Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-27

~ 49,
was IN the city at that time, but the stir
ring events OF the intervening years. with
their cares and their troubles, have c1aced
from the tablets OF memory many OF the In
cldents connected with this lameDtable oc-
curreoce. Two Incidents. however, are so
deeply impressed In my mind that neither
time nor circumstance can make me forset
them. They are in the main a. vivid to-day
as though they took place only last week,
though some OF the minor points have
passed from me.
was at that time one OF the deputies
under Mr.. II. X. Ellyson. Sheriff OF the city,
and was sitting IN the oficewhen the rioters
gathered. | shortly left and passed down
Thirteenth street to its intersection with
Cary, where I first saw the surging, mad
ceued crowd OF men. women, and children.
Like wild animals who have been made
frantic by the taste Of blood, this mob, 10y
sacking the stores In the lower portion OF
the city, were rendered moro furious as
new avenues Of plllsge were opened up to
TO them. With axe or sledge-hammer some
would break down the stoutest doors, while
others rushed In and threw out the contents,
no matter OF what description, TO the strug-
Cling mass IN the street. Such articles as
those who were nearest needed wers caught
aud carried away. but much valuable mer-
chandise was thrown down and trampled
under foot,
While ! stood gazing In awe and wonder
al such an exhibition OF mightv passion,
some one In authority, either Confederate or
municipal, but II vast think, Joseph Mayo,
then Mayor, placing himself above the heads
OF the crowd, attempted to address them;
but be bad - well have tried 10 stop the course
OF the destructive cyclone with q cypress
shinfle.
The wild wells, borrid oaths. and deep inn
precstions OF the heaying, maddened crowd
drowned every other voice, and no attention
whatever was paid TO the speaker even by
those who were nearest to him. After sack
ing every storeh0use In that vicinity the
mob passed on and | returned to my Office,
wondering what would BE- the end OF 1t all.
It was, II | remember Alright, shortly after
they had left this corner that a squad OF
police or a company OF soldiers, / don't now
know which, made number OF arrests from
amongst those who had participated in the
riot.
Those arrested were all tried before the
Hon. John A. Meredith. judge OF the Chr.
cult Court, as pure and upright a man
o. ever wore the judicial ermine. THIS
court was then held in the building which
stood lust inside the Capitol Square at the
head OF Franklin street, and which. With all
Of its valuable papers, was swept away 10
The flames that destroyed so much OF our
beautiful city a few months later.
Acting az court officer at the time | was
necessarily present at the trials OF all those
arrested. Amongst them was one who, by
reason Of heI youth, most deeply interested
all who were present during the trial. she
seemed not moro than twenty years OF age.
with dark hair and eyes, tall, and slender. She
49, ran.atfa al fahrinE a 4
that time. rather well and neatly dressed, aud
wa. attended during the slttngs OF the
court in her case by her mother and other
female attendants. She bad able counsel and
her trial occupied portions Of two DAYS. She
had 80 won upon the sympsthies OF the OIL
GERS and spectators by her youth and bear
Ing thst when the foreman Of the jury after
their return into court VAS asked by Mr..
BENJAMIN Pollard, the clerk, for their YER
dict, all ewes were turned in expectancy to-
wards him. lie responded "Guilty." and
as his voice died away piercing
shrieks were heard from the direction
where the young lady stood. Upon
turning my eyes quickly towards them
| saw the mother strike a via from the
hssd OF her daughter. II seemed that, Tear
ing such verdict, the young lady had se.
GREETED a yial OF poison Ia her bosom, and,
WIN nVI ueuu ltstihH tISb " ""NH -
word WAS pronounced, passed il quickly to
her lips. But the wstchiul, loving eyes OF
her mother saw the act in time 10 dash the
poison from her baud before she had swat
lowed enough to hurther Not knowing how
much she had taken, and tearing the worst,
the Judge Immediately directed ne to get
A physician. / ran out, and soon fading one
brought him 10. With his stomach-pump he
soon relieved the young lady, despite her
heroic attempts to prevent the introduction
OF the tube into her throat.
She was soon sufficiently restored to hear
the sentence OF the court. which was one
days confinement 10 the Jail, the least pun
lshuent for such an offence. AT the susges-
ton OF the Judge, whose symp,thies had
been deeply aroused on her behalf. she was
TO be kept in jail long enough to register
her name, when. II no objection was made
on the part OF the isiler, the law would be
satisfied. He was willing aud the lady did
not remove her veil or take a seat inside the
hniIdinr. WIN. H., pLEAsANTs.