The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-12

The FRAcAs ON MAYo's BRIDGE.-P. L.
Cosby, of PoWhatan, was before the Mayor
Yesterday to answer the charge Of assault
ing and beating John II. Worsham with a
loaded whip. Mr.. Worsham and u. l..
Crawford were also arraigned for an assault
upon P. L. Cosby.
The affair occurred several days ago at
the toll-gate on Mayo's bridge, and the par
ticulars in brief have been already given.
1t appears from the evidence in the case
against Cosby that Cosby and his wife, and
another passenger named Hart, passed over
the bridge in the morning in Cosby's wa
gon, and that Hart had given Mr.. Worsham
q ffty-cent note to take out the toll. Mr..
Worsham did so, and returned eighteen
cents change, together with q ticket for the
return of the wagon. About 5 o'clock
Cosby and his wife returned on their way
home, and upon arriving at the toll-gate
Cosby told Worsham to give him two cents,
and he would give him the ticket
Worsham got the two cents, think
ing he wanted it for change, but upon
Cosby's claiming it as having been over
changed in the morning, refused to give
them to Cosby, at the same time asking
Cosby for the ticket. Cosby refused to give
it up, and Worsham then went to the heads
of the horses and seized them. Cosby told
him that if he did not turn them loose he
would strike him with his whip. Worsham
said he would let go if Cosby settled up.
Cosby then, standing up in the wagon, gave
Worsham violent blow with the lash end
of the whip. At this juncture, Mr.. Craw-
s. &c fn1l
bridge, came up with stick, which Wor-
sham took from him. At the same time
Cosby jumped out of his wagon and made
towards Worsham with the lash of his whip
wrapped around his hand, threatening
Worsham with the butt end. Worsham
struck him twice with the stick he had got
ten from Crawford, and then received two
stunning blows from Cosby, inflicted with
the dubbed whip. Worsham fell senseless,
and remained 80 a short time. Mr.. Craw-
ford and several others came up and raised
him up. Worsham, recovering, got another
stick, and went after Cosby, and struck him
again. Cosby then attempted to draw his
pistol seeing Cosby, Worsham went into
the house and brought out q musket, and
told Cosby if he drew his pistol he would
SnOOl Hill. DceinS luat Soooy tlu io' -" " ;
Worsham sat the gun against the fence, and
again went after Cosby, in order to keep
him from going over without paying. The
wagon, together with Cosby and his wife,
we're all detained by those present until the
arrival of policeman, who had been sent
after.
Cosby and his wife testified that when he
Cosby offered the ticket and demanded d
the two cents, as having been overcharged
in the morning, Worsham Immediately
seized the horses and that, after repeat
edly telling Worsham that if ne did not let
20 the horses he would strike him, he struck
at him with the lash of the whip, but did
not know if he hit Worsham or not. Craw-
ford then came up with two sticks, and
giving one to Worsham, they both made at
him and commenced beating him, and that
he then jumped out OF the wagon and
struck Worsham over the head and knock
ed him down. He then got back into tAc
wagon to go home, but was not allowed to
proceed.
A number of witnesses were examined,