The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-04-11


weeks past the Mayor has suspected the exist
ence Of negro organization, known as the
"United Sons Of Ham, bnt where they
.embled and what were their objects, seemed
difficult to ascertain. On Monday last, officer
Seal struck the trail OF the leaders, and, with
untiring perseverance,, resolved to track them
to their dens. He accordingly succeeded in
discovering the meeting place, in one of the
Out-buildines at Mr. John Caskies residence
at an early hour of the night. and after watch.
ing until he was satisfied that the society was
organized, went to the station house, secured
the services OF Lieut.. CroDe and four watch
men, aud, returning to the meeting house,
surrounded it, as Paddy did the Indians
TO ascertain what was going on. TAX
distinctly hear the preacher, with his Bible
before him. giving a biographical sketch Of
Moses, from his birth to his death. After
| listening until tired Of the entertainment, he
entered the house, and arrested James Plum.
mer, (the preacher, slave to Mrs. L. Il. Allen;
Nathan alias VIM. Williams, slave TO Benja-
min Davis; Richard Hill, slave to Samuel
Bright; Armistead, slave to DIR. +. Trent; Mat
! slave to 4. b. Bigger; Jordan, slave to Rufus
Chandler; Henry, slave to E. L. Tompkins;
William, slave to VIM. q. Allen; Henry, slave
to r. g: Cabell; and Mathew Harris and Cor
ne!ius Liggon, free negroes.
Officer Seal then searched the room in which
the meeting was held, and besides finding
letter to James Plummer, from Cleveland,
Oalo, inviting him to come out, n list OF names
of members of the Society, and 4 number of
other written documents discovered a forged
pass which Plummer admitted he had writ
ten Il
When the parties were arraigned before the
Mayor, Plummer admitted that they were
united to discuss the Bible but professed to
know nothing about the "Sons Of Ham,
Durhg MS examination, he stated That John
Dungy, runaway slave from Mr.. John
M. Gregory, had been \ member of their So
ciety.
Most of the servants in this batch. were Of
| the best class, and the probability is, that, led
on by bad advisers, they engaged in run
ring off slaves TO 4 free State. Whether this
be SO or not, their owners would do we'll to
send them from the city to sojourn where
fewer temptations to do wrong would be
placed before them. The Mayor, on hearing
the evidence, ordered the sia yes to be punish
| ed, and remanded the free negroes to a hearing
this morning.
| annual Elsctions.-On Monday night last the
Virginia Mechanics Institute held its Sixth
Annual meeting for the elec lion of officers and
Board Of Managers. The Institute organized
| in 1851, and for three years had a hard strug-
gle to sustain itself, because Of the failure of
| a similar organization but a few years before
that time. Never despairng, its few friends
set to work to erect a hall and establish me-
| chanical schools, and by unceasing iabors,
have succeeded beyond their most sanguine
expectations. After raising by private dona-
| tions about Ss,000 magnificent hall was
| built, at Il cost of $35O0O, which, added to the
cost Of ihe lot exchanged with the city-say,
| 81 800 and the permanent fixtures in the build
lng-sav. SO, 3,OGO-make the total expenditure
about Sl3,t0o, at least SIS 600 Of which have
been paid OFF, leaving TIE entire debt of the
Institute $275tu, TO be paid off in eight years,
which can readily be done with proper man
agement.
In five years past the Institute has expended
| about S6,ouo in educating the young mechan-
les OF Richmond, many of whom bid fair to
become leading men in their vacations and
valuable citizens Education is as important
| to the working man as to the lawyer or doctor,
and the Institute is determined to give the ap-
Richmond for
improving their minds. All it's receipts from
memberships and exhibitions are applied TO
educational purposes, that being the grea, end
and aim of the organization. We are gratified
to state that its condition is most f1ourishing-
that all classes of citizens are disposed to help
| 1t onward-and that the young arlizans are
avatliEg them selves of its schools and library,
and storing their minds with valuable iDfor-
nation.
We append list Of officers for the present
year:
Presidential NJ Bailey.
