From the Richmond Dispatch, 8/5/1864, p.1, c3

Mayor’s Court. – The following is a summary of the proceedings before the Mayor yesterday:

James Dunn, a white boy, was charged with being disorderly and throwing stones at persons on Byrd street. A sentinel on duty at Petersburg railroad depot discovered Dunn in a car stealing peas and drove him off, whereupon he cursed the guard and pelted him with stones, which amusement he kept up till officer Morris was sent for to arrest him. The Mayor sent him under charge of an officer to the poor house, but the keeper of that institution refused to admit him on the ground that it was difficult to keep him, as he had already been an inmate several times before and would hardly be there an hour before he would run away. Under these circumstances he was committed to the city jail.

Joseph Fisher and William Miffleton, boys about twelve and fourteen years of age, were charged with gambling in a public place, near the sidewalk on 2d street. They were orally reprimanded and discharged.

George, slave of Reuben T. Lacy, charged with feloniously breaking into and entering the dwelling house of Alexander R. Holladay, and stealing various articles of groceries, &c, amounting in value to $6,000, was committed to await a future hearing. This makes the fifth person who has been arrested upon suspicion of being engaged in this robbery.

A white woman named Frances Taylor was charged with trespassing upon the premises of General Ewell. Being a woman of bad character and addicted to the too free use of intoxicating liquors, and therefore not likely to find any person who would be willing to go her security if it was required of her, the Mayor decided to discharge her with an admonition.

Mrs. Mary McChesney, a very respectable looking white woman, was held to security for using abusive and threatening language towards Mrs. Martha Wyatt, one of her neighbors.

Two negro women named Kesiah and Lizzie, charged with using abusive language towards James Mitchell, were ordered to be whipped.

The following parties were committed to jail till such time as their status can be proved: John, slave of Horace Lacy, of Fredericksburg, suspected of being a runaway and stealing one bag of corn from some person unknown, and Henry, slave of Maria Hubard, charged with stealing apples and onions, and with being a runaway.

John Ford, a driver of an ice-cart, was fined five dollars for blowing his horn in the street. The police have been instructed to arrest every person heard blowing horns in the street.

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