The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-11-18
VIRGINIA..

Iu061C6-Ot06F
without Understanding ARRAY ut tho Mill |
itary Institute-A Family Shooting Array
LYNCHBURG, Nov. ii. 1859.
During the present period. Immediately between
reconstruction and restoration to the Union-the
from military to civil authorlty-a degree
OF crime has prevailed throughout the State UMPIRE
eedented since the close OF the Murder, arson
and rape have bee rife within the past few months
but 1t Is remarkable fact thai this fearful epidemic
or outrage assumes no political CASTE nor does II
present the slightest appearance Of all antayonism
between the On the contrary there Is beau
tiful calm In the political world, consequent upon
an early assumption OF tho Stale's relationship to
the Union, and never has q more amicaDe feeling
existed among the negroes and whites. who were
20 long divided by political discussions.
The only manner In which It can DO accounted for
As che total absence OF law In the communities IN
which crime Is 80 prevalent and the thorough incom-
potency OF the iron clad officials appointed by the
military No security s felt by the peaceaby dis
posed while these irresponsible minions assume
control OF the civil power and the utmost license Is
youchsafed TO desperadoes OF every class. most
or all OF whom, strange to say, escape their
fnerited and justly deserved punishment II is
alleged that In numerous instances General
Candy has too, with singular inconsistency
taken the most notorious criminals from the jurIsdc
over for trial by military commissions. with the IN
dcrstood determination OF shielding them rom jus
tace. radical police oficer in the city Of Richmond
who deliberately murdered o citizen named Kelly,
which incurred the indignation OF oil classes,
was under Canbys order acquitted by single mill
tary officer when, had he been tried by jury, his
neck would have undoubtedly paid the penalty OF
his terrible crime. Norfolk q few days since fur
nished similar case where policeman Ia The per-
Torrance OF duty and in defence OF MS life killed
soldier, was arrested by the civil authorities, in
aicted and about to be tried. when again Candy in
serposes and turns over the criminal TO military
commission, but this time with tho object OF inaur-
ing the severest penalty OF the law. Such high
handed partisan measures, taken in connection
with the characters or the scores OF adventures
who As sherfs. justices and consrabes have been
appointed to enforce the law has tended to produce
an unparalleled carnival Of cri me in this hitherto
peaceable Old Commonwealth, until atterly she has
become the rival or North Carolina, wnere an inles-
tine and bloody strife wages between the Ku Klux
and the loyal leagues.
In single day intelligence OF q number OF ARRAYS
and murders has been received here conclusive OF
this lamentable state OF AFFAIRS On Saturday last,
in Floyd county man named Trice shot in three
places and instantly killed another named Glib
son. AS reported 1t appears that In the month
sion OF most horrible crime, and on his allegation
the latter was arrested, but after a preliminary
examination held by three OF Canby's justices he
was acquitted and discharged. Giosons testimony
Ia said TO have been lmpeached successfully, and
that ii was shown he was unworthy Of belief.
However this may DO, Gibson continued to
pursue Trice, evidently earnest In the justice OF
hs accusations, whatever they may have
been, never yielding an opportunity that offered
OF tanning and abusing him. This lasted
until saturday, when the parties again met at
Cooper Valley, in FLOYD county. when Gibson
% usual, made verbal attack spon Trice, which
that person resented by drawing a revolver and
shooting Gibson three times, from the effects OF
dered himself 10 the civil authorities and was.
for the crime OF deliberate murder, held to ball in
the sum OF $500 for his appearance for trial. Many
Justify Trice Tor this summary Decd but It bears
upon its face lawlessness aud disregard OF the
security Oh the person quite at variance with all the
usages OF ceilzed society. The amount Of bail alone
for a crime tDat is not baiable under the laws OF
Virginia, shows how utterly incompetent TIE exist
ing authorities are.
Another remarkable case, the exact particulars OF
which are MOI n my possession ls the arrest in
Rockingham county or Colonel T. j. Armstrong for
the alleged murder OF NJ. L. shanks some time last
summer TINS gentleman was arrested at the tine
Of the alleged crime anu was legally tried and hon
orally acquitted by q judge and jury-the m0ue
prescribed BY Inc code Of Virginia. NDtwithstand-
tried and again acquitted But now rhe military
interfere, rearrest hm, and are, it is supposed,
about 10 Try him by military commission for the
offence he was twice acquitted OF BY the ctv courts
Where Is the haoeas corDus9 Candy laughs al such
documents as thar.
on Thursday morning lasr In the same county,
two negroes, respectively entitled John Wright ard
+ gerry Jones the former ABOUT seventeen years ola
and the latter also young mao just iuli grown, be-
came emDrolled in dlnicuity Which resulted falaiiy
voJones. Jones attacked Wright, wao with more
luck than wisdom, perhaps, ran away to save him
VINO Wig )ronsiy proceeded 70 beat him. Again
Wright escaped ana ran, still pursued; but TINS
time driven - extrouits ne picked up small stone,
which ne threw WITH accurate aim 8nd great force,
taking eject on Jones' head and killing bin Ia
stautly. Wright arrested and Is now Ia jnii
awaiting an Investigation. II Is hardly probable,
however, that the military VIII Interfere III tnis
covered to have been Il conservative .nlgger.n
Another case mas just been brought 70 my notice
In winch a military officer Effected the escape OK
notorious murderer, then on trial. from tae county
jail OF New Kent. There were three criminals
charged with the murder, twelve months
since, OF a hafbfeed indian man ana q white wo-
man with whom he was living. The mau they
Killed IN Held Few hundred yards from the house,
which was burned as soon as the woman bad been
despatched and whatever money YVES within 1t
secured. These de5peradoes were Just put on trial,
and n consequence OF repeated efforts TO escape the
guard, and for this purpose he consulted
the military o1icer or the dlstrict, who
himself made the appointments. In lew days.
however, the sheriff discovered some OF the men,
bers OF the guard careless and incompetent ana he
accordingly as In duly bound, applied for their
moval and the appointment OF more efiicient men.
This however the military oicer refused 10 90 and
he perenptorily ordered the same men 70 be re-
Gned uLtil ir was his pleasure to discourage them.
Tle result was not unexpected. Tbe prisoner, who
was the principal Of the criminals escaped and Is
now at large, WIN but little prospect or being cap
turei IN the present organization OF the cvil oia.
Gals III the state Another OF military inter-
ference Win the due course OF the law.
During t1ls era Of crime the Military rnst-
tute AZ Lexington has not escaped its contamnat-
lug influence. a few DAYS since difficulty occur
red between cadet Price Of Virginia aud cadet
walton OF Texas. 10 seems the chlvairlc repre-
sentative q the Old DOMINION was engaged in AS
studies wen tho hyey Texan entered Inc room
end commenced a series OF Jests winch mad the I'M
Que eileet OF disturbing me equan!D.ty OF the viz
eiDaans temper. high words ensued, Il fight fol-
loved, nhd N the melee Price, the yrginian
drew knne with Witch ne inaieted three severe
stahs IN tue shoulder and TWO n the LEFT site Of
Walton, tae PLAYFUL Texan. JDe condition Of the
wGunded man y SAID 10 ne critical. Price was dis
charged ftol the Institute nv Lne faculty.; bat Thus
Tar Sne authorities nave failed 10 arrest hra PER-
hipa General Candy, VIII, ~ usual, interfere. aud
THIS uttle iracas may serve good excuse to place