Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-26
Virginf8 News.

Virginia News.
In its description ct the storm 10 Richmond, |
last SUNDAY, the Dispatch says: "At the Pine
Street Baptist church the wind storm that
passed over the city about II o'clock struck
this church 10 the midst of the morning sermon, |
and 80 much alarmed the congregation that
they commenced going out, aud the pastor was
obliged to stop and dismiss them all. No dam
age, however, was done to the house, and the
breaking up of the congregation was needless.
The pastor had TO content himself with not dc
liyeriug the last part of his sermon. At the
Grace Street Baptist church during the morn
Ing service the storm struck this church, max
ing it so dark that it was necessary to open the
blinds. The attention of the audience was dl:
verted BY the storm, and the pastor stopped
his sermon aud led the congregation in singing,
Jesus, Refuge of My Soul" Only one or two
went out of the church till the service was
over"
Upon searching the baggage of the robbers
arrested in Petersburg, last Saturday. bonds to
the value Of $3.50 600, stolen from Mr.. Young
in New York, and S5l, 900 10 U. S. securities.
stolen from the Courtlandt National Bank OF
New York, were discovered. The robbers are
90 organized gang. aud had met, after months
of separation, to divide their spois.
Yesterday Charles Glasa. negro boy, was
seriously wounded at the half way station on
the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, by a
bombshell. He picked up the shell, not know.
ing what it was and put it on the fire. Ii ex-
ploded, putting out both his eyes, and ipjullng
him seriously about the body.
A negro woman named Margaret Wilson
was burning brush in field near Manassas,
Saturday, when her clothing caught fire. and
she was burned to death. Her husband was
near by when the accident occurred, but when
he got to her it was too late. The body was
baked to crisp.
The cold snap of Sunday night killed all the
advanced strawberries, pears, peaches and ten
der vegetables and played havoc with the Nor
folk truckers. The green peas escaped but
great apprehension is felt that the frost has de-.
stroyed everything 10 the tender vegetable aud
fruit line.
The residence of B. F. Gresham, near Sum
NIT Station, York River Railroad, was destroy.
cd by fire last Sunday. The flames made such
rapid progress that the Inmates barely escaped
with their lives.
The Mofett register has been adopted by the
Louisiana Legislature, and the contract tor sup
plying the required Eumber of machines has
been awarded to Johnson 4 Co., of Culpcpcr.
Stafford county is to be represented at the
Paris Exposition by specimen of her timber,
sent by Woody d Son.
A BROKEN WILL.-The Richmond CORES
pondent Of the Cincinnati Enquirer says A
will case was decided Saturday evening iu the
Hastings Court Of Manchester, Va, Judge
Clopton presiding, which has created much
sensation there for some months past. All of
the parties were negroes. ln 1854 Fanny
Anderson, young and beautiful quadroon who
bad been set free by her master, purchased JOS
Carter. mulatto slave, and lived with him as
her husband up to the time of her death, last
March, Her master % emancipatlng the girl
left her with considerable means, and she and
Joe lived 10 case. They were married, accord
ing to the ceremony, in vogue among colored
people at that day, and were always known as
man and wife. The evidence before tho court
proved that they had occasional quarrels, and in
1872 she brought suit for divorce. but after ward
| abandoned it. When she died she left will,
in which she bequesthed small portion
of her estate to her husband, but the
bulk of 1t to four other relatives. The
will was admitted to probate in the chan
Gerry side of the Hastings Court, when Joseph
Carter objected and moved, through his counsel,
that the will b. not accepted. The case was
tried at the January term Of the court, when
there was hung jury, the point at issue being
whether Joseph Garter was her husband; that
is, whether the marriage ceremony used by me-
groes during slave times would hold good now.
After the jury had been out Saturday evening
fifteen minutes they returned with o verdict for
Carter, deciding that Fanny Anderson had no
right to make will, as she was his wife. and, as
such, had no separate estate. The lucky hus-
band WAS highly elated at tho result of the trial
as he now comes in possession Of a handsome
richest negro in Manchester, and lives as gen.
tleman Of leisure.
A CHURCH SENsATIoN.-Au extraordinary
senne was Witnessed On Sunday last at the