Mayor's Court.
--The following cases were booked for the Mayor's consideration yesterday:Frank Morris, alias Frank Hermann, suspected of the murder and robbery of Michael Rourke a few weeks since. On the night of Rourke's murder, the prisoner attended the ball at Magnolia Hall, on Tenth street, at which the murdered man was during the fore part of the night. Some nights afterwards another ball was given at the same place, when the police, having been authorized to do so, made a raid upon it and arrested several parties, both male and female, as participants in riotous and disorderly festivities, along with whom was Hermann. Subsequently, before the accused was brought in the presence of the Mayor, he deposited the watch, which has been recognized as the property of Rourke, with a female acquaintance of his. Hermann was remanded back to jail, without examining any witnesses, yesterday morning and his case set for the 5th of January. The same disposition was made of the case of Elizabeth Dawson, charged with receiving a silver watch, valued at $1,000, the property of Michael Rourke, deceased, she knowing the same to have been stolen from said Rourke.
John F. Ferneyhough, charged with shooting B. E. Hawkins, on Monday afternoon, near the corner of Twelfth and Main streets, was held to security in the sum of $3,000 for his appearance on Saturday to answer the offence. The wounded man was much better yesterday, and his recovery is not now considered so doubtful as at first supposed.
Henry M. Hurst, charged with drunkenness, disorderly conduct, and threatening to assault William C. Barnes, was required to give security in the sum of $300 for his good behavior, and additional security in the same amount for his appearance to answer an indictment by the Grand Jury.
A young man, named Oscar E. Edwards, was charged with feloniously shooting at Thomas Ford, on Monday afternoon. Ford stated that while himself and a friend, both of whom were perfectly sober, were standing on the corner of Seventh and Cary streets, engaged in conversation, Edwards came up and demanded to know why he had been called a liar. Neither of them had ever seen him before, nor had they ever spoken to him. Upon remonstrating with Edwards, they stated that he drew his pistol and fired at Ford, one of the balls clipping a piece of skin from his right face and ear, the marks of which were quite visible while in the court-room. Per contra, Edwards represented that Ford and his companion, who were beastly drunk, wantonly molested him while he was passing by them. He warned them to let him alone, as he had nothing to do with them; but instead of desisting, Ford seized a stone, and his friend picked up a stick of wood and made at him, whereupon he drew his pistol, and while retreating, with his face towards them, he fired in self-defence. This testimony, with reference to the drunken condition of Ford and his comrade, was corroborated by three or four witnesses for the defence, all of whom saw Edwards running, and Ford and his friend in pursuit. At the conclusion of the evidence, the Mayor required all three to give security for their good behavior and to answer indictment by the Hustings Court Grand Jury.
Two negroes, Sally, slave of Charles Y. Morris, and Ellen, slave of Ferdinand Blacksford, were remanded for examination before the Hustings Court on the charge of burglariously entering the room of Miss Sally Brock and stealing there from $300 in Confederate money, $2 in Virginia Treasury notes, one silk dress (valued at $500), and about $1,000 worth of other female wearing apparel, the property of said Miss Sally Brock.
