The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-29
LOCAL MATTERS.

CHARGE OF STEALING A HoRsE.-Dr. 3. S.
Woodbridge, young man from the country,
was arraigned before the Mayor yesterday on
the charge of stealing a horse from B. A.
Cooke. Isaac n Cooke testified that the horse
belonged to his brother, and he had ridden the
animal frequently up to the time Of the evacu-
alton The horse was stolen on the occasion
of General Lees retreat, at the High Bridge,
in Prince Edward county. He never saw the
horse again until Wednesday last, when he met
DIR. Woodbridge coming across Mayos !at; 1LaoEe
fled Mr. Cooke claimed the horse, and Dr.
Woodbridge went to the father OF the accused,
and he told him to take the case before the FRO
yost Judge and that he would stick to or back
him up He seemed anxious to have the mat
ter settled. Judge McEntee declined to
have anything to do with the case, ana
it was referred to the mayor. A1ter 'nis'
the warrant was gotten out upon the ad-
vice of witness, and DIR. Woodbridge was
arrested. Witness carried a gentleman,
who proved the identity Of the horse.
he purchased the animal. The identity was
easily proved by various marks. He left the
horse tied at night, and when he awoke In the
morning it was gone.
same that he purchased in King William coun-
ty from DIR. Downer. 1t was on his representa-
ton that the warrant was gotten out Tor the
arrest of the accused. He had conversation
with his brother in regard to the matter, and
he said that on the previous evening he met
the horse on Mayo's bridge In possession OF
young man by the name of Woodbridge, from
CAPTAIN T. B. Starke, Lieutenant Austin
Smith, Major Louis J. Bossieux, Mr.. SchOn-
berger, (wagonmaster,) Or. Harris, Sturgeon
surgeon re % in the army,j testified that they
identified the horse as one ridden by isaac n
Cooke, as a courier. during the campaign be-
This closed the testimony for the Common
wealth Witnesses for the defence were then
sworn.
DR.. W. w. Parker, captain of battery
ossSery during the w war, W,n,d4;dss nnd ne WA, WA,
. lieutenant under him, and rode splendiso
cream -colored horse. He left the city WIN
him ON the morning of the Sd of April Slep'
with him every night, and was with him every
day until the day Of the surrender. During
the trying scenes Of tho war he conducted MIN
self with extraordinary galinntry, ana wa
promoted for his bravery and Pro1Msy Mynchaster s
and there they parted. His cream ,c0lorce
horse was stolen at High Bridge, and aiter
wards he got a sOrrel horse, which ne roo,
the I isth Of April. benjamin II. Finney, Esq
counsel for the accused, here presented paper
given to Dr. Woodbridge by certain parties
showing that the transaction was matsef o.
a perfect right to part with the horse
Dr. Merritt. of the Eighteenth Mississippi
regiment, gave and signed the paper
Captain s SIN sinton testified that he % was acquaint
ed with the handwriting of Captain Sampson
one of the witnesses. This was his signature
He was satisfied that he would not lend hi
aid to a fraudulent transaction. The sigma
ture of Captain Girard he was not so wei
acquainted with, but believed 1t to be hi
handwriting. Captain Sampson was Fede
raj officer, and came from near Boston. Wit
ness was also in the Federal army. He di'
not know g. H. Bates-an0ther witness wh'
'attested to the paper-but thought ne was .
wagonmaster in the Twenty-fouIth Arm
Corps. Mr.. ID. S. Wooidridge. father OF tn
accused, testified that, on the 18TH OF July. n
son was In town. and he told MIN tnat
would pay for horse which he had bargalne
for. Went out and heard q conversation De p
tween his Bbn and the man who pretenoed =
he the owner. His son afterwards returned =
mis- NJ. ONCE, and he saye him check 70 pay 70 70
me horse. The animal was taken to Cnesses
Held, where 1t had been ever since. II NJ
never been there before. He though
the price paid for the horse was htgn
The man who sold the horse declare
mat the title was undtsputod. He told al
son ON Saturday that he 0ught not 10 give q
the horse until tho matter was legally tnvesti
gated, in order that 10 might eet redress fro1
Inc party from whom hs pu!chased the hogsa
40 said nothing about eaektng him mp, no