The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-10
VIRGINIA. NEWS, !
Letter frorn peter.Iours.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
PETERSBURG, VA, February o, 1871.
The Finance Committee with their co,in
sci, Messrs. Mann and Alexander Donnan
and Mr.. Ragland with his counsel, Messrs
Lyon and Pegrarn, have been in animated
and at times exciting conference for more
than two hours over the sale by the city Il
Mr.. Ragland Of 4,75J shares in the Peters.
burg railroad. At the present writing the
committee is in private session, DELHI
| Grating what to do under the very pc
culiar present circumstances of this very
remarkable case. Tie Council ut its
session of February I'd, after Colonel Paul'>
injunction had been dissolved by Judge
Weisiger, passed resolution accepting Mr.
Ragland's proposition and, proceeded to
adopt an ordinance ratifying the contract fol
the sale according to their understanding.
Under this ordinance Mr.. Ragland is re-
qubed to pay oil the purchase money in cash.
except $4,000 due in 1875. Mr.. Ragland
insists that he made no such PROPOSE.
ton, and never knew of it all and there
is, III truth, nothing in the written papers
to show for it, though the president
of the committee says he is ready to swear.
and that other members will also swear, that
it was this offer which induced them to close
with Mr.. Ragland's offer and to rule Mr..
Bollings (at an equal tigure) out. Mr.. Rag.
lands tender Of payment now is to pay
Sl3I ,425 in cash, and to give his bond for the
payment of the residue in August, 1915, witt
interest at six per cent. per annum, payable
semi-annlally in February and August. Tn,
deferred credit is S2G6,750. There is, it an.
pears, difference of opinion among Nj
Highlands lawyers as to the amount in cash
he is bound to pay-NIr. Lyon thinking he
is bound for S106,G75, and Captain Pcgran
Sl54,1 The trouble is, the Finance
Committee and Mayor cannot proceed
except under the authority of the ordinance
which does not provide for the only terms
proposed. How they will get out of this
complication remains to be seen. ...... ....
Mr.. Ragland, in making his tender of pay.
ment, made an excited speech, dcnouncine
the parties who, he alleged, had been pursll.
ing and DIGGING him and circulating stories
that he was attempting to cvade his contract
He said he was not only ready to fulfil bis
contract, but he meant to make the city per-
form its part. He would have his rights, and
would fight it out if he had to leave it in his
will, and appropriate the $4,000, for which
his life was insured, for that purpose. He
said he was game, and had been aroused from
1: 10 very roots.
A singular and mysterious affair is under.
going investigation before the Mayor. Three
negroes, Benjamin Harrison, Dave Williams,
and Perry Jones, have been arrested fol
! breaking into John Couper's store Friday
night. One Of them, Benjamin Henderson
| q gave his name Incorrectly in my last,l was
shot in attempting to escape. These negroes
| and others who were summoned as witnesses
| dcvclopc the strange story that Jones was
| furnished with key to the store by Copper:
clerk, one UudSins, and induced Henderson
to go along, the whole Icing Il trap TO gc
the latter killed. Sure enough ht
was wounded. 1t appears there Ia:
been al effort to have the matter
hushcd up, and the authorities seen
| to have been >purrcd rather unWillingly int
making the investigation. The case has bccl
continued till Monday, when rare develop
mcnts may be expected. If the authoritic
| try to smother up this business it will b.
ventilated in some other way, know.
| Rev. DR.. j. l.. NJ. Curry is to preach OF
Sunday, learn, at the First Baptist church
Rev. William L. Hatcher will 20 next Mon
day to Raleigh, n. c., to assist i'll conductin:
revival of religion i'll progress there.
| You never bcheld such a wrctcllcd, rainy
cold day Us we have had.
Cotton is very fiat to-day, nearly cen
| lower than yesterday. ROBIN ADAIR.