GENERAL ORDERS, 
No. 129. 
WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Adjutant General’s Office, 
Washington, Mag 15, 1863. 
I..Before a Military Commission, which convened at Norfolk, Vir- 
ginia, March 9, 1863, pursuant to Special Orders, No. 63, dated Head- 
quarters Department of Virginia, 7th Army Corps, Fort Monroe, 
Virginia, March 5, 1863, and of which Lieutenant Colonel Z. P. Boyer,. 
173d Pennsylvania Militia, is President, was arraigned and tried— 
Alexander Spence, of the city and county of Norfolk, citizen. 
Charge I.—“ Setting fire to a store in the night time with intent to 
burn, and wilfully burning said store.” 
Specification—“In this ; that Alexander Spence, of the city and county of 
Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Virginia, citizen, at said city 
of Norfolk, in the night time, on or about the 12th day of 
February, 1863, did unlawfully set on fire the store occupied 
by one Joshua II. King, with intent to burn the said store, and 
did wilfully burn said store, and several other buildings, thereto 
adjoining.” 
Charge II.—“Breaking and entering a store in the nighttime with 
intent to steal, and stealing therein.” 
Specification.—“In this; that Alexander Spence, of the city and county 
of Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Virgiuia, citizen, at said 
city of Norfolk, in the night time, on or about the 12th day of 
February, 1863, did feloniously break and enter the store occu- 
pied by one Joshua H. King, with intent to steal, and did then 
and there steal, take, and carry away the goods and property of 
said King, of the value of more than one thousand dollars.” 
Charge III.—“ Stealing the goods of Joshua H King.” 
Specification. — “ In this ; that Alexander Spence, of the city and county of 
Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Virginia, citizen, in said city, 
on or about the 12th day of February, 1863, did wilfully and feloniously steal, take, and carry away the goods of one Joshua 
H. King, of the value of more than a thousand dollars.” 
Charge IV.—“Receiving stolen goods, knowing them to be stolen.” 
Specification.— “ In this ; that Alexander Spence, of the city and county of 
Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Virginia, citizen, at said city, 
on or about the 12th day of February, 1863, did receive a large 
amount of stolen goods, knowing them to be stolen.” 
Charge V.—“Arson.” 
■Specification.—“ In this ; that Alexander Spence, of the city and county of 
Norfolk, and Commonwealth of Virginia, citizen, at said city, 
on the night of the 12tli day of February, 1863, did wilfully 
and feloniously set on fire and burn a block of buildings at the 
corner of East Main street and Market street, in said city, which 
block of buildings, so set on fire and burned, consisted partly 
of shops and stores, and partly of dwelling-houses.” 
To which charges and specifications the accused, Alexander Spence, of 
the city and county of Norfolk, citizen, pleaded “Not Guilty.” 
Finding. 
The Commission, having maturely considered the evidence adduced, 
finds the accused, Alexander Spence, of the city and county of Norfolk, 
citizen, as follows : 
Charge I. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Charge II. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 3 
Charge III. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Charge IV. 
Of the Specification, “Not Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Not Guilty.” 
Charge V. 
Of the Specification, “Guilty.” 
Of the Charge, “Guilty.” 
Sentence. 
And the Commission does therefore unanimously sentence him, Alex- 
ander Spence, of the city and county of Norfolk, citizen, “ To be hung by 
the neck until he be dead." 
II--In compliance with the fifth section of the act approved July 17, 
1862, the proceedings in the foregoing case have been submitted to the 
President of the United States, and the sentence awarded Alexander 
Spence, citizen, of the city and county of Norfolk, is by him approved, 
and will be executed under the orders of Major General Dix, com- 
manding the Department of Virginia. 
By onDBa of tiie Secretary of War : 
E. D. TOWNSEND, 
Assistant Adjutant General.