A watch out of time.
--On Saturday morning Frederick W. Hollins appeared before the Mayor to answer the charge of having stolen a valuable watch from Lieut. Charles Beck, some few days since. The parties, it seems, had been on a frolic together, and on the night on which the watch was lost roomed together at the Spotswood Hotel. On the succeeding morning Beck missed his time piece, and suspecting his companion, had him arrested; but instead of appearing before the Mayor to testify in behalf of the Commonwealth, took the cars for Wilmington, N. C., and has failed to return.When the case was called, Mr. P. H. Aylett, counsel for the accused, demanded the fullest investigation of the charge, and regretted the absence of the witness, as he was prepared to prove the entire innocence of his client. He said he was not before the Court to plead for mercy for the accused, but to vindicate his innocence, and to maintain that fair name which he had always borne.
There being no witness present to sustain the charge, the Mayor could do no less than discharge the accused.
