The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-31

PETERSBURG, May 81, 1871.
To the Editor Of the State Journal:
For several days perjury case has been
before the Mayor. One Junius Branch, a
bitter little rebel, in revenge. | suppose,
for one or two bouts he has had with the
law, charged Peter Miles, colored man,
with perjury in swearing that he was
twenty-one years of age.
The case assumed greater interest from
the fact that it was one of the first under
the new law, where the magistrate acts as
both indge and jury. The testimony was
very conflicting. The mother of Miles
who ought to know best-testifed posi-
lively that he was born on June LIST, 1849.
That ought to have settled the matter.
But the IadeT because two achte women
testified otherwise-goes off into rage
about the Mayor accepting the statement
of two ignorant negroes, who hardly know
what they are talking about" and "crime
being allowed to go UNPUBLISHED" Scar
pet-bag Mayors proposed increase Of
salary" and winds up by
"Let justice weep for her lost estate
and let virtue tremble for the evil which
threatens !" Poor Harry, he feels sick
over the late election. He ought to call in
"the DOCTOR"
How different the course pursued by the
more gentlsmanly Courier 10 this matter
That paper publishes the fair and dignifed
decision of Mayor Wood without note oil
comment, and leaves the public to draw
their own conclusion. And there is nc
doubt the general verdict is that the mayor
is right. He says in concluding his deci-
sion, after reviewing the evidence and the
law:
We find the act must have been committed
soHfuIy, Knowingly or corrupty. There must
have been an intent to commit perjury-s
willful design-to violate the law.
Peter Miles applies to his mother and uncle
to learn his age and is informed he is over 81.
We find Peter is young man of good char
acter, and those who know him say he would
not knowingly or wilfuly violate the law. His
mother may have deceived him, for has he not
the appearance of a man fully 22 years of age
must have the evidence that would convince
an impartial jury, beyond reasonable doubt Of
the guilt of the prisoner. l weigh the evi.
deuce- find room for doubt-the prisoner is
entitled to the benefit of that doubt-and be.
ieving Peter Miles did not wilfully or know.
ingly commit a perjury, discharge him.
Our city will be honored tomorrow by
two religious onventons--the Protestant
Episcopal Council, and the Baptist Gene
raj Association of Virginia. Both are
State conventions, and large number OF
delegates are expected. The well.known
hospitality of our city will be put severely
to the test, but We will prove ourselves
equal to the occasion. Delegates are
already arriving, and by tomorrow the
city will be full of ministers and other
good people.
Two full trains of cars, gotten up for
the occasion, have gone out to Poplar
Grove National Cemetery to-day, bearing
crowds of people with flowers for deco
rating the graves. A large number will
go out by private conveyance. So the oc-
casion promises to be an important one,
and does we'll for beginning.
The vote on the subscription to the Pc
tersburg and North Carolina railroad was
very light, as large number understood
that no vote would be taken on that mat
ter. The vote against subscription was
1,450; for subscription, 1903; majority
against subscription, 1912; total vote,
1858.
There is great dissatisfaction among the
more intelligent Republicans ia the country
with the modern plan Of "mixed tickets
in the county and township elections. 1t
is observed that the Democrats are very
fond Of mixed tickets where the Republic
cans have the majority, but wherever the
Democrats are in the majority it is not SO
convenient for them to put Republicans on
their tickets. The whole system is bad
in principle and worse in policy. By the
mixed system of candidates we compro-
mise with bad principles and demoralizs
our forces. Let us keep the column
straight, my comrades, in these little
skirmishes, and we can be better prepared
to fight when the great battles come.
OCCASIONALLY.