Mayor's Court.
--The Mayor held his Court yesterday at 11 o'clock. The case of George Mack, charged with burglary, was called, when the Mayor stated that the officer in command at the city jail declined to give up the prisoner without an order from Captain Schoonmaker; that he had sent to the Captain's office, and he could not be found; he had hoped to get the prisoner in time to investigate the case yesterday, but it was impossible. On Monday next the jail would be turned over to the civil authorities, when all these difficulties would be removed.T. B. Fletcher, charged with making an assault upon Eli Ferguson, was then arraigned Ferguson testified that, on night before last, "about 4 o'clock in the morning," he lay in his bunk, in the kitchen, when Fletcher came in and caught him by the throat and threatened to "knock his d — d brains out." The affair occurred at Thompson & Ferguson's, where I had charge. The house belonged to his brother and Thompson. Witness had not assigned his interest in the house to Fletcher. The latter was there as an employee since the 5th of November. Had never represented that it was Fletcher's house, nor never made such a statement to Farquhar and Schultz. Fletcher was drunk when he committed the assault. He gave no reason for his conduct. Witness showed no fight, but laid perfectly still.
Frank Sheridan testified that, on the morning of the 14th instant, about four o'clock, Fletcher entered the kitchen, where Ferguson was lying upon a table, and caught him by the neck. Took hold of his arm and tried to pull him off. Could not say whether he struck him or not. The difficulty originated about a bill for liquor to be paid to Mr. Farquhar.
D. P. Farquhar gave a detail of the business transactions between himself and Ferguson. --Ferguson told him, about the 1st of November, that Fletcher had opened the house and was going to run it thereafter. Told witness this more than once. Knowing Fletcher to be good gave him credit for some forty dollars. Ferguson still owed him a bill, and on one occasion saw him at Davis & Wood's buying hay and oats, and asked him for money, when he pulled out a fifty-dollar note and paid for the hay and oats and put the change in his pocket. Subsequently saw Fletcher, and spoke to him about his bill, when he said that he had given Ferguson the money to pay it.
Messrs Shepherd, Cordle and Hamlett testified as to their knowledge of the house belonging to Fletcher. Ferguson and Fletcher exhibited various receipts to establish their claims to the proprietorship.
The Mayor decided that the fact had been proven that Ferguson was assaulted in his own house, and held Fletcher to bail in the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars to appear before the Hustings Court in February next to answer an indictment for misdemeanor.
Mary Campbell, charged with drunkenness. No witnesses appearing, the case was laid over.
Thomas Dobson, a wild-looking youth of fifteen years, was charged with being drunk and assaulting J. J. King. Mr, King testified, that on the previous day he was on the basin, when the prisoner and another young man came along and pushed between witness and the wall. As they passed, accused said, "D — n you, you can't buy that woman." There was a negro woman on board a canal boat. They afterwards came back, accosted witness, and after some conversation, Dobson struck him. Called Mr. John F. Glazebrook and Mr. Mitchell to his assistance. They then started to run, and I pursued them and caught this one. He tried to throw witness into the basin. Never saw either of them before. Prisoner might have been drinking slightly, but was not drunk.
The mother of Dobson made a pathetic appeal to the Mayor on behalf of her son. She said she was the mother of eleven children, but this and one other were all that were living. She hoped this offence would be forgiven.
The Mayor said the offence had been fully proven, and he would be compelled to send the prisoner on to the February term of the Hustings Court. He was bailed in the sum of one hundred dollars for his appearance.
George Mack, having been brought up from jail, was arraigned on the charge of burglariously entering the store of John F. Regnault & Co.
Captain James B. Pleasants stated that he was employed by Messrs. Regnault & Co. as a private watchman. On the morning of the 4th of December, between 1 and 2 o'clock, he saw a man standing in the alley in the rear of the store, and asked him what he was doing there. He said he was stopping at the "Kirk wood," and was there watching the stores. Told him to leave, and after some words he did so. Saw a light in the store and heard a scramble. Another man came down the area, and witness ordered him to stop, but he refused to obey. Then drew a pistol and fired, and the man dropped behind a box, but afterwards raised up and fired at witness. Continued to fire and on the third shot witness was wounded. This man made his escape. Another man, coming from between the buildings, was arrested. Did not see him, but suppose the prisoner was the man arrested.
John H. McAllister testified to some facts concerning the arrest of the prisoner.
Mr. John F. Regnault testified that, on reaching his store on the morning of the 4th of December, he found the casing of the door prized off, a bar of the window sprung, and the window up stairs open. There were evident marks that persons had been in there, and some powder was scattered on a bench, but nothing was stolen.
Captain William L. Maule corroborated the statement of his partner, Mr. Reguault.
The prisoner was remanded, to be examined before the Hustings Court in January next on a charge of felony.
Dick Rivers, said to be a New York rowdy, and whose countenance and general appearance tends very much to confirm that opinion, was arraigned on the charge of being drunk and disorderly. It will be remembered that he had just been released from Castle Thunder, when he went to the police station drunk, and made such a disturbance that he was again placed under arrest. No witnesses appeared against him, and he was discharged on his solemn promise to leave the city at once. After he had left the court-room the Mayor was made aware of his antecedents, when he said that, had he known these facts in time, he would have sent him to jail.
Mary Campbell, an old woman, charged will drunkenness, was discharged from custody on condition that she would leave the city for Philadelphia, whence she came.