The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-12

JUSTICE JOHNS COURT.
Serious Charges OF Shooting and Highway
Robbery.

roof or the Sanctum yesterday seemed 10
indicate that Damp Fortuna frowned
upon the prospects OF some OF the vic
Tins.
The room contained three thermom-
eters, and yet the atmosphere was
close and oppressive. laden as it was with
the aroma of beer-foam, and now and
then bearing on its bosom little Varl-
egated English phraseoloSy.
His Honor famed himself vigorously,
but looked happy as a frolicsome lamb
in a green meadow His temporary di
vorce from his right hand man had
ceased to fill his heart with regret, and
he again resumed his usual good humor,
and smiled little sunny smile He is
merry monarch, and wears his robe OF
authority with as much serenity and
good humor as Charles the Second of old.
The first case was one which might
have terminated fatally for the victim.
had not the latter's head been well forti
fed by a thick scull. Robert Dennis
(colored) was charged with shooting with
a shot gun one James Carter. The latter
appeared at the sanctum with the back
of his head peppered with shot. The
trouble took place Saturday night on
Hill street and IL was a very close shave
for the unfortunate Carter. Dennis went
to the grand jury.
A very serious transaction In the shape
Of highway robbery took place in the
vicinity Of the Chemical works, on the
Richmond and Danville tracks about
1890 o'clock Saturday night. J. W. Rid
nell, white man who Is employed on
a dredge as fireman, left Pages bar-room
in Rockets, and started down the rail-
road track. Three negroes. one Of them
Plum Anthony, alias coleman, whom
M III 81 hp had
seen in the bar-room a short time before
overlook him. Ridnel did not recognize
the other two. but one Of them was mu-
latto negro while the other was tall
black negro, according to Ridnells state
ment When he had walked a short
distance, the negroes said they were hunt
ing for n certain dock, which Ridnell
agreed to show them. A few moments
afterwards. Coleman knocked the man
down, and. with the assistance of the
others, the white mans cries Of murder"
were smothered by the robbers putting
their hands over his mouth. They then
robbed Ridnell OF his purse, containing
s23. and some valuable papers, left him
lying on the railroad track. and escaped
in the darkness. Ridnell was only slight
ly hurt Coleman was the only one
of the robbers arrested. He was sent on
to the grand jury on the charge OF high
way robbery, and sent TO jail for six
months on the charge of being sus-
pici0us character.
The case OF Jessie Brown, the little white
boy charged with stealing a horse and
buggy from a negro named i. +. Turner,
was, OF course, dismissed, as Jessie was
probably the mot diminutive prisoner
that ever appeared at the sanctum. he
Is a delicate little boy, six years old, and
the matter of swearing out warrant
for such an offense against the little tot
was subject OF no little ridicule by
the people at the court. The evidence
was las everybody thought 1t would be-
that little Jessie was playing near where
the team was standing, and got into the
buggy. The horse walked on. ana car
ried the petite passenger TO Seventeenth
and Main streets, where the little fellow
left the team, being doubtless much graft
fled to get out of the buggy The Jus
tice remarked that he had seen some
youthful prisoners at the Shrine or
Equity, but Jessie was probably he
youngest of them all. With a 1oculhr
smile His Honor dismissed the case, and
looked as If he thought 1t was absurd
to bring such a matter before the court.
william Barnes (colored) was sent to
the grand jury for cutting and wound
ing with a knife Henrietta st. Clair The
woman was not dangerously hurt
The grand jury will also decide the
punishment due Charles Ross tcoioredD,
charged with carrying concealed wea-
pons. The accused was also sent 10 the
same dignifed body on the charge OF
stealing a martingale from John King
The case OF Elijah Stevens (color I'D,
charged with assaulting and striking John
Cooley with a stone, was continued till
he net 6fic1I1fU nlQrp
at Tenth and Clay streets about o'clock
Sunday morning, and Cooley was struck
on the head with a stone by the other
negro and so badly hurt that he could
not appear at the court yesterday 1t
was rumored that his injuries might
prove fatal.
The case OF Walter Williams (colored),
charged with cutting and wounding one
Willie West, was continued till the 10th
instant and the prisoner bailed in the
sum of $500 for his appearance. with Gaze
sar Williams as surety. West was cut
in the leg, and was unable to appear
at court.
JEFF Johnson (colored) paid $40 and
costs for beating Eliza Goode in the
street.
There was any number OF smaller cases
then disposed Of. Ii was probably the
biggest docket at the Shrine for the past
SIX months and good deal OF lucre
was taken in.
Just as the court adjourned, Jack Nc
Donough. who has been a familiar figure
In matters Bacchanalian for years, got
little disorderly in the. court room. and
the Justice threatened to send him 10
jail Some one pleaded for Jack, however,
on the ground that the man had helped
10 save man from drowning late
Saturday night. A man stated that while
John Crump, Monitor man, was in an
intoxicated condition at the time men
toned, he fell overheard. and would have
been drowned. but for the assistance of
Jack McDonough and Joe Edwards, who
saved the drowning man, and brought
him 10 himself after much effort. The
Justice accordingly let Jack 60 free for
his heroIsm. and said he ought to have
= medal.
II