From the Richmond Examiner, Saturday, 4/4/1863 , p.1

MAYOR’S COURT - April 3rd, 1863 - The following named parties were charged with engaging in a riot on Thursday, and encouraging and inciting others to engage in the said riot.

Frank Wallip, Benjamin Slemper, Mary Woodward, Mary Waster, Mary Butler, Sarah Coghil, Martha Burnett, Sally Mitchell, Lawrence Martin, Alexander Jenkins, Morgan Burns, Henry Cook, Alexander H. Murray, John Jones, W. J. Lusk, James Hampton, A. D. Briggs, Thomas Samani, C. Lannegan, Elizabeth Ammons, Lucy Jane Palmeter, John D. Lowry, Margaret Denning, William Farrand, Francis Farrand, John Hopkins, Susan Kelly, Mary Jacobs, Martha Fergusson, Jennett Williams, Mildred Imry, Martha Smith, Francis Brown, Anna Bell, Andrew J. Hawkins, Peter Blake, Sarah Champion, Mary Jackson, huckster.

The case of William Farrand and wife was first taken up.

Mr. John D. Harvay testified that on Thursday he saw three boys go into Farrand’s house shortly after the riot began; two of the boys had a pot of butter each, and the third boy had six or eight pair of women’s shoes. After the riot was over, he and Mr. Isaac Walker, and Officer Perrin went to Farrand’s house and found the shoes but could not locate the butter.

Cross-examined by Crane - There was a riot yesterday. Mrs. Farrand denied that any boys had brought any shoes or butter there, but after the shoes were found she acknowledged the boys had brought the shoes there.

Officer Perrin testified that after Mr. Harvey found the shoes he found two other pairs and a quantity of dry goods under Mrs. Farrand’s be; this boy, John Hopkins was there and had in his possession a new pair of pants and this hat, which has been identified by Mr. Hicks as a hat that had been taken from him during the riot.

Mr. Isaac R. Walker corroborated the testimony of the previous witness, and added that he had found a package of money marked “$1,050” in a band box; Mr. Farrand claimed the money; Farrand was drunk; only knew where the shoes and other goods came from from the fact that on the way to the cage, some one ran out of Mr. Knote’s and said, “there are the shoes taken from us this morning”; Farrand keeps a grocery, sugar, cakes, &c.; there were nine pairs of shoes, some men’s, some women.

Mr. Charles H. Wynne went with Mr. Harvey and others to Farrand’s; Mrs. Farrand protested that no goods had been brought there; to Farrand’s credit, be it said, he was decidedly drunk; when the shoes were found, Farrand said a Miss Hinchman brought the shoes there; just as she said that this boy, John Hopkins, came in, and Mrs. Farrand said, “there is the boy that brought the shoes here” ; the boy had a new pair of shoes on his arm, which he said he had bought from little Jonny Camp; as the goods of all sorts were about to be removed from the house, a man named Roane, an employee at the Government shops came in and claimed the goods as his; Farrand lives in the last house on Fourteenth street, next to Mayo’s bridge.

The prisoners were sent on to the Hustings Court .

The case of Anna Bell was next taken up.

The prisoner was dressed in a handsome suit of mourning, with a long flowing veil.

Mr. Charles H. Wynne testified, that during the riot yesterday, he saw the prisoner, then dressed in colors, with a chicken bonnet, in the act of going into Mr. Ezekiel’s store; he accosted her politely, and knowing her requested her to go home, as it was no place for her; she insisted that she would go in, and threatened to blow his brains out if he interfered; her son, it was, who sold the pants to the boy Hopkins.

Mrs. Bell stated that she did not go into the crowd to take anything, but to look after her son, and to keep him from getting into a scrape as he was very bad.

The prisoner was sent on to the Hustings Court .

The case of Thomas Samani, William G. Lusk, and James Hampton, charged with aiding in the riot, was called up.

Mr. Charles H. Wynne testified that he saw Thomas Samani aiding a crowd of women to break in the door of Mrs. Minna Sweitzer’s store, on Franklin street, below the market, he was the only man engaged in the assault upon that store; just as the door gave way, from the repeated blows of Samani and the women, witness seized Samani by the collar and carried him to Castle Thunder.

Mrs. Sweitzer testified that Samani and a parcel of women broke into her store with hatchets, breaking the door and windows; she lived in the house.

Mr. Jos. Taylor testified that he saw W. J. Lusk get into the window of a store just below Randolph’s book store, and pull the women up into the window; after the door of the store was broken open and the crowd rushed in, Colonel Baldwin called on the citizens to put down the riot, and witnessed rushed forward with others, and tried to hem the rioters in the store; women rushed out with shoes which we took from them; a number of satchels were also thrown out of the store, which we gathered up and threw back; the prisoner started to come out of the store, and witness exclaimed “here is the ringleader” and seized him; prisoner had a large hickory stick with which he attempted to strike witness; witness was positive that prisoner was the man who aided the women to get into the store.

