, 1876-04-26
ANTIG A.
From the antigua Ttmet. J

From tie antigua IAmet')
The trial of Miss SARAH MERCER, late Post
mistress Of this island, charged with the grave
crime of embezzling certain public moneys re-
ceived for eight Post Office Money Orders,
of glO each issued by her on the 10th of August
1872, has been together with the anti-oonfede-
ration riots, aud agitation in b trbados, the
chief Causes of excitement here during his
week. The hearing Of this case occupied
three days, during which voluminous docu-
meptary evidence was produced and ex-
amined. Tho Jury retired at 8 P. m. yes
terday, and remained 10 their Chamber anti
noen of to-day, when they entered the Court
with a verdict of"Not Guilty" The excite
ment within and around the Court House
WAS excessive, and the popular mind seemed
greatly reioioed at the verdict. The youth,
sex, and demeanor Of the accused apparently
called into active exercise the sympathies of
The mai ity of those who listened, during
the trial, to the eloquent appeals OF her Coun-
sel-Messrs. WOodooek aud Martin, Mr..
Woodcock oross-examined the witnesses, and
MI. Martin 0. G. delivered q powerful address
to the jury 10 support of the innocence Of the
accused, The reply of the Attorney General
was a mixture of high-toued severity and com
passion for the unfortunate position Of a once
highly respected public officer. Every cir
cumstance, that tended TO oriminate, was
pressed to its legitimate Inference and no fur
Their His Honor the Chief Justice had evident
~ bestowed great palns, IN Informing HIM
self of the true nature OF the charges which
were laid in the indictment. That His Honor
had mastered the intricacies Of the case was
clearly apparent in bis address to the Jurors.
There beng two other indictments to be pre-
sented against Miss Sarah Mercer, bail was
accepted, and she left the Court, escorted, for
protection from the congratulations Of the
crowd, by bar Counsel, to the residence of
her friends in The nsighbourhood Of the Court
House.
The weather has been dry thus far in April
Sugar-making is now general, but we are sorry
to hear the yield of juice from the Canes
is small, taking sometimes more than an acre
of canes to make a hid. of Sugar. The den
sity of the juice is not however complained of.
The Sugar ships are dropping in those that
have been some time in port are slowly loud
ing. The Rainfall from list of april to date
0.32 inches.
La a short review Of the recent proceedings
of the Federal Council the Antigua " observer "
says on the subject of retrenchment -" AS We
long ago knew, it was not easy to effect imme-
date retrenchment, as veste ed rights, according
TO the doctrine which obtains in ofiCialdom,
could not we'll be interfered with. All that
sOuld BE- done was to make prospective provision
for curtailing some of the heavy expenses under
Federation, and accordingly whenever the Off
ceE Of Auditor General aud Colouial Secretary
become vacant, they are to be united in the
person of one eff ser the salary of the future
Attorney General is to be less by alOO than
that enjoyed by the present holder the %InspeO-
tor General of Police will not have a SUCCESSOR,
aud the future Inspector of Schools will receive
G300 instead Of $500 now paid AR. Marshal.
Three hundred pounds will progressively be
saved by the Encouragement of the Judges sala-
ries. On the other hand, the Imperial Govern