The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-05-21
LOCAL MATTERS.

A SAD CASE OF ABDUCTION.-We are
| seldom called upon in our attendance upon
| the criminal courts Of this city to record
a case more calculated TO inspire feelings
Of sorrow and sympathy on the one hand,
and indignation and censure upon the
other, than in one which was partially ex-
amined before his Honor the Mayor on
| yesterday.
A young man named James Smith, with
countenance expressive of mingled cum
ming and meanness, was arralgned to an
| swer the charge of unlawtully abducting
and taking away Susan f. Barlow, a
daughter of William f. Barlow, aged
about sixteen years, for the purpose OF
prostitution.
The witness called up was William f.
Barlow, the father of the girl, who gave
| his evidence in q voice tremulous with
emotion, while the tears coursed down his
cheeks. He said that on Thursday eve
ming last, at about o'clock, Smith came
to his house, and staid there some mi
nutes. His daughter was there at the
time. At about O'Clock he missed his
daughter. He Immediately, in company
with his son-in-law and Mr.. Barrett,
went to look for her. At about ii o'clock
that night he went to house of ill-fame
in Locust alley, and inquired Of the pro-
prietrcSs if his daughter was there. An
answer was given in the negative. He had
received information that she had been
seen going into the house with Smith; so
he threatened the proprietress with a
search warrant. lie went away, and sub
scquently returned, pretending to have
| the warrant. Shortly afterwards he saw
his daughter, in company with Smith, 60
ont of the back gate of the house "and
| now" said he, 81 don't know where she
is expect she is still in that house. She
is lost she has left me, her father, and is
gone forever.
The next witness called was young Mr..
Barrett, who corroborated the testimony OF
Mr.. Barlow, and said, further, that he met
Smith in Locust alley on the evening re-
ferred to, and that Smith offered him
twenty dollars not to report him and get
him in a scrape.
During the evidence for the prosecution,
Smith, who was evidently not much at his
ease, attempted, with a most miserable
smile, to appear Indifferent, and sneered
at the statements, as if to impress the look
crs-on that he was innocent. He called
As the witnesses for the defence Susan +.
| Barlow and Ella Williams, an inmate OF
the house in Locust alley. The latter
| swore that Susan Barlow came to the
house at which she boarded, on Thursday,
and asked for board. The proprietreSs,
| inding that she had never boarded out be-
| fore, endeavored to make her go back to
| her home; but she persisted in entering
| the house. In little while Smith came
| to the house, and went into witnesses room
| with her.. Witness was with them, and
heard Smith try to persuade Susan to go
back home, even promising to marry her.
She refused to go.
Susan +. Barlow, the girl herself, was
next called. She seemed to be about SIX
teen years of age by no means well-grown
for her years; paSsably good-looking, and
in general appearance nothing but little
girl. The Mayor told her to speak loudly,
so that her father, who was standing just
behind her, could hear her. Her father
hung his head down, and wept like a child.
He exclaimed, ayes, here l am-your
poor father, who has worked long and hard
for YOU, and "-he could speak no further,
but buried his face in his hands and sob
| bed bitterly. His daughter, who showed so
little feeling for hin during this scene as al
most to preclude sympathy or even pity for
her, then proceeded to give her evidence.
| She said she had determined upon the step
| she bad taken six months since, and went
| to Locust alley Of her own accord. She
had determined TO quit her parents on &C
count of their treatment. They would
not let her do as she pleased. They would
not let her 20 out, or have company with
out knowing who it was and her mother
had accused her of many bad things. She
| didn't wish to go back to her parents.
| The Mayor determined to continue the
case until this morning, in the absence OF
witnesses, to send the girl back to her
home. and toremand Smith to Jail, as being
charged with felony.
In our record Of the court proceedings
we make mention of rencontre between
| Mr.. Barlow and Smith in the courtroom,
Smith was standing in rear of Barlow, aud
the latter, provoked beyond endurance by
hearing remark fall from the former,
struck him smart blow, and would have
given him several more but that he was
prevented by the interference of several
policemen.
The old man, after the case had been
continued, went sadly out Of the court
room, and his daughter started with her
female companion for her new abode, but
was withheld by the Mayor, who said that
she should go to her home. She an
nounced her determination, however, not
to go home, preterring to leave her parents
to lead life of wretchedness and sin
Alas it is to be feared that her soul, once
pure and stainless, has been too much
tainted by the foul words OF the seducel
ever to be reclaimed as Heavens, and that
she is lost to all save shame and vice.
RICHMOND AND DANyILLE RAILROAD
INCREASE OF EARNINGs.-We note witt
pleasure the steadily increasing prosperity
of this road. It's earnings for the montl
of April were as follows'
| From passengers. SID 40 o.
| From freight. ht................,....r' oS'oo9 "
| From other sources es.............-.... o,ofo T.
| Total. ..,,....'...:'',..,' ao'Soo
| Earnings for the same month III 1866. 5l,a2s %
Increase for April, ls67...... ...... s"iZo "
And this notwithstanding the recent mate
rial reduction in passenger fare. :