The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-22
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

On The The
streets of our city, after nightfall, have
become unsafe for pedestrians and there
is actually a 'reign of terror prevailing
among the more quiet classes of our peO-
pie at the present moment, caused by
the alarming increase in the "thuggingh'
and "~garroting" ~depredations commit
ted by nightly providers upon the unsus-
pecting. On Friday night last, a young
gentleman connected with the distribut-
ing department of the Paginidn, Mr..
Joseph G. Fiveash, a very quiet and ex-
emplary young man, who is highly es-
teemed in the community, while on his
way home at a late hour, was knocked
down at the corner of Freemason and
Catherine streets, by white ruffians, Sc
verely wounded on the right side ofthe
head, and while lying senseless, his
pockets were searched and robbed of
their contents. Mr.. Fiveash subsequent
ly recovered and made his way home,
but his wounds were of so serious a
nature, that a surgeon was called in and
at this writing, we regret to say, fears
are entertained that he will not recover.
The "thugs" escaped, of course-and
there is no clue to their detection. The
same night, MI. Charles E. James, a
respectable young gentleman of this
city, was waylaid in CRANKY street, not
far from Main, and knocked down with
q club in the hands of some unknown
runian, for the purpose of robbery, his
head being also severely cut. Mr.. Geo.
Griffin, q respectable mechanic, while
going home the same night, was attack
ed by the "thugs'' on Catherine street;
but thanks to the assistance of a colored
man who Witnessed the assault and came
to his rescue, the a~ssailants were driven
off, and sought security in flight. On
Saturday night, about 7 O'Clock, Captain
James Smith, o well-known and popular
operator in the oyster trade Of our city,
was assailed and knocked down at the
corner of Cove and Bank streets, and
then dragged into a vacant lot in front
Of Rodney Jones's. Captain Smith
finding himself o%verpowered and out
numbered by the Williams, sang out lusti.
~ for help-a %"precaution We would
advise il, all cases of attack. His cries
brought a number of firemen and one OF
two police officers to his assistance, and
the robbers fed without accomplishing
their purpose. The inj uries inflicted on
the Captain were quite serious, as he
received several painful wounds on the
head with a bludgeon. In this, as in all
other similar cases, no arrests were
made. There were a number of cases
besides the above, but WI were unable
to procure the names of the parties OF
the particulars. These are sufficient
however, to arouse the authorities tt
extra exertions, and to more vigilance
in protecting u citizens against sucl
assaults. Some better system of police
must he adopted. The great change In
the social condition Of our people
requires a corresponding change in oul
municipal polity. The gangs of thieves
both white and black, that have congre
gated here in fancied security, must bt
ferreted out and dealt with harshly
We call upon the Mayor to do some
thing to re-assure the community. /
he lie fit to be the ruler of a city, HI
certainly should possess sufficient geniuI
to rid it of u few dozen desperate char
acters who hold its citizens in constant
dread of their lives. These proceeding,
are doing us incalculable injury, an,
nothing short of the extirpation Of thu
evil, will satisfy the public that Norfolk
Is a safe dwelling place for peaceabl'
people.