From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/17/1864, p.1, c. 6 and 7

Mayor’s Court. – the following business was transacted in this court yesterday morning:

Alice Hardgrove was charged by John L. Roane with throwing a two-pound weight at him on Monday last. – Roane testified that he had rented a house from the accused and had paid $110 for the fixtures therein. Some few things of his had already be deposited there. Alice had permission to remain in the upper part of the house till she could obtain another place. During her absence he (Roane) went to the house and found that what he had placed in it had been moved away. While he was standing outside, Alice came home and insisted on shutting the door upon him. He objected, whereupon she cursed him and then threw a two-pound weight at him, which struck his mouth and knocked out two teeth. She raised another weight, when he drew his revolver and threatened to shoot her if she threw it at him again. – Alice denied the accusations of Roane’ said that he come with a party of men, and brought with him a gallon of whiskey, upon which they all got drunk. She received from Roane $100 for a week’s board, and not knowing how to write, made her mark to a piece of writing, which she thought was a receipt for board, but which afterwards turned out to be a contract for the rent of the house. On the day of the difficulty, Roane was very abusive towards and kicked at her, which was the cause of her throwing the weight at him. She denied ever renting the house to Roane. – A witness, residing next door, stated that at the time of the disturbance he saw Roane pushing against Alice’s door, and she was trying to keep him out. He saw the weight thrown at Roane, and it knocked him down. – In order to procure other witnesses, the case was continued till this morning.

Jacob Hoeflich was charged with inhumanly and unlawfully beating a small negro boy living upon his premises, Officer Crone was dispatched to ascertain the condition of the beaten boy, and returned with the report that thought him in a dying condition. Hoeflich was thereupon remanded to prison to await the result of the matter.

Mary, slave of John Brock, was charged with entering the chamber of Henry Klein, at his residence on Twenty-third street, between Main and Franklin and stealing from his wardrobe a tin box containing upwards of ten thousand dollars in money, jewelry and State bonds. Sandy, slave of John Brock and Martha Sampson, a free negro, were charged with receiving the same knowing it to have been stolen. The testimony proved that Mary stole the box and contents and afterwards gave it to her brother Sandy; that Sandy, at first denied receiving it from his sister Mary, but afterwards acknowledged he had and then again denied it. Martha Sampson was designated by Mary when she was first suspected as the one who had *** stolen property; but subsequently Mary’s conscious (as she said) prompted her to tell the truth about the matter, and she confessed that Martha had nothing to do with it; that she had been put up to laying it on her by Sandy, her brother, and that he was the negro she gave it to. Mary and Sandy were remanded for examination before the Hustings Court. Martha was discharged.

Robert, slave of James Roper, was ordered to be whipped for stealing twenty ears of corn from his master; Agnes was similarly dealt with for striking a little white boy, the son of Conrad D. ***; and John, slave of William B. Cook, charged with using imprudent language towards Benjamin B. Sayre, was also punished with stripes.

Milfi, charged with buying melons in the Second Market to sell again, was made to pay a fine of *** dollars (it being his second offense) and suffer the confiscation of his purchase. Augustus P***, also charged with buying melons to sell again, was subjected to a fine of twenty dollars and confiscation.

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