Source:Home-matters-1851-12-30
"Home matters." Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, Dec. 30, 1851, [p. 3]. Newspapers.com 85635785.
Local News.—There was no local news yesterday to be picked up, at the police offices, of the slightest importance.
Market House Meeting.—The subscribers to the New Market House met last evening, and adjourned to meet again at the Rooms of the Board of trade, this evening at 7 o'clock.
December 29.
Before the Hon. Wm. B. McClure President Judge, and T. L. McMillan and Wm. Boggs, Associate Judges.
The case of the Commonwealth vs. James Kirby, indicted for secreting goods, with the intent to defraud a creditor, Mrs. Isabella H. Smith, was taken up.
John Hartwell testified, that he was acquainted with Mr. Kirby, that Kirby had bought some goods in the spring, to the amount of about $1,300; that Mrs. Smith purchased him a great quantity of goods; in September last he went to Philadelphia and purchased $3,100 worth; the amount of goods bought by Kirby during the year was about $4,470; Kirby obtained the horses and wagon belonging to Mrs. Smith, and went peddling the goods. Witness was absent about twelve days in October, and when he returned, found the goods had dwindled down; asked him how business was? he replied, "he was not doing any thing, business was dull;" examined the goods carefully, and marked some of them; returned shortly afterwards and found some of them gone; asked him to pay Mrs. Smith what he owed her; said he was not able, that there was not $700 worth of stock in the store; he paid Mrs. Smith in July last $100 on account; he promised in September last to pay $500 of the debt owed Mrs. Smith, to her creditors in Philadelphia, which he did not do; urged him to pay Mrs. Smith, (who is my sister-in-law,) in November, and he said it was time enough to settle it when it became due; when the bill became due, Mrs. Smith and witness went to him to have a settlement; he was out of humor; she said she would take goods for the amount, he said there was not enough there to pay the bill; asked him to pay a part; he said he could do nothing in the matter; that he would assign the goods over to his brother. He sold the balance of his stock to Mr. Craydon.
On cross-examination—Mr. Kirby got his first stock of goods in May; Mrs. Smith purchased the goods for Kirby in Philadelphia, to the amount of $975; the bill is made out in the name of Mrs. Smith; the goods were placed in a store in the Fifth Ward. Mr. Kirby and witness managed the store; the amount of goods with which the store was opened was $1,600; $300 of the stock belonged to Kirby. Between May and October the amount of goods that went into the store was about $1,990; it was in October witness returned and found the goods diminished.
The case went to the jury in the afternoon, but no verdict was returned.
In the Select Council, Mr. Murray, in the chair.
The principal part of the procedings [sic] will be found amongst those of the Common Council reported below.
On motion of D. D. Bruce, Esq., it was unanimously resolved, that the thanks of the members of the Select Council be, and they are hereby sincerely tendered to our worthy President, James B. Murray, Esq., for the efficient, kind and gentlemanly manner in which he has discharged the duties of his office during the past year.
Resolved, That the Clerk enrol these resolutions with the proceedings of Councils.
Mr. Murray returned his sincere thanks for the kindness conferred upon him.
In the Common Council, Robt. M'Knight, Esq, took the chair.
The resignation of Richard Savory, as one of the Trustees of the Pittsburgh Gas Works was accepted.
Mr. Robt. Hanlep was unanimously elected to supply the vacancy.
A number of bills against the City were read and most of them referred to the Committee on Claims and Accounts. The remainder were passed.
The unexpended balance of the funds, raised for the sufferers by the great fire of April, 1845, amounting to $291 43, was transferred to the Councils by Thos Bakewell, Esq.
On motion it was
Resolved That the amount above named, be transferred to the funds of the proposed house of Refuge.
The police committee reported against paying the administrators of James D. Alexander, for meals furnished to prisoners, confined temporarily in the watch house, in their opinion the county being liable.
Mr. Mellon offered an ordinance prohibiting the purchase or sale of flour, grain or produce on the Monongahela wharf, or any flat or steamboat, under a penalty of twenty dollars for each offence, the merchants complaining that such course of conduct injured their business, as well as the business of the city. Referred to the committee on ordinances.
On motion it was
Resolved, That Robert McKnight, Esq., be appointed to vote the stock of the Ohio & Pennsylvania railroad, with instructions to vote for three citizens of Pittsburgh, as Directors.
On motion it was
Resolved, That the sum of fifty dollars be appropriated for the grading of Denny Alley in the Sixth Ward. Read twice.
A resolution passed in the Select Council, providing that no market wagon or other vehicle shall remain in Market street longer than is absolutely necessary, and that the omnibusses shall hereafter be drawn up in close order, above the hay scales, under a penalty of five dollars, was concurred in.
An ordinance passed in the Select Council, allowing the Beaver packets a wharf boat, was concurred in.
The Common Council concurred in an ordinance, prohibiting the placing of any thing that will not float, on the Monongahela wharf.
After acting on a number of bills, and transacting some business of no general importance the Councils adjourned.
We are glad to learn, by an advertisement in our columns, that H. Rohbock, Esq., the distinguished pianist, and teacher in Music, is about to return to this city, and make it the place of his permanent residence. He will doubtess [sic] secure a large class immediately.
Whig Nominations.—On Saturday, the Whigs of the Fifth Ward nominated R. Hazlet for Select, and Joseph Kay, John G. Martin, R. W. M'Clellan and W. B. Hunter for Common Council,—and the following ward tickeet:
School Directors—B. C. Reeves, D. Corman, Jeremiah Frew.
Judge—E. Faber.
Inspector—R. B. Laughlin.
Assessor—John Y. C. Bell.
Assistants—R. Whitesides, John Taylor.
Constable—Chauncy Bostwick.
Coal Boat Sunk.—A coal boat belonging to Mr. Michael Dravo of McKeesport, was sunk yesterday afternoon, above the dam, by a cake of floating ice, which came in contact with it.
Operations Suspended.—The masons have ceased their labors on the Episcopalean Ohurch [sic] and Catholic Cathedral, near the Court House, until, we presume, the approach of spring.
Blooms—Quite a number of blooms, dropped into the canal during the summer, have been recovered since the water was let off.
Gambling House.—Thomas Higgins, a colored man, convicted of keeping a gambling house, was, on Saturday, sentenced to pay a fine of fifty dollars, and the costs, and to stand committed until the sentence should be complied with.
Larceny—Jno Madden was on Saturday committed to prison by Mayor Guthrie, charged on oath of Jas Wilson with larceny.
Assault and Battery—Wm. Kaine was committed to prison on Saturday, charged with assault and battery.
Charge of Attempted Robbery—Washington Frees was on Saturday committed to prison, charged, on oath of Samuel Johnson, with an assault and battery with intent to rob.
Assault and Battery—John Lutz was on Saturday committed to prison, charged, on oath of Jas Richardson, with assault and battery.
Sentenced—Elizabeth Jackson, convicted of larceny, committed in stealing some articles belonging to Alexander Crookshanks, was on Saturday sentenced by Judge McClure to an imprisonment of one year and three months in the Western Penitentiary.
Burglary Larceny.—Thomas Bogue, quite a young man, was on Saturday sentenced by his honor, Judge McClure, to an imprisonment of ten years and six months in the Western Penitentiary, on two charges of burglary, and two of grand larceny.
Discharged.—John Griffin, the omnibus driver committed by Mayor Guthrie on a charge of murder, was on Saturday discharged on bail by Judge McClure, Colonel Leopold Sahl and John Naser becoming his sureties. District Attorney Flannegin admitted that the case was one in which bail should be taken. The decision of the Mayor, who refused to accept bail, is thus overruled.
