Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-11-11
IHrrER FRoM FAIRFAX COUNTY, va.

LETTER FROM FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA.
rCorrespondence of the Alexandria Gazette
Fairfax G. II Nov ll.-Your usually
diligent correspondent has been so busy during
the term of our late Circuit Court, that it is
only now he finds leisure to inform you OF its
proceedings. He wishes that in this instance
business meant profit, but alas, in these sorrow
full days, lawyers are reduced to an equality
Shades Of Jones and Martin think OF lt!-wlth
that mournful tribe called editors, and actually
do a good deal of work for nothing-ayc, and
live on it too
Our court commenced lugubriousy. The
Clerk had summoned witnesses, &c, IN civil
cases TO the 3rd day, thinking Nos. | and
would be applied to the vindication Of the maj
esty Of the violated criminal law. But the
Commonwealth Attorney, $50 cacd''-(side
RAIDS dying cfF'usion) had not maturcd the
said causes for hearing, he having, doubtless,
in the language of Tic Frenchman who tried to
quote the provcrb ''somc fish to fry in and
about your vcinagc SO the Grand jury alter
sitting awhile like sixteen patienccs onso many
monuments smiling at "the situation, thought
their time could be well employed by indicting
the said so-caed Commonwealth s Attorney
(which they done So They then came in
with the precious document, and were dis
charged A few motions were made, the
Chancery dock called, and we waited till We'd
nesday for business to commence. hlr. luck
or received the Indictment against him as the
work of disappointed politicians when he
was very properly informed by member OF
the bar that he was classed in that category
himself lie can enjoy that 'latterlng unc-
ton, )" perhaps, On u charge sustained by such
loyal testimony as that OF Jonathan Roberts
and r. j. Peacock, but others than Lad
know that Mr. Tucker is, as q Commonwealth
Attorney, s'no better than he ought to be, "
and if that be scandal he can make tho most
of it / >sI
"Wednesday Matthews tried for the
murder OF Thomas Garner, and found guilty OF
murder in tho first degree. Cordclla Garner
tried as principal, in the second degree, and
found guilty of murder in tho second degree,
and term Of imprisonment fixed at five years:
Matthews is q colorcd preacher, who had
preached himself into the affections OF Car
ner's wife and thought proper to send Car
ncr elsewhere, that he might enjoy the para
disc denied him here while Garner stood in the
way, the ''frail She aiding and conserving
thereto. These cases occupied two days, the
testimony being tedious ard the argument
lengthy. Although many civil cases were dis
posed of, none involving matters OF public IN
tcrcst were tricI Many OF the cjectmcnt cases
involving titles acquired nndcr the Confiscation
laws, were moved to your court, where your
active, vigilaut and ever wa'chtul reporter can
scan and scale their salient points. --~.-.
Judge Thomas has shown himsclfa thorough
business man BY the rules he has established
he will, at next term, clear oft much OF the ac
cumulatrd rubbish of years on our docket, that
is if the commonwealth Attorney" will
rccollcct the stirring up he has got, and the
Clerk shall determine, by that time, that it
will not do to depend, noac. G-olnys, on "slch. =
Late Saturday evening, the rev. Mr.. Mat
thews was called in and sentenced to be hanged
on the l0;h Of January, 1868 lie preached
quite lengthly, on being given that permission,
dilating upon his innocence, his love tor the
deceased, (not to mention his wltc), and the
glorious right of self defence. lie said the
Lord told him years ago that he had a place IN
heaven for him, and he hoped to meet there
Attorney His remarks we're in the very n.y.
prcriticaI style which III ght have Keen expect
ed. Mrs Garncr's sentence was suspended to
allow exceptions to be taken up in her case.
During the last morning of the term, the
Sheriff was absent and no Deputy. A rule
was issued against him for contempt, and the
novel spectacle was presented OF n Court OF
Justice going on in It's solemn administration,
whose Judge, Attorney and Sheriff, its three
coordinate branches, are awaiting, themselves,
the operation OF the forms Of law ! But it is
DO more than the case now in the very Govern
mcDt itself, the Supreme Court having been
'''overruled" by the milingtary, "thc President
awaiting impeach ment, and Congress --!
Fiat justitia Hurrah for Republics! Sic
sem-but hush, "the ''conspirators'' are not
dead yet. PEQUoD.