The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-22

THE COURT OF GENERAL SESSIONS AND COMMON
PLEAs.-The Court met at 10 A. NJ. yesterday,
Judge T. N. DAwk1Ns presiding. The Juries were
called, but only few answered to their names, and
the Clerk was ordered to make out new tales and
0enire; pending which the Court adjourned
An important case has been assigned for trial
to-day, and Jurors are requested to bo punc,ual in
their attendance.
DISTRICT CouRT, Judge LOGAN presiding. The
Court met at the usual hour, and the cases assign
ed for the day taken up.
The State cs. Thos. Kelly and Thos. Eliis-As-
sault and battery. R. W. SEYMOUR Esq. appear
ed for the defence. Verdict not guilty.
The State us. Charles Ellington and Jacob Small
Larceny. T. W. ScHRoEDER, Esq, for the de-
fence. Verdict not guilty for Ellington guilty
for Small.
The State Us. Michael Darcy and John Darcy
ssauli and Battery. r. W. sErnouR, Esq, for
defence. Not gniltJ.
The State us. Thos Moran and Horace Latimer
Assault and Battery. These being cross indict-
ments. were taken up together, a. W. scHRoE-
ER, Esq, for Moran; T. P. RYAN, Esq, for Lat-
mer. Verdict guilty for Moran not guilty for
Lati1ner.
The State us -- Jackson aiias Rome Smith
Larceny. Guilty.
The State us. Jno. Hanlan-Assault and Battery.
Continued.
1t would be proper in this connection to state
that the light character of the punishments i'm
osed In some cases on Saturday, not owing
to any partiaity OF to extenuating circumstances,
ut In those cases the prisoners had already been
confined in the Jail for several MONTHS and an ad-
dtonal punishment would have been cruel and
uncalled for. The sentences were based upon the
character Of the offence and the length Of time the
arties have been previously confined, and this
tatement is made to explain the seeming dis
crepancy in the punishments imposed by Judge
LOGAN.
MAYORS CoURT January 21.-A man who was
elected concealed in steamship on Saturday
last, and upon whom some letters were found
hrowing considerable suspicion upon him as hav-
ing been engaged in some nefarious transactonv
was brought before his Honor for examination and
ordered to be detained.
Elias Perry the gentle youth Of color who has
cen several times before this Court, under charge.
OF attempting to STEAL and carrying false keys in
his pocket again put to the bar suffering from
the same complaint. The keys being conhscable,
were put to the credit Of the CITY, and the ilustr-
GUS Perry will have charge of the interior OF cell
sor ten days.
Several "peep's day" boys who were engaged in
the streets in midnight shout and revelry," and
firing pistols occasionally at each other by way Of
nhvening the scene, were sent to magistrate to
answer for riot.
Ayoung negro woman who has gone crasy on
the subject Of freedom, was sent to the asylum
connected with the City Hospital.
man who was found lying down drunk in the
street but who was indignant that such an intima-
tion should be made by the policeman, and said he
had been two weeks sick, and that his doctor had
given him large dose Of opium, which overcame
him ho Spo tx Ro-
physic that snelt 80 much like whiskey
Teutonic youth Of frolicsome procivities who
was delghting himself with the intellectual amuse-
ment OF ringing door bells, was made to pay IS for
the laughable entertainment.
Two very small specimens Of the colored race
were fined 81 each for fighting ssdorgs" in the
street.
Usr1nD STATES DISTRICT CouHT-Hon GEO. s.
BRYAN presiding Judge.-The Libel case Of The
United States us. the schooner Grapeshot was
resumed Mr.. CHARLEs Fl. GROVES, Deputy Col
le ctor, and Mr. MIL, DR.. EDWARD KEcKE1zY and
Mr.. JosRPHus WOODRUFF, Custom House nspoc-
tors, deposed that they engaged in the seizure
storage and sale OF ertain segars and rum found
on board OF the schooner Grapeshot in July last
The articles were taken from the forecaste, and
it was stated at the time that they belonged to the
seamen, and the Captain appealed to the Collector
to release the goods, as the sailors did not know
that they had violated the Revenue Laws. This
was not done, and the goods were sold for $3.50.
The District Attorney proposed at this stage to
Introduce GEORGE sauTH, Captain Of the Rebecca
Hurss, to substantiate the testimony Of CAMPS.
This was objected to by the respondents and the
objection sustained by the Judge.
The was then closed but the counsel for
the defence pettioned Court to be allowed to re-
produce Mr.. BANCROFT and Mr.. BLACK, who, as
experts could testify to the quality OF the segars
After some discussion from the opposite side this
was granted, and it was stated that the price in
this market would be $S5 per 1000 for the cheaper
and e45 per 1000 for the better brand. The tobac-
co Was very light and fmsy, and it would cost
more to import them than they could possibly be
sold for. Baracoa tobacco was Of the most in
ferior character, and was never or seldom i'm
ported, as there was sale for it, and cargoes
mad been shipped to Europe in order to dispose Of
ther.
Capt. D. B. VINCENT testified that he has been
TO Baracoa s,veral times and has bought many
Thousand segars at Havana and did not think that
those shown in Court were at all saleable and
would not bring more than $25 to $40 Der thou-
sand.
The evidence on the part Of both the defence
and prosecution being closed W. E. M1KE11, ESQ.,,
opened the argument for the defence, He 6rst
commenced by reviewing the testimony advanced
on the part Of the prosecution, and showed that
the character Of their principal Witnesses was en-
tirely unreliable and their statements we're thrown
out by the Grand Jury, who returned No Bill in
the cases which they had for their consideration
He criticised the conduct Of the Custom House
officials severely, and commented upon the ques-
tionable evidence offered by their paid spies and
1nformers. He also touched upon the appraise-
ment Of the segars by these officials and reviewed
their past career, showing that their knowledge Of
tobacco was very limited. he paid a glowing
tribute to the testimony Of Abram Vincent, color
ed witness, whose truthful statements were worthy
Of great praise. ta@
The argument was one Of great ability, and Mr..
AKEIL handled his subjects without gloves show
ing, in the most forcible language, the dscrepan-
cies IN the statements Of the different witnesses,
and reviewing their past career and antecedents In
order to prove the inadmissibilty Of their evil
dence. His speech was two hours in length and :s
listened to with marked attention by the Court
and large audience
The case will be resumed to-day at 10 A. Ne.
when tho District Attorney will make his argu-
pasnt.