Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-02-01
A Legislator Threatens to Cow
hide a Newspaper Writer
Attention Police.

In the House of Delegates yester-
day, Mr. Curlett, of Lancaster, lose
to point of privilege and sent to the
clerks desk a copy Of the Evening
JOm nat which he requested should
be read.
The Clerk read from the Journal as
follows
FOndling the Tiger Tossing Coppers.
A bill has been introduced in the
House by one Of it's prominent mem
beers TO punish alike the party WHO
plays or informs on farO-bank and
the owner of the Tank. The morning
papers give Mr.. Crockett credit for
this, aud in 40 doing they have erred
and robbed the real author of the glory
and likewise reflected Oh old Dave
Mr.. Il. Spicer Curlett, of Lancaster, is
the gentleman who offered this bill
and it is not right to give another
credit for 1t and thus rob this young
man of his popularity with the owner
Of larger tiger whom Mr. Il. SpiCer
has been fondling.
There is something i'm name even
though 1t Is parted in the middle. The
very first initial "T!" how ii sends
positive Spice, com. Spicer, superla-
tive Curle.t. But apart from The sug-
gestive name Mr.. Il. Spicer Curlett, of
Lancaster, has an elegance of manner,
grace Of person, and ndency o.
speech, which with his exquisite!y
fitting clothes. and his carefully stud
led PORTIONS mark him as at least
unusual" In addition to all this
Nj. 4. Spicer Curiett wears a beaver
hat and cane. The latter ~ adorned
with u well carved "calf," with foot
attached, and is twirled when in con
versatiOn with a rapiiIty quite equal
to the swell of the day"
Mr.. Peter *. Jones offered a bill to
arrest three-card- men without
warrant, which was also REFEREED
It locks as II there is some comhina-
ton between the two. Mr.. Il. SpIcer
Curlett was put up to offering his bill
by n large tiger dealer, and thinks it
ought 10 pass.
Mr.. Curlett frequently bucks Mt the
tiger. and this little effort on his part
to ingraciate himself is hut natural.
Mr.. CurleTt will bet on most any
thing, ii il said, aud on last Monday,
during prayers. he and a friend PASSED
the time in "tOssing cDppers for
drinks &" Now, while this did not
disturb the officiating clergyman, or
perhaps did not seriously interrupt
the GevOut prayers of the rest of the
members, still it was not exactly tie
correct thing. As the other party has
relatives living here, his name, at
their request, has been withheld.
The reading of the article caused
UpNI ipnl pf D,prrit,lanF apnpnu tho
members. hut MIR. Curlett seemed to
I've considerably excited. He said the
editor Of the journal had refused to
give him the name of the author, and
as he found the editor to be physically
disabled he had no means of redress,
hnt to move To eXpel the young man,
whom he believed generally SAT i'm the
gallery, and whose name he hoped to
Obtain, from the privileges OF the
House. He desired to say, however,
that the author was liar and a cow
ard, and he would cOwhide him if he
found an opportunity.
The JOurRnt of yesterday evening
calls the attention of the Chief of Po-
lice to card published in the Wing
by MIR. Curlett, in which the above
article was denounced as "defamatory
and false" and says the aggrieved leg
islatOr should seek his remedy in the
courts, by suit for libel.
Says the journal!
but his clustering talk about "per-
sonal responsibility and his threats
made on the floor of the House this
morning will neither intimidate any
body or help his cause. The jour
NAL Is performing a public duty in
looking after the public servants of
the State, sent thither TO legislate for
the State and paid for such service,
even though it he neglected The
House of Delegates places stigma
upon itself 10y allowing members tn
talk such bully talk ~ he talked this
morning on the floor"
But this is business for Major Poe
and the police justices. And if Mr..
Curlett suffers harm attempting to
carry ont any Of his bully threats, Mr..
Poe will have to shoulder the respun-
siLility. One thing is very certnin.
viz: That the EUening Journal will
not he intimidaled 10y the bully talk OF
agErieved Legislators, however much
members Of the Legislature may be
intimidated by the bold threats OF a
tanned Judge"