The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-19

chiefly in Montgomery and Marion.
4 change in The constitution, the election
Of members, and III extension of the bounds
OF the Convocation. occupied the remainder
Of the morning, when recess was taken
until 33 O'Clock.
The Coyocation reassemblcd at the ap-
pointed hour, when The Rev. Peter TinS!ey
and Colonel George Z. Tayloe, OF Roanoke,
appeared and took their seats.
1t was determined that the next meeting
be held in Salem on the fourth Wednesday
in April, 1870, and after some other unim-
portunt business, the ConvOcation djourn-
ed.-Lynch5wg Ncers.
SCENE ~ THE CouRT-RooM.-On Thurs
day evening last, M episode occurred il the
courthouse which was not on the regular
docket 1t was so unusual III its character
that it needs 4 little more than 4 passing
notice. The facts of the case are as follows ::
1t seems that Nr. John l.. Sncdegfr, who
was the foreman OF the grand jury, came III
court from the jury-room and rropouudcd
Il question TO the court rs TO the limitation
when all Indictment for perjury could be
made The court stated that the time was
three wears from the period ut which the
oath should have been improperly taken,
and not from the time the act was commit
ted. Colonel Joel Mcpherson, who was
present 1T the time. then got up and said
that he was aware or believed Tor words 10
that cliecO that III effort was being made to
Hdict him, and that the jury had been
packed for that purpose.
The Judge commanded him to sit down,
and lined him twenty-five dollars for con-
tempt Of court. The Colonel then passed
around TO the Judges seat. Some words
then passed between them, when he COM
menccd al assault upon the Judge. IL the
contest the Judge drew his pistol, which
was caught and held by DR.. ;. Austin. The
result Of the matter WAS That the Judge re-
ceivcd several scratches in the face, and his
head was forced through the window. As a
matter Of course, the affair created no little
excitement and much comment. After
wards, upon warrant issued by Justice
G.. 4. SpCrry, Colonel Mcpherson was al
rested and brought before him for commit
ting Il breach Of the peace. lie was commit
ted 10 Jail Yesterday morning he was re-
leased upon bail. lie was afterwards re-
arrested and placed in jail by order OF court
for contempt. The Colonel WAS released
This morning.
we have thus briefly given the substance
Of The matter rs We heard Il. we were
not present, and oAly write from hearsay.
We deeply regret lis COMMUNICATIONS
bricr (NeSt Va independent.
We are informed that on Saturday morn
ing Colonel MCPHEESO% was brought be-
fore Judge HARRISON, who, after invcs1l-
eating the indictment against him Tor per-
Jury. promptly quashcd it, and Immediately
afterwards RENTED the line for contempt
Of court. This act, we understand, very
much Modified public feeling, and gained
friends for Judge HARRISON, who took occa-
sion, when announcing his decision. TO say
few words to Colonel MCPHERsoN in de-
prccation Of the manner of the punching
Given him. lie would not have minded a
manly knock-down, he said, but he objected
to being scratched and the insertion Of
FINGERS in his eyes after the manner OF II
womanly assault. This Colonel MCiHERsoS
lid not seem to mind Il great deal. lie
stood not upon the order of his attack. The
matter was thus disposed Of in sort OF
Pickwickian sense. ROBINSON was inaugu-
rated as sheriff, and Colonel MCpTERsoN, it
was understood, would be put in the office
Of clerk Of the circuit court, to which he
too had been elected by the people. 1t
will be remembered that after his cleo
ton CALDWELL, the president OF the
Board of Registration, scratched his name
from the registry as not entitled to
vote, and as under the laws Of West Nlr-
yina a man entitled TO vote is eligible to
office. il was inferred that man not entitled
TO vote was not eligible TO office. Judge
HARRISON therefore proclaimed him ineligl-
bic, and appointed another man i'll his place.
The same course was pursued towards the
sheriff and two other officers, each Of whom
was entitled to vote Us clearly as any man in
West Virginia. The Supreme Court OF
West Virginia decided that the four officers
were properly elected and entitled to the
Offices TO which they were elected. This
decision Judge HARRISON treated with con-
tempt, directing the men appointed by him.
self to continue to hold their offices and dis
charge their duties.
The attempt to convict MCPHERSON Of
perjury was evidently prompted by fear
that the course pursued required bol>terlnS.
If Mcpherson could by packed jury be
convicted Of perjury, it was thought that
would settle the question and restrain any
further action by The supreme Court, ut
least in his case. Similar steps, it was sup
posed, were designed to be pursued with
reference to the other officers.
The people met on court-day With the
conviction that the court was not legal, and
that its acts would be liable to be set aside.
There was great deal of disorder and eX-
element, and contempt of court was na-
tlral cbulition Of the circumstances and
feelings OF the dag. From the instalmcnt of
the legally elected sheriff and the course OF
Judge HARRISON towards Colonel MoSHER-
son on Saturday, it was inferred that he
mad determined to abandon the ground that
had been taken, install the really=elcctcd
officers, and pursue more liberal course.
indeed. he is believed TO have abandoned
thc ultraism of the elder CALDWELL and the
proscriptiye Radicals of his circuit, ana to
have indicated his inclination towards the
GRANT platform Of universal amnesty ana
abolition of all tests. The next election IN
West Virginia viii give grand triumph 10
the liberal party.
RICHMOND AND TIE SOUTnWEsT.-ihe eol-
tor of the Christiansburg Sentinel has re-
Gently visited Richmond. lie appeals TO the
merchants nj the southwest to buy Their