PWCo Item: Brentsville: April 26, 1869

Alexandria Gazette
28 April 1869

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

Brentsville, Prince William County, Va., April 26, 1869

A colored man named Wm Tuell, living near the town of Dumfries in this county attempted, yesterday, to kill his father. It seems there had been some dispute between William Tuell, jr., and another black man, in which the father of the former, also named William Tuel, interfered, and his son took a double barreled gun and shot him in the top of the shoulder near the collar bone. They were sitting at the supper table when the difficulty occurred and the shot fired, and the load is still in him. His recovery is generally despaired of, as his wound is a very severe one and at last accounts was bleeding profusely.

The criminal was arrested by Marshall Davis, esq., Deputy Sheriff, on a warrant issued by Wm. Frazier, esq., and was this evening brought to this place by Mr. Davis and lodged in jail. I understand a pistol and a very long knife were also found on Tuell's person.

This case will come before the grand jury at our Circuit Court, the second Monday in next month.

I am informed this is not the first offence of Tuell, but that he stabbed a white man some time since, and shot at a colored man but a short time before he attempted to kill his father.

TYRONE.

PWCo Item: Letter from Prince William (11 February 1870)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
11 February 1870 (pg. 2)

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

BRENTSVILLE, Feb. 9 -- The February term of Prince William County Court was held yesterday and day before. There was a pretty general attendance of people.

Judge J. W. Moore delivered an address on the issues of the day. W. C. Balch, esq. and Judge Sinclair also spoke. I heard that after the above gentlemen finished, two Conservative colored men spoke.

The following cases were tried:

Com. vs. Hoor, assault and battery -- verdict not guilty. Clark & Gen. Payne for defendant.

Com. vs. Beender, (colored) petit larceny -- verdict guilty and imprisoned 30 days. Clark for defendant.

William Fuell a colored man, sentenced six months ago to 9 months imprisonment in the county jail, was released.

An effort was made by Round, Commonwealth's Attorney, to get the Court to release Franklin Taylor from jail. He is confined in default of giving $1000 bond to keep the peace. This is a novel move for a Commonwealth's Attorney, especially as Taylor has, it was said, threatened boldly and openly to burn all the property that two gentlemen in the county own, and to kill then too, in less than twelve months. The Court very creditably refused to entertain such a motion.

The two men, Henderson and Nelson who are confined on charge of having entered and robbed the store of Davis & Lynn in this county, made a desperate attempt a few nights ago to break jail by prizing the bars out of the jail window, working through the side which was decayed, and pulling out the bricks with their bands. The noise was heard, however, by W. N. Tansill the jailor, and the progress of it arrested.

Mr. Tansill then ironed them, and Henderson with his naked hands snapped one of the chains entirely in two pieces.

They have since been ironed more securely. Henderson was married on Tuesday -- made arrangements on that day to rob the store -- robbed it on Friday night, and was arrested in a day or two afterwards in the presence of his wife, and a large portion of the goods were found opened on the bed near him. His wife who is of respectable parentage and possess some beauty is, greatly horrified at the conduct of her husband, as I learn.

Candidates for office are thick as "leaves in Vallombrosa." One gentleman last Monday I understand was so full of speech that the chairman of the meeting found great difficulty in inducing him to simmer down and let of steam without going through the process of a general explosion, while another in his great eagerness to speak suffered his coat tails to be nearly torn from his body in spasmodic efforts to bring him to a sitting position.

There will be a general convention held here next Saturday week, the 19th inst., to consider county matters, make nominations &c.

TYRONE.

PWCo Items: Court Day -- 14 May 1870

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
14 May 1870

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM CO.
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

The May term of the Circuit Court for this county was held this week ending yesterday evening, under Judge Keith.

R. A. Sinclair and John Camper qualified as deputies under L. C. Osmun clerk.

The grand jury found an indictment against Sydney Cross for assault and battery.

In the case of the Commonwealth vs. Manly which has been pending for about two yeas, a demurrer to the indictment was sustained.  Clark and Hunton for prosecution, Payne and Sinclair for defence.

Com. v. James Javins -- assault with intent to kill -- verdict not guilty.  Clark for prosecution, Sinclair for defendant.

Judge J. W. Moore and Albert Stuart, esq., qualified as Attorneys in this court.

Carpenter and O'Brien vs. John Naglee and Teasdale, on attachment bond -- verdict for plaintiff for $500 damages. Payne and Sinclair for plaintiff, Hunton for defence.

