Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-12-17
PEN, INK AND SCISSORS.

Gen. Beauregard has been appointed
adjutant general of Louisiana BY Gov,
Nichols.
An official statement submitted to the
Virginia Legislature shows that the total
State debt proper is S29, 1897 1858, of which
So, 900, 900 is held in Virginia, S13, 900 600
in other States, and the remainder in Europe.
The New York Mail says: st is the
good fortune Of Virginia that she has Gov
ernor who has old fashioned notions about
the sacredness of the financial obligations of
the State, and about the wisdom of making
the greatest possible effort to discharge
those obligations"
Gov Hampton, of 8. c., who received
such serious injuries to one of his legs some
time ago by being thrown from a mule while
hunting, had the wounded limb amputated
on Tuesday below the knee. His system is
believed to be in such condition as to prom
Use hopeful results. The incident was not
unaccompauied by other encouraging cir,
cumstances. The Legislature on Tuesday
elected him to the United States Senate,
only two republicans voting against him.
LEGAL TEoHN1oAL1r1Es.-" enquirer
sends communication to the Martinsburg
Independent, attacking Judge Hoge about
debating to jury. Independent man shows
it to Judge Hoge, and as a result. of the in
terview, the Judge says:
II have DO fault to find with your corres-
pendent. The fact is, under our law, .
judge has no power to direct what verdic.
jury should render, as in England and many
of the States But he is, nevertheless, hu.
man, aud when he fnds that technical ver-
dict will be supremely severe, and opposed
to every suggestion of mercy aud humanity,
what is he to do2 Wait-and set it aside
whom it comes in2 IF sustained by the ev-
idence he has no authority to do that In
this case the woman stole two hat-irons and
some other trumpery, and to do SO she raised
q window of kitchen in the night time
This was burglary, the lowest punishment of
which offense is five years in the penitentiary.
Now, here was a poor, Ignorant, negro wo>
man, with an infant child in her arms, tried
before me for this offense. 1 felt that it
would be a reflection upon the administration
of criminal justice in West Virginia if
should be compelled to sentence her to the
penitentiary, child and all, for it was too
young to be separated from her, and there is
no asylum to send it to. l certainly did adj
wise the prosecuting attorney to demand a
conviction for petty larceny only, and, more
over, advised the counsel for the defense,
Mr. Henshaw, to call the jailor, Mr.. Show
ers, to testify as to her capacity to form an
intent to commit the crime with which she
was charged. 1t may not have been strictly
right, but" added the judge, with q smile,
81 am sure the Recording Angel has not
charged this act against me, and if he hasn't
Inquirer may rest content"
COUNTY 1TEMs.-From the Shepherds
town Register we copy the following items {:
Tho Potomac has been on rise, and the
crbbing at Dam, No. 4, washed out on
Wednesday.
Mr. Thomas Turner, near Kearneysville,
sold 70 acres of land, unimproved, to Mr..
George Toms, for $50 per acre.
The Fourth Quarterly Meeting for Shep>
herds.own Circuit, NJ E. Church South, will
be held in Shepherdstown, Saturday and
Sunday, Dec. 2lst 22d.
A revival of religion has been in progress
in the NJ. f. Church, Rev. d. G. Miller.
pastor, in this place, during the past week.
Several persons have been converted.
Brown Gardner, son of John W. Gardner,
of the Halltown vicinity, in climbing a fence,
one day last week, slipped and fell receiving
a severe cut on his head from axe which
he carrying. DR.. Starry, of Charles
town, dressed the wound.
A flock of sheep belonging to John Hess,
Esq, was visited by dogs, on Wednesday
mig ht of last week, and seventeen out OF
twenty three crippled or hurt. some of them
so badly that they have since died. Jos. L..
Eiohelberger, Hezekiah Colbert and VIM
Colbert have each lost several sheep in the
same way, Mr.. Eichelbergers flock having
been maid second visit