From the Richmond Dispatch, 7/27/1864, p.1, c 5

Mayor’s Court. – The following is a list of the cases before the Mayor yesterday:

John McCanley, charged with abusing, cursing, and attempting to assault with a brick Mary Ann Valentine, was committed for want of security to keep the peace.

Bridget Gaithers was charged with using abusive and threatening language towards Catherine Woods. Mrs. Woods alleged that the accused had been intensely vulgar and profane towards her, and so annoying was her conduct generally that living in the same neighborhood rendered life a burden. Per contra, a witness was introduced for the defense, who testified that the facts in the case were entirely the reverse; that it was Mrs. Woods who indulged in repeated tirades of abuse towards her neighbors, instead of any of them interrupting her. – Upon hearing the testimony, the Mayor dismissed the matter, and warned the parties to keep their difficulties to themselves here after, or he would hold the whole of them culpable and require security for their good behavior.

John Tate, a youth, was charged with stealing a diamond ring, valued at $1500, the property of Charles Brown. The grounds upon which Brown suspected Tate of the theft of his ring, were that while he was washing his face and hands at the “Excelsior Shaving Saloon” the accused came in, and after loitering about two of three minutes he took his departure. From a quarter to a half an hour afterwards Brown missed his ring, which he had removed from his finger previous to performing his ablutions, and as the accused and a man, whose name he had learnt was John R. Wormley, were the only persons who came in the barber shop while he was there, his suspicions were excited toward them. Wormley has also been arrested but was discharged before the matter was brought before the Mayor. Deeming the evidence insufficient to convict Tate of the robbery, His Honor discharged him.

Jim, slave of John Barr, was charged with stealing one looking glass, one bed comfort, four cups and saucers, and one blanket valued at $15, the property of Mary, slave of Mrs. F. McCarthy. It was proven in evidence that these parties had been living together for sometime back as man and wife, but that recently an irreconcilable difficulty had arisen between them, whereupon a separation ensued, and Jim, considering himself entitled to some of the property, carried off the articles in question. A witness was introduced who testified that Jim was a negro of good character and honest, while on the other hand, the complainant was a perfect ter***agant and not over scrupulous upon claiming property which did not belong to her. His Honor looked upon the matter as a family quarrel, and therefore dismissed the parties with an admonition.

Booker, slave of Tazewell Perkins, charged with having in his possession six bags of corn supposed to have been stolen and whose case has been continued from time to time for several days past, was again called up yesterday. Watchman Fabian Hicks, who made the arrest, stated that the reasons why he did so were these: While in the neighborhood of the Danville depot, on the day of the arrest, he saw the accused in a furniture wagon containing six bags of corn, and his suspicions being excited he determined to watch him. He traced him to the corner of the depot alley and 14th street, where he saw the negro drive up to William Ryan’s door, and taking the corn off the wagon start with it into his ****** - Just at that time he heard Mrs. Ryan, who was leaning out of her second story window, halloo to the negro not to carry the corn into the store, but to put it out at the door. To this Booker replied that she had bargained to buy the corn and he did not know why she was opposed to its being taken into her store. Upon this he took the accused into custody. For the defense a man named Conly appeared and stated that the corn was some he had bought from different parties on board of canal boats, and that he had authorized Booker to sell some of it for him. The matter was adjourned over till this morning.

Jasper, slave of Robert Saunders, arrested on Monday night with a lot of bacon in his possession, supposed to have been stolen, was committed to prison till such time as it can be ascertained whether the statement made by him in his defense is true or false.

Thomas, slave of Alfred Williamson, arrested in the house of Jane Robinson, a free negro, without proper pass, was ordered to be whipped.

This wound up the proceedings for the day.

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