Mr. C. H. Wynne testified that he assisted Mr. Taylor to arrest the prisoner; he fought so violently that he had to put a pistol to his head and threaten to shoot him; when prisoner found resistance useless, he denied that he had any connexion with the riot, and said he was a patient, in very bad health, at the Winder hospital.

Prisoner is a tremendous muscular fellow, who might sit for a picture of health.

Mr. C. H. Wynne testified that he had arrested James Hampton, a youth of fifteen, with a lard firkin full of coffee, which he had stolen from either Pollard & Walker’s or Tyler & Son.

The case of Benjamin Slemper, a German belonging to the City Battalion, was called.

Mr. L. H. Fitzhugh, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Confederate States Senate, testified that he was standing near Knote’s shoe store when it was broken into by the mob; the mob was pouring in through the broken windows; witness saw the prisoner and the Irishman got away; witness handed prisoner over to another citizen, and went back and arrested another rioter. Slemper stated, in answer to questions, that he was not a regular member of the Battalion, but was serving as a temporary substitute.

All these prisoners were sent on to the Hustings Court .

The case of Mary Jackson, a huckster in the market and the leader of the women’s riot was called. The prisoner was a good specimen of a forty year old Amazon, with the eye of the Devil.

Mr. John P. Tyler, Clerk of the Second Market testified that he had for some time heard that there was to be a meeting of the women;  Mrs. Jackson told him the intention of the women was to go in a body to the provision stores and demand goods at Government prices; they meant to take them; did not advise Mrs. Jackson on the subject; witness on Wednesday night informed the Mayor that there was going to be a meeting of the women; never informed the Mayor that Mrs. Jackson had said the women were going to take goods from merchants or anything of that sort.

Mr. A. A. Hughes testified that he heard Mrs. Jackson tell two women in the market that the goods of merchants were to be taken at Government price; though he believed it to be a joke, tried to discourage the idea of violence; Mrs. Jackson said it was no joke, and asked me to lend her a pistol; I told her I would; she said she meant to be armed; and that she would be assisted by the military in Richmond; Mrs. Jackson stopped and communicated the plan to some twenty women; had no idea of lending her a pistol; regarded the whole matter as a joke.

Officer Griffin testified that the first he heard of this affair was from Mr. Tyler; on the morning of the riot Mrs. Jackson accosted him in the market, and told him “he’d better keep out of the street to day; as the women intended to shoot down every man who did not aid the women in taking goods,” advised her to go home and behave herself; officer Kelley came up also and advised to behave during the riot saw Mrs. Jackson on the corner of 1st and Broad streets with a bowie knife in her hand; she said in the market that morning that she would have bread or blood; when he saw her on Broad street she was in the midst of an excited crowd of women; walked up to her; Mr. Chalkley came up at the same time and took her in custody; she had the bowie knife under her shawl with a piece of paper around it.

Officer Kelley heard Mrs. Jackson make the threats about taking the merchant’s goods; went to her and told her the people of this town would not stand anything of the sort, and that if she persisted in it she would get into trouble; hoped what he had said would influence her; the next he heard of her she was under arrest; there was present a woman who would prove that Mrs. Jackson had told her that every woman who did not join the riot would be mobbed.

Mr. Robert E. Redford testified that he saw Mrs. Jackson in the market on Thursday morning, between eight and nine o’clock, with a bowie knife and a six-barreled pistol; the pistol was not loaded at the time.

The prisoner was sent on the Hustings Court . - She is the same party who, two weeks ago, bought two veals at the toll gate for one hundred dollars and offered the same for sale at two hundred and fifty dollars, on the same morning.

Recorder Caskie here relieved the Mayor.

Dr. Thomas M. Palmer was charged with unlawfully engaging in an unlawful and riotous assembly, and then and there by his presence and language to encourage and incite the said assembly in the unlawful and riotous conduct and not dispersing when lawfully commanded and participating in the said riot.

Dr. Palmer was a middle aged, portly man, in blue uniform, and is the surgeon at the Davenport Hospital .

Governor Letcher testified, when he commanded the mob to disperse, the prisoner remarked to him that “there was a power behind the throne mightier than the throne; the rest of the crowd dispersed, but the prisoner remained and still refusing to depart; was ordered into custody; when asked what that power was he said, the people.”

Major Mayo did not know what had passed between Governor Letcher and Dr. Palmer; when he came up to the corner of 15^th and Main, ordered the crowd to disperse; all dispersed except Dr. Palmer, who declined to do so; said “I hold in my hands the laws of Virginia, and in their name, I order you to depart;” he still refused to go and was ordered into custody; he was arrested by citizens; after being arrested he said if he was released he would go, and witness agreed to release him, but, on the affidavit of the Governor, made Thursday night, he had issued a warrant for Dr. Palmer’s re-arrest.

