
Claus, and the giyer, himself when the day
had closed, would only feel the more happy
that he had been made the proyidential instru-
ment of dispensing happiness to Others.