The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-25

i PUNCH ETC. IL It!J 4tfGe%
The following communication from Col
onel3 George French Strother was sent to the
House OF the General Assembly Yesterday ::
|nn;. isnCuLPEpER, 'VAa.,, january 19, 1877.
g To the Governor and Gs1,erct assembly
+: tsof! 1irgi,tior: ,.i '!.%Tf !''d ''#f,2H
"Gentlemen,-Havin5g ascertainedi that
the General Assembly Is OF the opinion that
the public service IS suffering because Of my
absence from my official duties, caused by
my illness, and while myself feel and have
the assurance of my physicians that my re-.
storation to health Is almost absolutely GER
tain at no remote period, still, being unWill-
ibg that any damage or loss should result
to the State from any action on my part, /
hereby resign into your hands the Office OF
Superintendent of the sPenitentiary, with
which you have heretofore honored me, said
resignation to take effect from the 1st day
Of February, 1877. #,;j
every respectfully. 90
= ..-., ..tt. "GE0RGE F. STRoTHER.'
The caucus to nominate q Superintendent
will he held on Wednesday night next. 1t
now seems that the most prominent csndi-
dates are General r. Lindsay, Walker, OF
q delegate from; Caroline. ~
The Governor yesterday appointed Colo
mel John B. Cary, Charles Campbell, ESQ.,,
and DR.. C. Fl. Smith directors of the peni-
tentiary. The two first named arc meln-
bers of the present Board. '',' '.'.,......
THE PUBLIC WAREHOUSE.
The lease of Messrs. Archer &y Co. on the
Public Warehouse property, near the Pc
tersburg depot, will expire in November OF
this year, and the State is then to pay the
kho h11i. inn
thereon by, them, the same to be ascertaincd
BY arbitration. The matter has been under
discussion in the Senate for several days
with the view of agreeing upon o plan to
carry out the contract and to make the re-
uuired payment to the lessees, so that the
warehouse may either be released at auc-
tion to the highest bidder or con-
Quoted rs State public warehouse
for the inspection Of tobacco. This latter
plan is urged by Senator Hinton, Of Peters
burg, and by number OF Southside plant
ers, for whom ex-senator r. s. Ragland is
authorized to speak at the proper time.
These gentlemen will probably put their
proposition into definite shape before long.
There are others who will insist that the
property be leased to the highest bidder at
public auction for series OF years.
REVISION OF THE CRIMINAL LAWS.
The subcommittee having charge Of the
subject of criminal charges have deter
mined to recommend to the joint committee
the following rates for maintaining prisoners
in the jails OF the Commonwealth For as
many as two prisoners, fifty cents per day
for each; for as many as five, forty cents per
day for each for any number exceeding five,
thirty cents per day for each. From the
conversation of members it now seems
likely that the subject OF constabe's fees
will not be touched upon.
The sub Committee on Criminal Pro-
cedure seem disposed to recommend that
in prosecutions for embeZzlement the law
should be amended so as 10 provide that
indictments should not be drawn as for
larceny, but should state specifically the
charge and circumstances, so that the ac-
cused may be better informed as TO what
he must do to defend himself. ...
The sub committee having charge OF that
subject have agreed that 1t is inexpedient
to recommend that guards be sent out from
the penitentiary to the jails to bring con-
victed prisoners to the institution.
... THE wHIsKEY BILL. ,r.. r..
Governor Smith occupied the entire time
of the House Finance Committee yesterday
morning in discussing his whiskey bill. He.
will speak again at the next meeting OF the
committee. The committee will certainly
not report in favor OF the bill.
"The whiskey punch" still retains its