Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-28
THE NEWS or MANCHEsrER.
Mary hanks Found NOT Guilty OF Ar.
sop-yessvymen Elected. &c.

Mary hanks Found Not Guilty OF Ar
son-vessrymen Elected. &c.
The Hastings Court was engaged du'
ring the greater part of its session yes
terdsy trying the case Of Mary Banks
(colored), indicted by the grand jury foI
setting fire to the dwelling-house Of DR..
Edgar Archer on the night Of January
23d last.
The residence is situated on Seventh
street between Hull and Bsinbridge,
and when the Doctor went TO the front
door to answer . call on the night
above mentioned he smelt smoke, and,
hurrying to the back porch, found the
back -parlor window and blinds satu'
rated with oil and in light blaze. The
discovery was fortunate one, for had
he not made it when he did and applied
water so soon a serious confagration
might have been the consequence.
The accused, who is about twenty
years old, was then in the employ OF
DR.. Archer as cook, and circumstances
seemed to point so strongly to her that
she was arrested. A preliminary ex'
animation was held, and the accused
was sent on to the grand jury, by which
she was indicted Monday the 10th in
slant. The accused not having secured
counsel, the Court assigned Judge John
II. Ingram to defend her. The follow
ing jury tried the case : Lewis p. Jones,
Charles P. Walthall, Frank DuVal,
Alfred Gibbs, William II. Hughes, n.
Z. Johnson, James Ii. Cunningham,
Charles w. Harris, J. II. Blackwell, j.
B. johnson, Simuel Logan, and Sidney
Hilton. The four frst-named are
white the others are colored.
Mr.. Willie Bradshaw, DR.. Archer,
Miss Archer, Policeman Smith, Chief
of.Police Lipscom6, two colored wo-
men-Chsrlotte Alfriend and Maria
Fourtain-and two other witnesses
for the Commonwealth were examined,
after which Commonwealth 's-A ttorney
Page said that the evidence was not
sufficient to warrant verdict of guilty,
and asked the jury to acquit the pri-
soner whereupon she was discharged.
Judge Ingram had number of wit
resses for the defence, but it was un-
necessary to introduce them.
The following gentlemen have been
elected yestrymen Of the Meade Memo
rial Episcopal church for the ensuing
year Major John b. Vaughan, Judge
S. Bassett French, DR.. S. L. Ingram,
and Messrs. Newcomb and Herring.
The new yestry will meet Friday after
noon for the purpose of organizing.
The City School Board met yester-
day evening in regular monthly ses-
sion. Only routine business was dis
posed Of.
Judge French, while on the bench
yesterday, made request that all Of
the liquor-dealers here will appear be-
fore him at 10 A. NJ. to-day. He pro-
poses to give them some advice which
be thinks will be beneficial alike to
them and the citizens in general; also,
to decide at what time to grant licenses.
The game of ball at the Manchester
Park between the Manchesters and
Fultons, which was the opening one of
the season, resulted in victory for
the former by the score Of s to 4.
There were several hundred persons,
including the members Of a brass band,
in attendance, and the contest was a
spirited and interesting one.
Rev. Mr.. Walker, Of Maryland, ar
rived in the city yesterday, and is the
guest of his son-in-law, j. j. Blanton.
Councilman b. +. Pilson has re-
turned from New York.