Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-03-21
The Change of Rulers in Virginia.

RICuUoND. March l7.-For some time there
have been rumorS that the present authorities
iu ui6ce by military appointment intended
rc,istiu. any n oyemcut 20 diSposscSs them
until their successors were elected by the
people, rs they held the cnableiug act declar-
inn tie OficeS vacant On be unconstitutional
Last night the city council appointed hy Gov
erDor Walkpr under the enabling act elected
Henry H. Elyson mayor, aud chose a new
chief and captains Of police. This morning,
about day. the new chief MAJOR John Poe,
applied at the lower statiOu-house for possess
ION. hut Was refused Later in the day Mayor
El'yson applied by letter 10 Mayor Cahoon
for the Mayors oficr books. &c. and was
refused, CaboaE declaring lie WAS IL tho -efficc
Pos Jaw and would not Weld until erected.
..I..a. Who lal possession of the lower
,.r...r-rwsc. proceeded o. swear iu special
cf ah.,sto the number of $50. including
an.v. twenty r,ored
LEs.a taru pr1ccr,'cj % swear in about
tw. lur 'r.j special officers. and ut one oclocl;
surrounded tho lower sta'iou-housc. where
Ctlam snd his specials are. the plan being
% arrest any any Of them who came ont.
Mayor El'yson has possession Of the city
bal. and all the other public buildings. except
the s;atilu-hruses. which are held BY the OPP
po,ite party The OH police force divided
alout equally between tho two MAYORS There
is now q crowd VI one On. us md blacks and
many whites concrCeated about the lower
stlti0n-hCusc. which is the point Of interest
Ctl1og sent through his counsel. cx-Govcrnor
Wise. letter ~ Gov Walker. stating hi,
position. and asking assistance 20 maintain
his authority.
lSrCoNp nISPATCHl
RirFNoNp March l7-GovcrnNr Walker.
in rcp'y 20 Mayor Cahoons application. SAYS
chat Mayor Ellvson. being legally &C tc under
an ac, Of the Legislature. he cannot recognize
any one else rs MAYOR; that CIhoon is inca
pah'e Of holding the office under the law OF
Virginia. as he already holds federal office :
that mo- breach Of the peace can occur without
Cahoou's act or approval that he should re-
sort 90 peaceful judicial remedy il he wants
90 test the question of right and. finally, that
he should obey the laws and sustain the con-
Stitutel authorities.
Ex-Gov Wise Judge r. ". Hughes and
T. T. ChlndIer are the counsel for Mayor Ca
hoon. who with about thirty men. Is still in
the lower statiou-huusc. the beScging force
having cut or the gas and water and forbid
any provisions 20 be sent them. 4 crowd Of
ca'arsl men bought ont bake shop and COM
merccI throwing bread mp 10 the be>ieCcl,
hu' they were driven of by the special police
An WAS quiet at O'Clock The weather is
b.'tcr cola. with a high wind The police
telegraph wires have been cut, 20 prevent
their use by the bcS,cged.
THIRD DISPATCH
RICHNoND. March l7-At dark Mayor f.
iisou and Chief cf Police Poe and others were
arrested by the United States marshal for hav-
irc refused revenue officer permission % see
Cah0o0 iu his character as United State COM
missioner. They were baiIcl until tomorrow.
A company Of troops has been brought into
The CRY by order Of On. Crnby. II Is stated
that Judge Underwood will arrive tomorrow
and iSSue an Injunction prohibiting Ellison and
the other officers from exercising the duties
# their Office. The excitement In the city all
lay has been so great that very little business
has been done Clboon is still besicged.
Later despat, hes state that Gen Candy ~
tc-fered With tho military.
When the military took possession of the sta
-ion-hou>c Mlvor EIlyson's police left and
being stoned BY the crowd, Of colored men.
,hs-gei them. About City shots were fred,
.ui two or three colored men wounded. One
man killed