Vice Presidents-Thos. H. Wynne, William
| Forbes.
| Recording Secretary-Jas. w. Lewellen.
Corresponding Secrerary-Geo S. Lownes.
Treasurer-Samuel p. Mitchell.
Auditor-Geo. w. Anderson.
| Board of Managers-A. J. Bowers, H. p. Ed
mSnd, John W. McKeil, Geo. Bargamin, JOS.
F. Powell, Geo. A. Aiaslie, Jno. w. Cardwell,
James Kersey, Charles T. Davis, Charles w.
Allen, VIM. w. Snead, James T. Pemberton,
Thomas Ciemmitt, James d. Browne, James
| L.
f. B. Spence, Jas. l.. Davis, VIM. Macfarlane
Clay Statue Iaausurn;ion.-As far as we have
been enabled to ascertain, business of all kinds
| in this city will be suspended on the i2th in
staHt to enable the young and the Old. the
rich and the poor, to partici pate in or witness
the ceremonies OF inaugurating the Clay mar.
| BILE statue, prepared for the ladies of Virginia
! In memory of the great "Harry of the West"
| Besides the scores of distinguished entiemen
| who have been invited here by the Directory
hn aIros nf
| fair daughters of the Old Dominion will flock
| to the metropolis OF the State on that day, and
| give their approving smiles to the imposing
ceremonies. Our own military will parade in
| their full strength, under the command of
Col. August, aud volunteer organizations
from other cities and counties will help TO
swell the % throng: we learn from the Chief
| companies have reported to him, and secured
their quarters
"The Lynchburg Home Guard" Captain s.
Garland, Jr., will arrive by the Danville cars
to-day, and take quarters at the St. Charles
| Hoel.'
"The Farmville Guards" Capt. r. A. Book
| er, will arrive to-day and take quarters at the
Central Hotel.
"The Ches terfield Troop" Capt. Henry W.
Cox, will arrive tomorrow morning.
"The Hanover Troop" Capt. Williams G..
| Wickham, will arrive to morrow morning
Numbers of other commands are expected
| to report themselves this morning, SO as to
have places assigned them.
| Something Wrong.-Yps :ertiay morning an old
lady named Mrs Sarah Thompson, for many
i years supported by the congregation of Trim.
lty Church because of her feeble health and dis
| eased mind, purchased a quantity of arsenic
with which TO poison rats, and returning to
her hOme mixed a dose In n glass Of water, took
it into her mouth, then spi ting portion Of 1t
into the Fireplace, left home, and had not been
| fJund at O'Clock p. M. Rev. +. J. Bogg-.
hearing Of the affair, visited the house, founu
| the paper Of poison, ard then started ia pur-
| suit of her. Some year or two ago this same
dock, but was rescued by friends who were
then in pursuit OF her.
| In the afternoon Mr.. Boggs learned that Mrs
Thompson had gone to the residence of Mr..
Ed. Jones on 25th ST., ard has:ening here to in
quire as to her situation ascert tanned that she
| was dead Mrs. T. went to Mr.. Jones' about
half.past 10 O'Clock A. NJ, and told them that
| che had come there 70 die Some short time
after she became very sick, and con tinued to
grow worse until half -past O'Clock, at which
time she breathed her last. Mrs. T. was nearly
ninety years Of age, and had been partially de-
| ranged for some weeks.
Hastings Cosyt-The following cases were
disposed Of by this Court yesterday:
John Campbell, convicted OF assanIting on.
sentenced on the nth Of November last to
three months imprsOn ment and 70 pay = fine
OF SIS, was yes terday discharged from prison.
he being unable to pay the llue.
| John w. C1ewning, charged with felonious.
ly stabbing and wounding William w. Shields
inatfou, but Shields failing 70 appear, ths ex-
| animation was continued pntil the next term,
and the accused held 70 bail.
Ge0rGs Clinton, indicted for uafsdemeanor.
/ Nelss prossqsi issued. -
siias Beaxiey. indicted for attempting 70
T. = h<NxAf Go - amA Aun