The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-27
PETERSBURG.


,rrR.Ys--SARRow ESCAPE OF PHYsI-
c,y-ruJI. COURT poCKET---MURpER1 IN NOT
rnw.y COUNTY; AMAN Ett,I.s HIS FATHER.
,w-Tor,RSAMgS AND CoRoNATToS
n,IT-sxow.sr oRM--w At Z Knight SER
t,,nrrssnondencc OF the Richmond Dispasch.l
DECEMBER %. 1878.
With the execution OF the usual display
<>s fireworks and the blowing OF the inevi-
tahip tin-horns, Christmas-day passed OF
,,erv Quietly In Petersburg. The prepara-
t;ons for IFS observance were not on as large
. scale as in previous years, and the mer-
chants say their trade this season was light.
The Catholic and Episcopal churches
were very deliberately dressed with ever
greens and flowers in honor OF Inc great
festival. and the music was very iine. Large
CONGREGATIONS filed each OF the churches,
and :he services and sermons were appro-
priatc and impressive. The Methodist con-
crcga,ions OF the city united in worship at
the Washington-Strcet church. and the ser.
mon was preached by the presiding elder OF
the district, Rev. +. p. Wilson.
There were, OF course, the usual scenes
OF drunkenness and disorder on the streets
during the day and night, which seem in
senarable from the season. and several ac-
cidcntS occurred in consequence.
At an early hour OF the night difficulty
occurred at the foot OF High street between
Latham Stoner. white man, and William
Henry Carter (colored), in which the after
fored very badly. Carter was stabbed in
the lief, shoulder by Stoner, and struck on
the head with n onc-pound weight, and
his condition this morning is q serious one.
Stoncr was arrested. and this morning was
committed 10 Jail by the Mayor without bail
TO await the result OF the wounds.
At a late. hour OF the night difficulty
occurred at 4 clearinghouse on wilcox
street, which resulted in the probably fatal
shooting OF William Sheffield, but by whom
is not positively known. The ball entered
the right groin and lodged in the abdominal
cavity. The physicians consider II Danger
GUS 10 probe the wound, and cannot at TINS
time give decided opinion as to the result
or extent OF the injury. Upon the state
mcnt OF Sheffield, W. G. Staublcy was ar
rested is the man who fired the shot, but
when the case came before the Mayor this
morning statements were made by persons
present which indicated that the shot was
fired bv Charles w. Thomas (white), and
accordingly warrant was issued for his
arrest, and both Thomas and Staublev were
committed for examination. Sheffield's con-
dition is said 10 be dangerous. At the time
OF the shooting IN officer was attempting 10
remove ore OF the parties from the house to
stop the dist urbance that was in progress,
and il is thought by some that The shot was
aimed ut him. Ii is claimed by Dir. Staubley
and bis friends that he was not in the house
at the time the shot was tired, and that he is
entirely innocent OF the offence charged
against him, and will so prove at the eXami-
nation.
Dr.. +. Hines, q wcll-known physician OF
this city. while returning from Il visit to Il
sick family last night at 4 late hour, mar
rowly escaped losing his life by accident or
design. While coming down Washington
street 4 pistol was fired near him, the ball
from which just graZed his head and buried
itself in the fence. Dr.. Hines, believing
himself to be the victim OF a murderous
assault, drew his pistol and forced the
party who had fired to surrender 10
him. He proved to be Il negro, whom
the Doctor arrested, and started to carry
10 the station-house. The fellow beg
ged very hard for his liberty, declaring
the firing to have been accidental, and cX-
fact. Under this view OF the case the ne
gro was turned loose. The Doctors escape,
however, was 4 very narrow one.
The docket OF the Mayors Court this
morning was an unusually full one, caused
By too free indulgence in liquor on Christ
mas-dav. The police allowed q great mar
gin for enjoyment on ChriStmas-day, and
only took notice OF the more fragrant breaches
OF the peace, otherwise there is no tell.
ing the number of people who would have
been arragncd this morning for delinquency
Of some sort or another.
The congregation Of Wesley Methodist
Episcopal church will have Il pound-party
at their church next Monday evening for
the benefit OF the poor OF the congregation.
The Conservative judges OF. election at
WaveTly, in this city, who were indicted
10y the grand jury Of the United States
court in Richmond, appeared before Com
missioner Waterman to-day and gave bail in
the SUN OF 81 200 each for their appearance
at the February term Of the court.
Al Blacks and Whites citizen OF MOTTO
way, named Thomas, was arraigned before
Justice Burton on the charge OF shooting
and killing his father-in-law. Mr.. Malachi
Dupricst. The dead body Of Mr.. Dupriest
was found Tuesday night on the road be-
tween Blacks aud Whites and Nottoway
Courthouse, and suspicion was directed
against Thomas rs the party who had COM
mitted the deed. 1t Is alleged that 4 ieud
had long existed between the two men, u1C
that threats had been made by Thomas s.'
kill DupricSt. They were at Blacks and
Whites together on Tuesday, but it is not
known that they left together. Dupriest
was shot through the abdomen With
= shotgun, and from the nature
OF the wound his death must have resulted
soon after the shot. In the examination be-
fore the magistrate Thomas made no denial
OF the charge, but. on the contrary, admit
ted The killing. He was sent on for trial al
the January term Of the County Court.
Thomas is about twenty-five % tGirty years
OF age, and DuprieSt was about sixty years
old. Both have families.
A colored man employed as brakeman on
the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio railroad
fell from the train u short dislan e east Of
this city evening before last, and was run
over aud instantly killed.
4 tournament given under the auspices oil
Pierian CLUB took place at the Fair Grounds
to-day. The charge 10 the knights, OF whom
there was eleven, was delivered by w. r.
McKenny, Esq. \ large crowd OF ladies
and gentlemen was present to witness the
riding. The successful knights were
David Taylor, first; jeff. Davis Taylor, sec
ond; Beaure@ard taylor, third; G. n. Ro-
maine, Jr., fourth. A coronation bali aud
supper will be given ut Jarratt's Hotel to-
night. W. Gordon McCabe, Esq, is ex-
pected to deliver the coronation address.
Snow commenced falling this afternoon
about d o'clock, and at this writing (6t
o'clock) the flakes are descending very rap
idly, and the ground is covered an inch Or
more deep. .tr
During the last day or two the boys have
had fine enjoyment skating on the canaiand
adjacent ponds. The ice is between two
and tihrnn inchns think