From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/31/1864, p.1, c. 6

Mayor’s Court, Yesterday. – Recorder Caskie officiating. – James H. Saunders was charged with stealing two brass cannon bushings, value at one hundred and fifty dollars, and one brass lock, the property of the Confederate States. The accused as been employed at the artillery workshops. For sometime past considerable quantities of brass belonging there have been lost, but no clue was obtained as to who was the thief till a day or two back, when suspicion pointed very plainly to the prisoner. He was therefore watched, and on Monday was detected leaving the shop with a small box under his arm, which he stated contained some peas; but one of the officers insisted upon an examination, which disclosed the stolen brass. In his room was found other Government metal. The Recorder sent him on the Hustings Court for examination.

Ben, slave of J. H. Gentry, was remanded to the Hustings Court for examination on the charge of breaking into the store of James T. Butler & Co., on the 24th instant, and stealing therefrom about thirty-five hundred dollars’ worth of boots and shoes. Some of the stolen property was found in Ben’s room. Jane Valentine and Caroline Overton, free negroes, were whipped for receiving some of the shoes, knowing them to have been stolen.

Thomas Bradford, the purchases of twenty-seven watermelons at the first Market to sell again to the soldiers in the army, about twelve miles from the city, was fined fifty dollars and ordered to turn the melons over to the city authorities for confiscation. Through his counsel, an appeal will be taken before the City Council.

Several other cases of minor importance were called – some of which were continued, and others dismissed.

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