From the Richmond Dispatch, 7/26/1864, p.1, c 5
Mayor’s Court. – The following is a list of the cases before the Mayor on yesterday:
Caledonia King, a free negro, was charged with stealing one calico dress, valued at $50, the property of Jane Scott. Jane, who is also a free negro, washed her dress some time since and hung it out to dry, but before she went to take it in it was no where to be found. Suspecting that some person in the neighborhood had stolen it, she kept a close watch, and on Sunday morning found Caledonia wearing it. The accused was arraigned yesterday before His Honor, when she stated that she had purchased the articles in dispute at auction. She was thereupon discharged, and the dress was restored to its original owner.
George, slave of Wm Kennedy, and Anthony, slave of J L Turner, were charged with stealing a full suit of clothes from Hypajah Patterson, valued at $50. The evidence proved that in the absence of Patterson from the packet boat on which he is engaged, the accused walked on board, and bundling up his clothes took them off with them. They were each ordered to receive twenty-five stripes.
Booker, slave of Tazewell Perkins, was charged with having six bags of corn in his possession, supposed to have been stolen from the Confederate States. The witnesses not appearing, he was committed for a future hearing.
The following parties were committed until such time as their status can be ascertained. Jim Lewis, who says he is free, but arrested without any papers; and supposed to be a runaway, and James Tonget, who claims to be free, but was minus his credentials.