Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-12-03
Virginia NEWS.

the railroad track at tho Geenbrier White
SULPHUR Springs. Money was the object OF
the deed Bill Ross, colored, OF Salem, WAS
arrested IS the murderer. and has acknowl-.
edged the crime. The colorsd people talk OF
lynohing him.
The three gentlemen, Messrs. Wise Watts and
Ds Jarnett, heretofore announced az commission
ers on the part ofVirginia to settle the boundary
betwoeo this State and Maryland, are also
authorized to act in fixing the boundaries with
North Carolina and Tennessee.
10 tho u. 8. District Court, in Richmond,
on Thursday, the case of Peter Fegan, OF Al
exapdria whose distilery was seized for an
alleged violation Of the revenue law, was called
and continued. Mr.. S. +. Beach appeared TOR
the accused.
The Ri,hmoud Wing notices the receipt IN
Richmond of some excellent cheese, from Gar
oline county, made by an English gentleman
who has recently settled in that county, aud
has embarked extensively in the dairy busl'
ness.
The Express Office, at Culpeper Court
| House, was broken open 90 Tuesday nleht'
while the agent was absent and robbed or from
$3.50 10 5000.
Col. ". D. Washington, the painter Of Z, the
'Bura ef Lataine,'' and Professor OF FINE ie
Arts in the Virginia Military Institute, died
at Lexington, On Thursday night, of paralysis.
The board of pubic works have appointed
DR.. D. w. Lassiter, of Petersburg, and II: H.
Elvson, of Richmond, State directors OF the
| Richmond and Petersburg Railroad.
The full returns OF the oensus Of this State,
except Rockbrdge county, show tue present
population to be 1900, 7O6.
Raleigh n. Daniel is spoken OF in CONNECTION
| with tho Office of q. S. Senator.
THE JURY LAw.-Upon no question, at pre-
sent, are the people more at sea than IN regard
| to the fate of tho numerous jury bills which
| were before the Legislature at the last session.
We will endeavor, however, with the aid OF a
State Official, who speaks from the records, to
| set the matter right:
The grand jury bill which had passed both
| houses became law by being signed Dy the
Governor, November 5th
The general jury law was ,pccSeted ty the
Governor, and consequently did not become a
law. The reason of this was that five days oil
| the session did not remain after its passage
| This bill, which passed both houses, had Two
| important features: First, it gave the courts
| the right to try all cases, civil and CRIMINAL,
except felonies without jury, unless party
expressly demanded jury. Secondly, it abol
| ished the payment OF jurors; It directed that
| the Judge Commonwealth attorney and clerk
should select men for jury service.
The criminal Jury bill, which passed both
| houses was vetoed by the Governor and was
| not passed over his veto.
The Senate bill providing for the payment o!
Jurors passed the Senate but pot the House.
The Senate jury bill embracing the general
| features of both the general jury bill and The
Senate bill for the pay of jurors, passed The
| Senate only. :,
From the above it will be seen that the old
law in regard to petty jurors is still! IN force.
The new law in relation to grand lurles went
| into effect yesterday. -. :,
1t dispcnses with grand juries IN the Circuit
court. The county court desienates four OF its
terms for grand juries Tor general purposes, but
| the Judge may, 10 term time or vacation, order
| special iuries; for these last ten persons arc
! summoned and six may compose the jury
These special urics are designed mainly to
pass unon indictments, so as to obtain speedy
| trils, though there seems to be nothing IN the
| law 10 prevent these special juries from acting
on oil subjects within tho ordinary enquiries OF
these tribunals.
1t is not now necessary that Tie grand Juror
shall be frecholder.
In January of each year the county Judge
selects from twenty to ono hundred voters from
each township. and frotm his list the clerk, IN the
presence of the Commonwealth attorney,
draws the names of persons to serve on grand
| juriea. -Rtchn,ond Wing.
HISTORY OF WHITES BATTALIoN.-Tho
members of this command, as we'll as their
| friends end admirers; will be pleased to learn,
that carefully and accurately prepared his.
tory O. the part it played in the campaigns OF
the Army of Northern Virginia, during tho
late war, will soon be presented to the public.
The task Of preparing this history, was, by the
unanimous consent of the battalion, assigned
to Capt. Frank Myers, of Loudoun, who hav-
ing shared its fortunes, has with commendable
industry and rare ability for the first effort in
the historic line, sketched in easy. fluent and
attractive style, the scenes, adventures, hard
ships and daring exploits of the command and
its individual members. Having participated
in all the leading battles OF the army OF
Northern Virgnia-Watched on the outpost,
skirmished along the lines and secuted through
the enemys country-its history will give in
a convenient compass, all thc.tleadlng events
connected with the campaigns OF Lee and
y aChSUu, rs NoH bhClCuCo VI lhS A4ohJ
amusing, srduous and perious scenes which
fill up the history of the famous "Comanc y
the name borne by the battalion during the
| war. -LeesbVg Washangtonlan.
FRONT RoYAL.-A good deal has been writ
ten, much said, and more thought Of, within
the last few months, respecting the route OF
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad as. making
Front Royal point and from the display of
old carts, and the "breaking of the earth,' on
the Sth OF Sent, by Lieutenant Governor
Margc, on the Southern wing of tho town, in
the Brent lot, we might have supposed that
was to have been the line of their road but
alas, alas, much to the disappointment of
many, we learn the Spruce Hip route has
been adopted, and Front Royal has been las
far as that road is ooncerned) "lett out in the
cold. Fortunately, for US, however, the stem
Of the M. 6. Railroad is now so nearly com
~ - 1ril ba b,,t do haT, =