Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-01-11
Letter from King George County.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
SHILOH, Va, Ian. 5. 1S7S-The prevail
lag dulloess so much complained ef ID all the
com merciiss ceDtres 81 the country has not ex.
tended to the matrimonial market Of this county.
It seems rather 10 have stimulated our young
people to greater enterprise, for no less than
twenty-threc marriage licenses we're issued from
the County Clerks Office during the past
mouth. 10 one instance there were two gen
tIemen, each of whom held license to marry
the same lady. The contest being between a
young widower and an old bachelor, the lady
very wisely decided 10 favor OF the former,
leaving the old bachelor to shiver through
another wotcr Of single cussedness.
We have only four Moffett registers in opc.
ration in this county. During the month OF
November these four registered 1868 drinks.
about one half Of which arc credited to ComorD;
those at the Court House, White Hall aud
Greenlaw wharf sharing the remainder.
The new Lodge of Good Templars, organized
increasing iu mem bership and promises to be
The banner lodge of 1.-The Neck" Beginning
with about twenty, il now numbers 81 mem.
bers, with q prospect Of soon doubling that
number. Branch lodges at Falrview aud Shiloh
are talked Of.
The January term of our County Court closed
to day. Abednego Rollins, charged with the
murder Of Robert Washington. both coored,
was convicted and sentenced to ten years in the
peDitentary. The old case of the Common.
wealth against James f. Ovens for the alleged
murder of p. r. Bull, in October, 1876, was
tried for the fourth time, and the accused &C.
quilted. At the third trial last spring Owens
was fouud guilty Of mean slaughter and sen
fenced TO six months Imprisonment in the
county Jail. After serving about three months
of bis term, a new trial was granted by Judge
Barton, and the prisoner released on bail. In
all The proceedings Of these repeated aud pro-.
tracted trials the evidence against the accused
accumulaling from time to time. was almost
conclusive Of his guilt. and the mildness of the
first verdict. the grant Of new trial, and his
final acqdittal DOW secured are due to tie able
defence and interchangeable efforts, throughout,
of his faithful counsel, Messrs. R. Byrd Lewis,
Z. H. Ashton and Judge j. B. Jet.
". A. j. Potts, esq.,, qualified on Thursday
as Deputy Sheriff of this county. Popular and
accomplished, he will make an acceptable and
efficient officer.
Petitions numerously signed by the people
of this and neighboriDg counties will be sent
to the Legislature, asking the appointment of
Hon. John Critcher as Judge of the Tenth
Judicial Circuit.
The new stora house of Matthew Bruce, re.
Gently built at Comorn, 10 this county. together
with his entire stock OF goods. was destroyed
by fire on Thursday night last. Iucendisrism
is suspected. The building and stock were in
sured 10 the Commercial Insurance Company
OF Richmond for $1,000. Much sympathy is
for MIR. B., who is a most worthy
young man. just beginning business with
fair prospect of success. He was absent at the
time OF the fire, serviog as juror in the Ovens
Bull case.
Allow me, Mr.. Editor, 10 closing this, my
nrst letter OF the new year, to reciprocate, on
my part, the good wishes you have tondered
70 your readers. and to congratulate the dear
old Gazette upon its youthful freshness and
manly vigor maintained id its old are. No
journal in the whole country has more WARMLY
attached friends and will briefly relate an
Incident. coming under my own observation, to
attest this fact. During a recent visit to
Southern city called to spend few moments
IN friendly chat with an old acquaintance in
whose family had boarded when boy, and
where l first saw and read the Gazette Just
thirty years ago; and upon leaving drew from
my pocket late number of the paper, and |
handed it to him. He recognized it instantly |
and pressed it to his lips with the fervent greet
ing. my dear old friend" Long may it live |
TO please and profit. to comfnrt and ccouDsel, |
% interest and instruct its many readers B. Z