Mr. Andrew Jenkins testified that the Governor went down t the corner of 15^th street and ordered the crowd to disperse; the crowd dispersed except the prisoner, who refused to leave, and told the Governor there was a power behind the throne greater than the throne, and that the power was the people; the Governor ordered him into custody; didn’t know whether prisoner knew who the Governor was; Governor told prisoner he would be participating in the riot by standing where he was.

Mr. Peyton Johnston corroborated the previous witnesses; when the Governor ordered prisoner into custody and several citizens put their hands on him, then the prisoner made the remark that there was a power behind the throne greater than the throne; I told the prisoner that was the Governor of Virginia, and tat (for Mr. Mayo had just come up) was the Mayor of the city. During the riot, dwelling houses were broken into.

Mr. Robert S. Pollard testified that during the riot he attempted to close his doors, when they were broken in with hatchets and his goods taken; it was a store, not a dwelling house.

Lewis Lichenstein testified that during the riot his sister’s, Mrs. Sweitzer’s, store and dwelling house was broken into; he saw the mob break in the windows and door with hatchets; Mrs. Sweitzer and her family lived in that house; a great quantity of goods were taken.

The Steward of the hospital testified that he had heard the conversation between Dr. Palmer and the Governor; there was a large crowd about the corner; the doctor had been on the corner not more than five minutes before the Governor came along; there were two military officers from Florida with the doctor; shortly after the conversation with the Governor the doctor returned to the hospital.

The Recorder said this was a very important question; the law declared that a person present at a riot who refused when called upon either to assist in supressing it or to depart, was participating in the riot; the question with him was what kind of riot prisoner was engaged in. As there was doubt on this point he would continue the case to the following day, and in the mean time admit the accused to bail.

The Mayor resumed his seat.

Mary Elizabeth Foy, an Irishwoman, was brought into court on the charge of inciting a riot.

Mr. Julius A. Hobson testified that an hour before he was near the place where the Christian Association were dispensing food to the poor; this woman was in crowd of women; heard her say the food they gave was not worth coming after; that she intended to go into the stores and take it; that the riot was kept out of the papers to keep the Yankees from knowing it, but that the Yankees should know all about it before night; she also said in a loud voice, that if they didn’t intend to give her something to eat why didn’t they send her to the North; Mr. Sydnor, with the intention of relieving the woman if she was deserving and needy asked her name; she said her name was none of his business; afterwards she said she lived in Cottage row; a young man coming up said he saw her coming out of a store with goods on Thursday.

The woman denied that she had said anything alleged against her; she was poor, &c.

Mayor - There is no reason why there should have been any suffering among the poor of this city; more money has been appropriated than has been applied for. It should be, and is well understood, that the riot yesterday was not for bread. - Boots are not bread, brooms are not bread, men’s hats are not bread, and I never heard of any body’s eating them. Take your seat.

At this point the remaining cases were continued, and the Mayor adjourned the court.

Mrs. Mary Woodward, a genteel looking woman, asked to be bailed on account of sickness.

Officer Morris and Captain Pleasants testified that they had arrested Mrs. Woodward adn Mrs. Wesley with a dray load of flour and bacon, which they had taken during the riot.

In consideration of her sickness the Mayor bailed her at seven hundred dollars, Mrs. Louisa Woodward, her mother in law, who it was proved was well off, becoming her security.

Elizabeth Ammons, the suspicion of her being engaged in the riot being slight, as bailed for appearance to-day.

Mrs. Jacobs was bailed because she had a young child at home.

Mrs. Champion applied for bail on the ground that she had three little children. The Mayor bailed her, but told her she had better have been at home with her children on Thursday than roaming about the streets.

Mrs. Taliaferro, a childless old woman, was admitted to bail on account of her advanced age, the Mayor remarking that she was old enough to know better than to be caught in such a scrape. This woman’s husband is making good wages in a Government workshop.

Mrs. Jackson’s husband desired to become her bail, alleging that he owned seven thousand dollars worth of real estate. He was declined as bail on account of his relationship.

Alexander Jennings was bailed, it appearing most probable that he had, while aiding in attempting to suppress the riot, been arrested under misapprehension.

A German woman named Barbara Idoll, being enciente, was bailed. Her husband owns a house and lot, and she has been making $25 a week as a tent maker.

A number of other women were permitted to go home to their families.

Just as the court adjourned, Mrs. Isabell Hold was arrested on the City Hall steps and brought in, and the Mayor resumed his seat.

Officer Crone testified that the prisoner was talking on the Hall steps; she said she approved of the riot.

Dr. Maddux testified that he heard her say she advocated the riot; that she had rather take goods than to beg; that she wished the Yankees would come here ad sweep the city.

Mayor - Where are you from?

Mrs. Hold - I am from England .

Mayor - Has your husband got a British protection?

Mrs. Hold - Yes. I did not think I was doing any harm. I was just standing there talking. I did not think I would get into any trouble.

The prisoner was committed for examination this morning.

NOTE. - The Mayor will resume the investigation of the riot cases at nine o’clock this morning. At the same hour Recorder Caskie will hold court in the Sergeant’s office, to dispose of the ordinary police cases.

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