The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-02

TRIAL OF YOUNG G0RpoN-Hrs CONVICTION
CONFEDERATE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
LApIEs-pIsTrRBANCE AND SEIZURE OF
ARMS By NEGRoEs IN pINwIDDIE.
.PErERsnuRa, May 81, 1866.
The case of young Elliott Gordon, the
Massachusetts, youth charged with horse;
stealing, was brought up for the second
time Yesterday before the Circuit Court,
and argued by r. G. Pcgram, ESQ.,, Com
monwealth's Attorney, and Messrs. +. \.
Watkins, Stringfellow, and Wallace Tor
the defence. There was some difficulty IN
getting Jury, so that the trial was no'
concluded till late hour at night. aiter
an absence of fifteen or twenty minutes,
the Jury returned with a report tha' tue.
were unable to agree. This morning on
the opening of the court they maze the
same report, but subsequently rendered
verdict of guilty, condcmning the prisoner
to Ave wears imprisonment IN the Peni-
Tertiary. and unanimously recommending
him "a the mercy of the Executive. This
is probably the best thing they could have
done. for there is no doubt the Governor
would have pardoned him without any in
tcrvention. Gordon is comedy, bright
looking youth, and his case, conjoined with
the great responsibility of his connections,
made strong appeal to public sympathy.
While he cannot he adjudged innocent Of
all criminal intention, yet his offence was
not without some mitigating circum-
stances.
AT a meeting of the Ladies Memorial
Association yesterday it was determined
to dedicate the 9th of June to the grateful
office of decking with flowers the graves
of Confederate soldiers who persisted near
this CITY during the war. Meantime, active
measures are to be taken to remound
and turf them, and renew the head-boards.
The 9th of June, 1864, il may be remem-
bered, was the day when the first assault
was made on our lines by the Federal
forces. General Kautz, with two thousand
cavalry, advanced on the Jerusalem plank
road. and was confronted at the RlNes
House nv less than one hundred ana hfty
citizen-soldiers, and repulsed, but NOT
without some severe fighting, during when
we lost twelve or fifteen men killed ana
wounded, aud thirty or forty taken prison.
ers. Not being able to effect an entrance
a, that point hc withdrew his forces, ana
made another effort by the Wilcox road.
As ne was descending the hill with his
cavalry on the other side oi iheutcnan,
run, he was opportunely met by Hraham
battery, that had but that moment taken
position near the reservoir oil the Cll!
Water Works, which gave nm such Il
warm reception that he was driven PACK
the second time. 1t was, however, "a
mournful day for Petersburg IN the loss oil
so many of her best men; and therefore
none more appropriate could be designated
for paying fitting honors to our departed
heroes.
There was some disturbance yesterday
in Dinwiddic, within few miles OF the city,
which was very near resulting IN serious
consequences. A party OF negroes pre-
scented themselves AT the house OF gentle
man, and in his absence demanded oil the
overScer the possession OF some arms whlch
had been stored there for safe Keeping.
Having no means of resisting the demand,
he was compelled to surrender them. IN
formation being conveyed To the ponce Oh
the county. one of the negroes was ar
rested. and while in the act of being taken
before a magistrate, another party OF ne
groes, to the number of twenty or thirty
all armed with muSketS-conirontcd the
officers and demanded the release OF the
prisoner. One of the gentlemen, however,
after reasoning with them. and represent
ing the consequences of such proceed
ing, succeeded in dissuadins them from
their purpose The offender was commit
ted, together with two or three others OF
the original gang, who were. subsequently
arrested. This is believed to be the first
instance of serious violence which has
taken place in this vicinity. As general
thing, there is no part OF the State or OF
the south where the colorea population
has been more orderly. SNowDEN.