The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-06
prrspspURa, June s, 1868.

PETERSBURG, June 8, 1868.
,ovel and rather anomalous case was
- in the Mayors Court this morning,
'r,,;nb attracted number Of spectators to
'';t,,ass the result. II was no other than
NO trial Of the Mayor hinfself for breach
~ the peace, he being the complainant
ssa;nst himself, and the sole witness in the
latter Three magistrates (inyited by MIR.
Burgess) sat on the trial. 80,
Tie beriu at the beginning, the clrcum-
s.onces were these: Mr.. Burgess having
bsen informed that young gentleman by
the name of Phillips, salesman IN tn .le
clothing store Of Julius Scott, on sycamore
street, had in large company charged
him with perjury in taking the iron-ciad
oath. waited on Mr.. Philips, and inquired
of him if he had said so. On being an
swered in the; affirmative, MIR. burgess
asked him if he would repeat it. Philips
said yes whereupon Mr.. burgess STRUCK
him. and a scufle ensued; but the parties
were separated before any serious damage
wos done. This was late yesterday after
NON or rather evening"
when the magistrates, Messrs. kevan,
ror,;nc and Harvell, took their seats on
,he bench this morning, Mr.. Burgess handed
them the Mayors list of cases, wherein ne
hod entered the offence above described.
He thereupon testified against himself.
Wien asked if any witnesses had been
.s,,n,moned he replied no. Apoliceman was
then sent for Mr.. Phillips, but he could not
no fonnd. So on the Mayors own state
ment he was fined $40 and bound over in
500 to keep The peace for twelve months.
Mr.. B. appealed earnestly to the court to
relieye him from the necessity of giving
bonds, declaring he would never be guilty
ooa;n of any similar offence, no matter
what people might say Of him or write to
him. He said he was willing to pay fine
10 anv amount, even if it was five hundred
dollars. But the court insisted, and the
bonds were accordingly executed. Just as
the court was about to adjourn one or two
gentlemen entered the room, one Of whom
was magistrate, who stated that they had
seen Phillips, and. that he said the affair
was not ended. A summons was then
issued to Phillips, commanding his appear
ance before the court tomorrow morning.
1t is a matter Of regret that the chief
magistrate Of the city should thus have sui
fered himself to be thrown off his guard
under any provocation. We can well ina
cine that to sensitive man the charge was
sufficiently calling but to resent it In so
violent manner is not calculated to bring
any relief, rather the contrary. In the
course of this correspondence we have more
than once taken occasion to speak q good
word for Mr.. Burgess. He is an excellent
officer, and his decisions have been eminent
ly Just and impartial. Not forgetting the
manner of~his appointment, we have still
kind feeling for him, and trust he will eau
tiously abstain in the future from giving
occasion for unfriendly criticisms.
The fair for the benefit of Grace church
which has been progressing for more than
a week, was finally closed last night. The
proceed amount to rather more than a
3 thousand dollars, which the ladies have
richly earned by their perseverance and
DEVOTION