Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-05-24
lConnuHIcArsD.
TO THE PUBLIC.

/ ~ IhE PUBLIC.
should not have deemed II necessary
to have noticed the indictment ofthe oys-
ter jury. dressed in q little brief author
ity" and dignified with the title of "the
Grand Inquest of the State of Maryland
for the body Of Calvert county, but for
the malicious notice Published in the
Baltimore San, leminating I believe
from one Of the jury.) that was indict.
ed "for neglect of duty and maJfeasanee
in Office" I have been at the trouble
Of obtaining an attested copy for my
own information and for the public, and
also for publication as literary and le-
gal curiosity.
May TERM, 1877.
The Grand Inquest of the State of
Maryland for the body of Calvert couu-
ty, upon their oaths do present that
Capt. Jos. Forest, Of 9Th district. has
neglected his duty as Oyster Police,
permitting oysters to be caught by
dredging upon the exempted bar of
Plum Point and by failing to cruise IN
the waters of his district as the law re-
quires for these last ensuing II months.
w. S. KING, Foreman.
True copy, Test:
JOHN A. BAsFoRp, Clerk.
This is the ostensible charge. but the
kist Of the matter, my offence and crime,
consists in holding an Office which some
local politicians and their onnections
eovet. Two members OF this jury, il I
am not mistaken, have been and are ap-
>R'ican,s for the position I hold. had
hrdly entered upon my duties over two
y fars ago when the hue and cry of dis
appointed and disafected oifice-seekers
Vas raised against me on this same
fharge of neglect" Of that "gem of the
Tea" and pearl of Plum Pointers-the
um Pt. Oyster bar. branded it then
as falsehood and calumny. and invi-
Jed them to present their complaints to
She Board of Commissioners of S. F.F.
<Now, they bring their charges I'M
Yer the projection Of the Court-with
10 witnesses attached to the indict-
(nent-in secret-upon ex-parte evil
fence procured end produced for the
purpose Of tradueiug me in public esti-
nation, in order 10 advance and attain
their political. sinister and interested
eAis. = fi@
This Plum IT. bar is an isolated and
ekposedpart ofthe Chesapeake Bay, hav-
ing no safe anchorage for vessels, with
no harbor nearer than Hills Point on
Nhe Eastern Shore and Drum PIT. fifteen
hiles South. A Police Boat can be
seen approaching ten miles of. Boats
gre prohibited from dredging within
!, df mile ofPlum Pt. How is this half
mile Of water to be ascertained with
aut metes. bounds or bouys. Where
is Plum Pt. The u. 5. Coast survey
locates it three miles above the wharf
the citizens, 1t the wharf or public
landing. There is no. boat licensed
to tong there. The oysters are in
ferior and Of no use. To project this
place efficiently boat mus. be moored
there the whole time. One boat and
one set Of men have to traverse CAV
miles on the Chesapeake Bay and also
thirty miles in The Patuxent River
There in the season from. .6fiy 10
one hundred and city oysters boats that
cruise oil and harbor in the Patuxent.
averaging from 500 TO 1000 men to be
regulated, controlled, and watched in.
eessan,ly night and day BY 5 men,
The tongers also are to be kept within
their proper limits between Charles.
Calvert and St. Mary's. The dredger.,
serspers and the tcngers ofthree coun.
ties. and the citizens on land are all
to De satisfied, including the Office bun.
tiers. 1t is weighty and responsible
position not fully appreciated. Any
person with one grain Of common sense
acquainted with the locality can per-
celve the utter impossibility Of giving
efieient protection to this bar at Plum
n: with the force at my command.
challenge and defy them to produce
any charges prejudieiai to NV charac.
ter, officially or morally. from the day
OF my nativity to the present hour. On
the great body Of the people Of Calvert
| can safely rely for justice. 1t is all
ask. They are too honest, honorable
ane intelligent to eountenance : Cruz
SADIE gotten up and. carried on for such
disrePutable, flimsy and conssenptihle
purposes. i am indebted to some hon
est and independent Citizen for having
borne testimony 10 tIse performance Of
my duty and TO the Editors Of the Cal
vert County Journal for publishing il.
10. ToRREsr.