The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-09-08
THE UNION.
To the Editors Of the Richmond Enquirer:

| To the Editors Of The Richmond Enquirer:
AcooMAc CoURT- HOUSE, Sept /, lsi7.
| MEssRs EpIToRs Accomac Court house on Monday
last the OF OF the most outrageous mobs
which disgraced any community
| You know that General Bayy, who enjoys personal
and political influence in the county of Accomac (never
greater than at this tme which few enjoyed
in any community has for long time been hated ny
few OF his political opponents with intense malignty
This feeling was greatly exaseraied by the result OF te
late election, In which he carried the county, n despite
of the most desperate resorted to defeat hlm
by Unprecedented majority; and two democrats were
returned to the Legislature by large maoes in the place
OF two wings
For several days before the late court reports were rife
in the county that that day General Bayly was to be
mobbed, and the members of the court to be taken from
the bench by the same PERSONS but Tor different offences
These reports reached the of General Bayly was
proven in the investigations but he did not attach much
Importance TO them saying as was also proven, that men
who aimed at anything more than row, would
scarcely select public court-day to make their attack
Monday came, and every thing passed off very quietly
until near night Ii is true, that the same band which
subsequently attempted to mob General Bayly, once went
into the courthouse TO carry out their threat against the
court but of their friends got wind of it, and pre-
vailed upon them to desis This attracted but little no
OF General Baylys friends, and the peaceabe portion OF
the community, imposed upon by these appearances, had
left Town. General Bayly had been occupied in court
from the morning until candles lit, in important
criminal cause AS as he was through with 1t, ne
proceeded, unaccompanied, from the courthouse TO the
tavern. He ordered his horse, and was standing Tor
three gentlemen, when client took him to the opposite
side of the street advise with him alone about some
professional business The gentleman with whom ne
had been converslng walked oft The mob, which had
already collected in the tavern porch, headed by Mr.
William B. Finney, the late wing member of the
legislature who was defeated last spring, started
and win other their w oasa Closely wH followed by A his
bulies he approached General Bayly which seemed to
be designed 10 draw out pretext for the attack The
witnesses did not hear any ohe part OF the conversation
than the uding remark OF Gen b., which was, "Sr
you will receive other answer from me" Thereupon
Mr.. Fnney struck Gen. b. blow which caused HIM to
blunder back, and he fell over old cannon which was
planted Immediately at the corner OF the street AS soon
as he down. several persons cried out, skill him
"damn him, Kill him while he Is down." They were
rushing upon him, when, partially recovering himself
he drew pistol from his green bag. and shot Mr. FIN
ney. This for moment checked the mob, but in sher
time they rallied, and Gen. Bayly was knocked down
pistol presented Mr. Jno c. Wise, justice of the peace
who had been drawn TO the by the report OF the
pistol snached the pistol from his hand, and placed HIM
in custody The mob still rushed upon Mr.. Wise
and General Bayly, when he appealed to Mr. Wise If
it was right to disarm him, who stood without a
friend beside him, when he was assailed by an armed
attack that day, and who had armed himself to meet
it, informed General Bayly that he thoroughly
armed, and while he was his prisoner, he would risk
his own life in his defence Mr. Wise assured the mob
that ne acting solely peace officer; that Gen b.
was dsarmed, and in the custody of officers of the law
and, displaying his weapons, with which he was literally
vanced upon them. Notwithstanding the coolest specta
tor expected to both Gen. Bayly and Mr. Wise muir
dered Gen. b. conducted to the cOurt-ho by the
officers who had him in charge. While there, and dis
armed and in custody efforts made by portions OF the
mob who had rushed n shoot him. and also by those
who were out to shoot him in the back through the
windows In the mean time, some OF General Bayy's
friends who had left the court yard, and others from
the town and the neghborhood, began to collect, and
the officers, who were few in number, entertaining
the greatest fears for the result thought best
General Bayy from the and conne him in the jail
AS he conducted from the court house, some OF his
friends, not understanding the object of the movement,
cried out he should not be carried to Jail but General b.
exhorted them not to resist the officers of the law The
mob, the mean time, General Baylys friends began
Bayly remained in jail all night. The next morning, at
his instance his fully inquired by three
justices OF the peace, two of whom political oppo
nents. The case minutely examined The magis-
termination was made known, there was vehement APP
pause from the assembled crowd. In the testimony, of
which the above is synopsis, there conflict
Ali the witnesses testified that their opinion, but for
the weapon General Bayly used the GOODNESS and self
possession which he displayed hroughout-the fact that
repdlty which he dispaycd-both he and General Bay
ly would have been murdered The witnesses also tes-
tilted, that the ground of attack bitter and malignant
political hatred-some of them saying that as his oppo-
nents could not put HIM down politically, they believed
they determined to take his life. 1t but justice to
the wing party of the county to say, although is be-
leved that there others behind the scene who are
not known this NATTER that the great body of them alb
hor these proceedings as much as any others can.
1t IS difficult to do justice to the conduct of Mr. WISE
that of Captain West the deputy sheriff, who had his
clothes literally torn off of him.
General Bayly not seriously injured Mr. Fnney's
wound is not thought to be dangerous