Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-03-10
VALLEY ITEMS.

From our Valley exchanges we clip the
following items -
On Saturday week, in Winchester two
soldiers of Co. H., 21st Infantry, named Jas.
Wood and Peter Morrissey, were arrested up
on the charge of having attempted rape up
on q colored woman residing in Winchester,
as we'll as attempted burglary on the premis-
es of the same individual. Col. franklin
turned the men over to the civil authorities,
to answer these grave charges, and after an
examination they were committed to Jail to
await trial.
Parties are prospecting for coal near
New Market and are confident of success.
On Sunday twenty three persons were ad-
ded to the membership Of the Presbyterian
Church in Staunton.
An arrant scamp under the name of
Thompson has swinded several citizens of
Lexington to a considerable amount.
The horse thicfs, Russell and Smith,
whose exploits were noticed last week have
been tried in the Clarke Court, and SEN
fenced to fourteen years each in the Peni-
Tertiary.
An old negro in Rockbridge having in
his possession a considerable sum of money,
which he kept hid away, died suddenly few
days since leaving his disconsolate heirs to
discover its whereabouts.
A shaft has been sunk upon the land of
DIR. J. W. Stephenson, about five miles from
Berryvile, in Clarke county, opening lead
mine. The oxide has been found in large
quantities. This is the second in that coun-
ty, showing that Clarke is rich in valuable
minerals.
In the absence of Mr.. G. G. Francisco
and family, on Saturday last says the Staun-
ton Indicator, his nurse placed his infant
daughter in chair near the kitchen fire, ty>
ing the child in the chair to prevent its get
ting hurt. In some way the chair was turn
ed over, towards the fire, and when discover
ed the child was severely burned.
On the night of the Oath ult., three
men disguised and fully armed, entered the
house of Mr. Kenney Sillings near Parnassus,
and remained several hours during which
time they pillaged the house and took there
from $500 in specie, $50 in currency and a
lint-lock rife, an old family relic. Mr.. Sill
lings and his wife were alone in the house
and resistance was out of the question, espe-
cially as Mr.. Sillings is an old man and al
most helpless from rheumatism.
We have learned through the kindness
of Rev. Mr.. Richardson (whose communica,
ton want of space deters US from publishing,)
says the Lexington Gazette Dc Banner, the
full particulars of tie sad affair at Mr.. Thos.
Miller's about midway between Lexington
and Buchanan, on last Saturday night. 1t
seems that Mr.. Miller before retiring had
been looking over his old papers and dropped
some fire in amongst them, from which the
fire resulted. Not only was the dwelling de-
stroyed, but also all of the adjacent outbuild-
ings. A young man named Cade, of Bote-
tourt, had stopped there the evening before
in company with his sister and her two chill
dren While the fire was raging the young
man succeeded in making his escape from the
house, but not finding his sister he returned
in the house in quest of her, and was lost in
the attempt. The sister, however, had placed
her children upon the roof of porch under
her window, and then getting out herself
succeeded in saving both them and herself.
The young man persisted in the flames in his
noble attempt to save his sister and her chill
dren. A negro woman also was consumed in
the flames Mr. Niller's loss is about 81 800.