Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-23
COUPON LITIGATION.
sepAHATE JueIes AND ALL THE YER
Diets AGAINST The STATE.
e,.ptd Dispatch Of Business--An Aged
Lady Dead-Cutting Afra, "A Boston
syndicate Mt Biackstone.
uorresponosnce OF the Richmond Di.pstca.l

PrrrRspuRo, Va, December %. 1890.
The Circuit Court has been engaged all
6ay in the trial OF coupon cases, of which
there are about eighty on the docket, and
IN very few Of which there is any conten-
.ion on the part of the Commonwealth. AT
The opening Of the court Judge W. ii.
Mann. the leading counsel for the State in
ali coupon legislation here, stated 'Aat he
had been instructed bv the Board Of Com
missioners of the Sinking Fund TO demand
separate Jury in each case. Coionel
Maury, of Richmond, represented the cou:
pop.payers, and asked OF the Court that all
due haste be made in the trial OF these
cases. in view of the fact That
after the 3lst Of December the doors
will be closed 30 all bonds deposited
with the BOndholders' Commtteefor fund
ing under the proposed arrangement Tor
the settlement of tho pubic debt except
A. a heavy discount. He expected 10 read
each day in the press the terms proposed
for the settlement of the State debt, and
in the interest of the holders OF the bonds
and Of the Commonwealth itself. he
would ask the Court 10 hear the cases
ON It's docket as rapidly as would DC
consonant with justice to either side. TO
this the Court agreed. Judge Hancock -
consulting the interests Of plaintiff and de-
PENDANT. and announced the Court as
ready 70 proceed with the docket IN regu-
lar order. The Sheriff was directed to
summon jurors, aud deputies were
sent out for this purpose. Though
in the midst of the busiest days OF the
Christmas. season, when merchants and
clerks are alike engaged waiting upon
eager purchasers. the summons Tor Jury
service was made with impartial hands,
and into and out of the courtroom there
poured living stream of men going IN to
serve and of those going ont who had
served. A large number of cases was dis
posed of, with verdict after verdict IN
quick succession against the State ana
the feeling was one Of disgust that the city
should be put TO such heavy expense Tor
separate juries, when in uncontested cases,
the cost could be made much less.
AN AGED LADY DEAD.
Mrs. John d. Matthews. aged eighty-two
years, died yesterday at the residence. OF
her son-in-law IN this city. She was for.
merly and for many years a resident OF
Prince George county, and was widely
known and greatly esteemed. Her funeral
took place this afternoon.
SEVERE CUTTING AFTRAY.
On Sunday nights difficulty occurred on
Carter street between Andrew Stewart and
BON Brown (colOred) about question OF
drinks. during which Stewart was severely
cut on tho right arm and badly beaten.
The injured man had on an oyercoat at the
time. the tail Of which was nearly cut of
by Browns knife Brown has not yet
been arrested. and. in consequence. the
case could not be heard IN the Mayors
Court this morning.
IHE BEST OF TIE THREE.
There is a report on the street to-day that
two young gentlemen went over the river
on Sunday to settle little trouble between
them arising out of "A difference of opinion
as TO which was the better of the two III
point of strength and athletic skill Re
port as 20 the result also has il that IN the
trial which ensued they encountered q
barbed-wire fence, which impartially IN
ficted such injuries upon both that tho
opinion was that the fence proved itself
the best in the contest.
IsPoRTAST BRIDGE COMPLETED.
Birchett's bridge over Nottoway river
between the counties Of Dinwiddle aud
brunswick, which was swept away by the
flood year OF so ago, has been completed,
and was on Saturday turned over TO and
accepted by the commissioners. On that
day the first teams passed over the bridge.
The structure is a long one and very i'm
pOrtant one. because Of the amount OF
travel along that road between the cOun-
ties 10 and from Petersburg. When the
contract was some time ago gwen out 10y
the commissioners of the two counties the
time allowed for its completion extended
far into the next year. The merchants
of Petersburg, however. reaii2ing the IN
portance of the bridge to the trade of the
city, raised $500 for the contractor "a IA
bonus for the early and prompt completion
of the bridge.
CHARTER GRANTED.
The Executive Board of the Virginia
Junior Order of United American Mocha
mics has granted charter for the organlZa-
ton at Newport News Of a ~cOuncll of the
order, to he known as Advance Council, No:
So II was granted upon the petition OF
twenty-eight members of that place.
THE BOOM AT BLACKSTONE.
II is learned that one half of the stock
OF the Blackstone Land and improvement
Company has recently been sold to a Bos-
ton syndicate, and il IS proposed at an
carly day. as soon as the present money
stringency is removed TO erect and ope-
rate among other industries large wool
len-mill, which will give employment to
$50 hands. The citizens OF Blackstone
have great hopes OF the early and RAPID de-
velopment of their town.
The indications are that the Christmas
season will be very enjoyable one in So
ciety circles. A number OF private parties
and germans are announced, and g grand
military ball will take place on December
3lst.
GENERAL NEws.
Five United States marines, said TO be
from the monitor feet below Richmond,
were taken through this city Sunday after
noon to Norfolk to stand trial by court
martial. They were handcuffed and under
guard.
The ladies of the Episcopal churches are
busily engaged tins week IN decorating
their churches for Christmas.
Judging from the number of planters
teams arriving in'the city to-day. the sales
of loose tobacco at the warehouses to-mor-
row Will be very large. and the probability
is that the breaks will hardly be finished
before night. if then.
The weather to-day has been lovely and
the temperature as mild as spring. The
streets have been crowded with shoppers
since early morning. ROBIN ADAIB.