Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-10
WORK OF THE COURTS.
A Busy Day In the City Criminal Court
A Big Batch of Prisoners Disposed
Rrucaedingg.


A Big Batch of Prisoners Disposed
of-Superior Court Proceedings.
A few DAYS ago the NEWS reported the
arrest of two negroes named Isaac Clay
and Dan Virgins, who were charged win
larceny and were committed for trial IN
the CITY Court. The case was called yes
terdav afternoon. The testimony showed
that CLAW and Virgins were employed on
the Ocean Steamship wharves in hand
ling freight. Clay was observed by one
Of the police to place a box that looked
as though it had been tempered with on
what was termed TIE "Mobile pile" lie
was promptly arrested, and, on being
searched, two imported telthats were iouud
concealed beneath the waistband OF his
Dants. The prisoner charged Virgins
with being an accOmplice and plead
guilty to the charge preferred against
him. Virgins on being tried was ac-
quilted and set at liberty, there being no
evidence TO connect him with Clay, who
was sentenced TO six months with labor
on the Changing.
On Feb. p Laura Grant, negro girl
about l. years old, stole an umbrella
from colOred woman named
Ida Harris. At her trial she
claimed that the umbrella was
loaned to her by the Harris wOman's
daughter and that for some days after
wards she was confined to her home by
sickness and was unable to return it.
The testimony on the part Of the state
proved that the daughter did not loan the
umbrella. and. furthermore, that the prlS-
oner took at the time some other personal
property belonging to the Harris woman,
which had not been charged against the
girl. The accused was found guilty and
sentenced to sin months impris 1nment.
About O'Clock in the morn
ing of Feb. % large-featured
and coal black negro named Alfred Moul-
trie was discovered by the negro watch
man at the wood yard of :. {. Stewart
attemptlng TO steal wood. When detected
he resisted the Waterman, who called his
two sons to assist him. The prisoner was
permitted 10 make his statement to the
court, and delivered a plausible story, In
tending TO show that the charge was 4
fabrication Invented by the Wat0hman
and his sons to cover the rascallty OF
somebody else. He was adiudged guilty.
however, OF simple larceny and sentenced
10 four months, with labor, on the chain
gang.
BEN Small and Grant Gibbs, both ne
groes. were found guilty of carrying con-
cealed weapons and sentenced to impris-
Onment, the latter for three months and
the former for thirty days, and b0.l to
labor on the chain-gang.
About the middle of February negro
named Charles Houston returned to his
wife and children from the chain-gang,
aud upuraided his wife for not coming to
see him while he was in the camp.
His better half replied that their
youngest child had been i'll and that she
had all she could DO TO provide for the
children and herself during his absence.
She also told him that as he was not IN
clined to do anything for her or the child
rem that either he or she would have to
vacate the premises, He reminded her
that he built the house and would remain.
She then proposed 10 quit a once, taking
the children with her, although it
was after midnight. Her husband
! then assured her that she was wei
come to go, but that she could
no. take the sick child out in the damp
I air, ana suggested that she had better
( wait at any rate until morning. ca ac-
count of threats which be had made
/ towards her, the woman alleged at the
! trial that she was afraid to remain in the
/ house. and when attempting to leave her
/ husband seized piece of green sapling
and heat her numerically. Her cries
I ami the screams of all the children,
I who by this time bad rushed
| out OF the house, were heard long
| distance in the country. One old
i negro man who lived half mile from the
/ IIoustOns, testified that he heard the licks
| Of the stick. Another negro stated that
| he did rot hear the ii1ke, hut that as soon
/ as he recognized the cries he knew 1t was
( q family quarrel, and hence did not at
I tempt to interfere. The accused was sem
/ fenced to pay fine Of SO and costs or 10
| he imprisoned three months.