The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-09-17
Conservative Meeting I'm Clarke Cour.
ty--the Feeling among the People
Criminal Matter, "A Lively Prisoner.
correspondence OF TIC R1CIIH0Hu IIiSlmtch.J
BERRYylIIE Va SputrInbpr II 1879

| correspondence OIL Tic RlC1inOnd DISPATCH
BERRYvlLLE, VA, September IL, 1872.
There was a meeting of the Conservative
voters of Clarke county, at this place, or
| Monday the 9Th instant. The meeting was
organized by the election of Major U. L.
Boycc as Chairman, and the appointment 81
Carter NJ. Louthan, Secretary. An address
was expected from General Hunton, the
| nominee for Congress of the district OF
which Clarke forms part, but, much to the
| disappointment of many assembled to heal
| him, he was unable TO Dc present OIL account
Of pressing engagements of Il professional
| nature.
General Williams. of Frederick county,
| the Presidential elector for this district, WAS
| present. Mt the meeting, and in a speech re.
plete with argument advocated the claims OF
Horace Greeley in opposition to those OF
General Grant. His speech was well re-
| ceived by the large and intelligent audience,
and whilst there was nothing Of the enthG.
| Siasm which characterized political meetings
| in this county before the war, yet there was
| enough to show that the people are gravely
bordering the importance and vitality of the
issues that are pressed upon them by the
wild license of the present despotism.
The truth is that many of our citizens,
| whilst they are firmly resolved to vote for
Horace Greeley. have not the eXultant feel.
ings of those who compose a triumphal pro-
cession, but have rather the feelings of sober
ness and solcmnity which mark the de.
meanor of men when drawn up in line OF
battle, momcntarily expecting its shock to
burst upon them. They also have much of
the same feeling that charactcriZes soldiers in
their first general cngagcment-a feeling not
SO much of confidence in the skill OF their
general as in the stern resol"cs that animate
themselves.
There are still few who cannot forget the
past record of Horace Greeley, and who seem
TO forget that like Paul, journeying to Da.
maSclI>, breathing out thrcatcningS and
slaughtrrS. great light has suddenly burst
upon him. and lie now stands forth the chici
apostle of that blessed spirit of Cancellation
which l.. to a>sllagc the bitterness of those
sectional animcsitles that have so long cursed
our land.
The monthly tenn of our County Court
commenced its session on Monday last. BY
arrangement this is Il term devoted to tie
trial of chancery causes. of course not shut
tin" out the trial of criminal cases. John i.
CornweIl, indicted for al assault, with intent
to disable, intlict bodily injury, &C., upon
Mrs. {. S. Brown, has been tried at this
term. found guilty, ami had his punishment
affixed 10y the jury at twelve months i'll the
county Jail.
Shortly after the announcement of the ver-
dict by the jury, and whilst the attention o!
the sheriff WAS monlcntlrity directed to an
other part Of the courtroom, the prisoner,
Cornwell, jumped over the railing of the
bar and attempted 10 make his escape. lie
succeeded in getting outside of the court
house, but stumbled and fell at the foot of
the steps, when he was seized by the sheriff
| and returned to the courtroom. 1t was quite
| dark, and had il not been for the stumbling
at the steps the prisoner would doubtless
soon have been "where the woodbne twi-
Meth" leaving the court, jury, members OF
the bar, and officers OF the court to lament
the sudden and uncercmoniouS departure OF
| gentleman who had aSSiduouSy cultivated
their acquaintance III trial of two days.
NJ