The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-12-30
VIRGINIA. NEWS.
letter 'froEa Petersburg.
Corrcsp ondcnee of the Richmond Dispatch.

Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
PETERspuRa, VA, December 20.
A petition put In circulation here to-day
requesting the Common Council not to make
any appointment Of public cotton-weigher
secured the names Of nearly all the promf-
nent cotton dealers of the city. The prcar,-
bic reci:es this reason only That tile petit
TONERS see no reason for such an officer. The
proposition is therefore likely to be defeated.
1t il said that not more than three cotton
buyers favor the appointment of a public
weiglcr; and the opponents Of the proposed
ordinance deny that the country people wish
it 20 he adopted. -.
The stables Of William Rufiin, near But
tcrworth's bridge, were destroyed last night
by an incendiary FIRE. Loss not aSccrtained.
There was no alarm Of fire sounded, and the
house burned down quietly without an en-
glue or fireman rallying to arrest the flames.
The escape of the negro David Saunders
alias Ham from the city jail yesterday was
very daring and difficult exploit. He was
sent for water, not to o pump outside the
Jail, rs stated, but to one within the Jail ELI
closure. Assisted by piece of old bed
stead and pile Of coal in the corner Of the
jail-yard, Ham scaled wall twenty-five feet
high, walked on glass and nails along the
wall in full sight Of the courthouse and
court green, jumped down. and disappeared.
The jaior was out in pursuit Of him yester-
day, and at one time captured him, but the
boy ran away, the pistol of the sheriff
snapped, and nothing further has been heard
of the pursuit. which is, however, mean
while holly urged.
a singular point Of law is involved in the
prosecution ofthis negro, who is charged with
breaking into the house Of one Mrs. Bridget
McDivitt. He has once been tried on that
charge aud acquitted, Meantime it was de
veloped that the only evidence adduced that
Mrs. McDiritt had ever been divorced from
her husband was her own statement, which
was insufficient. The negro was therefore
arrested on the charge of breaking into Mr..
McDivitt's house. If he can prove from the
record that the 3IcDivitts have been divorced
he is free man; otherwise he must undergo
another trial, with the chances against him.
From the LIST of September the beginning
Of the cotton year, up to date the receipts Of
cotton at this port have amounted to 1862
bales, against ~, 124 bales for the correspond
ing period Of last year. The stock OH hand
is 1910 bales; shipments, 210 bales. During
the current week receipts have been very
heavy, amounting to l,43l bales, against $40
for the same period last year.
The total receipts OF TOBACCO from october
1st Qhe beginning Of tie tobacco YEAR, till
the present time are 1925 hogshcads; total
inspections, 1,i77 hogshcads. Absolutely no.
thing Is doing in the tobacco business this
week; not n hogshead has been opened du-
ring the week.
There was meeting to-day Of the Board
OF Overseers Of the Poor, but nothing out
side the regular routine business was DONE
The late secretary of the Board, Major Clark,
is said to have carpet-bagged away from here
for parts unknown.
In fight here few days ago ono Of our
negro counciln>cn, John Chisscl, was severely
beaten by o white man, and begged like Il
dog during the performance.
It has been raining hero little to-day.
ROBIN ADAIS.