The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-27
PETERSBURG.

TIE OBSERVANCE or CHRlSTMAS-A LIVELY
CrrE BRAT,oN-Tw0 PERSONS SHOT AND Sew
ERAI. 0TRERS ISJUREb--A CHECK on THE
RoYs-rAST0RAI. CALL-nEATH OF AN ESTI-
NARIE LADY--vERy SUDDEN DEATH--PAIS-
FIJI .CcIDENT--MR. L. L. ROBINSON DYING
THE CoLLECT0RSHIP, &C.
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispateh.l
DECEMBER &c, 1877.
Christmas day was observed with more
shirt than usual ia our city. Business was
generally suspended, but the streets were
lively from Christmas eve to midnight of
the following day. Many OF our citizens
kept open house for their friends and hos
pitably entertained all who called. On the
streets there was more than the usual
amount OF drunkenness, and n number OF
fights aud casualties occurred. Between II
and - O'Clock night before last party OF
colorcd men were fired into on Washington
street by unknown persons. One of them.
Douglass Hall by name, residing ut Chcs-
ter. was shot Through the leg, sustaining
painful wound. Another received 4 ball
through bis hat.
At later hour OF the night, on the same
street. Mr. Charles Thomas was shot in the
neck, Llt fortunately was not much in
jurcd. 4. J. Collier (white} has been ar
rested. charged with firing the shot, but the
evidence against him is very slight
Several fights occurred on Old street yes
tcrdav. which caused much excitement.
About III O'Clock n pSrtv OF drunken ne
orocS made All attack on Z colorcd man who
was quietly attending TO some business, and
handled HIM quite roughly. \ friend OF
the party attacked, named Nelson Dabney,
went to his assistance. and was struck on
the head with n SlunS-Shot and badly hurt.
The drunken fellows were subsequently ar
rested, and this morning were properly SEN
fenced n the Mayors Court.
In the afternoon another fight between
negroes occurred in the same vicinity, and
one was badly injured by blow from n
slung-shot in the hands Of another. The
assailant escaped over into Chesterfield
county and has not yet been arrested.
On the docket OF the Mayors Court this
morning there were thirty-onc cascs-al
the result Of too much Christmas drinking.
In consequence OF so much sickness about
the city the blowing OF horns and the dis
chargin" OF fireworks were checked as
much rs possible Yesterday on the streets.
Rev. Mr.. Kccple, OF Brandon parish,
Prince George county, has received an
unanimous call tosthe Church OF the Me-
diator, at Meridian, Miss. 1t is believed he
will accept it. Ii so, Southside Virginia
will lose one OF its most faithful and eff
ccnt PrcSbytcrS.
Mrs. Mary Caroline Banister died yester-
day morning. after protracted illness !;
aged siNtv-threc years. She was the widow
OF the late William c. Banister, who was
Killed in the memorable battle OF the 9th Of
June, 1864, during Kautz's raid on the city,
when 30 many OF our citizens fell. She was
Z lady OF most estimable character and uni
vcrsaliy beloved.
nS
wood, president OF the Council, died very
suddenly this morning about O'Clock !;
aged four years. She went to bed appa-
rcntly il perfect health. About the hour
above named her parents were awakened by
her screams and summoned physician to
attend her. but she died in few minutes.
Mr. Richard Baylor came near being
killed this morning by the explosion Of ma
chincry at the hacking establishment Of
Mc>-rS. y. y. Allen & Go. While attending
to the running Of the hackling-machine the
cylinder burst and the pieces flew off in
different directionS-some Of them up
through the roof O, the building. Mr..
Baylor was struck on the forehead and I'M
der the eye. :cceiving painful wounds.
MIR. r. Il. Robinson, who was shot on
Monday morning by the accidental dis
charge Of his pistol is reported to be rapid
ly sinking this afternoon. His physicians
think lie can live but few hours longer.
The ball entered the side and cut some OF
the vital organs. The event casts gloom
over the community, and is universally and
very sincerely regretted. MIR. Robinson is
about thirtv-two years or age, and has a
wife and three young children. Free
hearted and courteous and social, he is 4
favorite with all who know him. He will
probably have breathed his last before this
letter is III print.
At a meeting of Naomi Lodge, No. 80,
Knights OF Pythias, held last night, Mr.
Samuel Fl. Nueent was elected past chan
cellor, and William J. Traylor chancellor
comma lder.
1t is thought that Colonel Brady will not
resume his duties as collector OF internal
revenue for this district before the 1st of
January.
A very pleasant Christmas festival was
given yesterday afternoon ut Salem church,
in Chesterfield county, and Il large Christ
mas-trec was prepared for the occasion.
The Catholic and Episcopal churches Of
this city were elaborately dressed for Christ
mas-morc so than usual. ROBIN ADAIR.