From the Richmond Dispatch, 12/27/1862, p. 2, c. 3

Making a False Statement. – The police of the Eastern District arrested a man named John Gormley upon a somewhat singular charge. It seems that Gormley was disposed to have a Christmas spree with an old friend who was a prisoner in Castle Thunder, and he adopted the expedient of improvising an imaginary funeral, the subjects of which were two imaginary children of the prisoner, who had died of an imaginary fever. His long face and sorrowful words had the desired effect, and the prisoner was released to attend the melancholy ceremony. The trick was found out during the day, and Gormley was arrested, together with his friend, and locked up in the old quarters of the latter.

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