John W. Davis benefit of W. G. Brawner's administrator, vs. A. Patterson -- verdict for defendant for $119, which interest from 9th April 1865. Hunton for plaintiff, Clark for defendant.

A number of decrees were entered and much other chancery business was attended to.

In the celebrated chancery case of Cormey vs. Taylor, involving the title to the "Missouri mills" property in this county, the Court appointed Benjamin S. West, esq., of Stafford county, a receiver, and recommitted the papers to the Commissioner.

Franklin Taylor confined in jail in default of giving security to keep the peace in a bond of $1,000, was brought before the Court on a writ of habeas corpus, and the matter being argued by Judge Sinclair for the petitioner, and Clark for the State, the party was remanded to jail. Gen. Payne has been employed to assist the Commonwealth's Attorney.

Lawrence Cole, esq., who lost his horse recently has heard nothing of the thief and it is feared tha the will escape with the property.  The horse was tracked towards Gainesville.

The Court House lot will be enclosed before the next term of the County Court.

The rainy weather recently has delayed the farmers greatly in getting in their crops.

The country is beginning to look very pretty, vegetation is coming up and the trees are commencing to spread their green foliage in lively contrast with their dreary appearance during the winter.

TYRONE.

Brentsville, Va., May 13, 1870

Newspaper Tidbit: Letter from PWCo (1869)

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
5 March 1869

Letter from Prince William Co.
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

Our County Court has been in session for the pat three days, ending yesterday evening. The following cases were adjudicated, and general business transacted: --

   An indictment for unlawful trespass on the promises of Mrs. M. F. Holland, was found by the grand jury against Daniel Whaling.
   Atkinson vs. Patterson, unlawful detainer, verdict for plaintiff.
   Knox vs. Carter's adm'r. Pleas waived and judgment for plaintiff.
   White, surviving, vs. the same. Plea waived and judgment for plaintiff.
   T. A. Brewis & Co. vs. E. J. T. Clarke. - Debt-verdict for plaintiff, with war interest abated.
   Able vs. Able's adm'r. Debt-verdict for plaintiff, with war interest abated.
   Johnson, surviving, vs. McLean. Debt-judgment for plaintiff.
   Thomas vs. Howison. Debt-verdict for plaintiff.
   Jacobs vs. Thomas. Trover-verdict for defendant.
   John T. Leachman qualified as executor of the last will and testament of the late Elder R. C. Leachman.
   James E. Williams qualified as administrator of John Williams, deceased.
   Sarah Donohoe qualified as administratrix of George Donohoe, deceased.
   Harvey Hyde having satisfied the Court that he is an ordained minister, and in regular communion with the Congregational church, was authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
   George W. Mitchell, a late appointee of General Stoneman's, qualified as Commissioner of the Revenue for Prince William county.
   Ten deeds were admitted to record, and one marriage license issued during the session of Court.

From the pugilistic demonstrations made by several parties on the first day of Court, and their manifest desire to break the peace, if not each other's bones, it is evident that Prince William's vervor is not abated by the "situation" here, and that she is still, in one sense, on an active "war footing."

It is supposed that before the next term of our Court, the removals of officers in the county will have been generally made, and the new appointees will be here to qualify and enter on the duties of their respective stations.

William Smith, stabbed recently by Mr. Reuben Reid, which I reported at the time, has recovered. Mr. Reid is not yet under arrest and it is hoped that the affair, occuring as it did between near neighbors, may be amicably adjusted.

TYRONE
Brentsville, Va., March 4, 1869

Church Record Sunday: Church at Brentsville

Alexandria Gazette
June 28, 1871

CHURCH AT BRENTSVILLE, PRINCE WILLIAM CO., VA -- I am requested to inform your readers that a delegation of ladies from this village will visit your city some day this week fully authorized to solicit contributions from your liberal people to aid in the erection of a church proposed to be built here.  A festival will be held on the Court green, here Monday next, by the ladies, the proceeds of which will be appropriated to the above named purpose.  The Hotel proprietors in the place have very generously declined furnishing any dinner that day, so that the ample repast spread by the ladies may be enjoyed by all.  Every delicacy the season affords will be procured.

It is hoped your merchants and citizens generally will lend these ladies a helping hand and contribute liberally to the object they have in view.  The church will be free to white ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, Presbyterian, Episcopal, the New and both branches of the Old School Baptist church.

Tyrone
Brentsville, Va., June 27