The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-12
The KnoyIeS-Curtss Affair.

AAAt knuVHkeS-SufL19 AHltr.
THE CASE BEFORE THE POLICE JUsTICE-ExaM-
NATION OF wITSEssEs-NO BLooD-THE
PARTIES Observation-Disclosures OF THE COM
Mr1TEE on LIGHT TODAY.
Yesterday morning Mr.. John Fl. Knowles
and Captain John A. Curtis appeared before
the Police Court charged by Major John Poe,
Chief OF Police, with intending TO commit
breach of the peace. AT 10 o'clock the
case was called, and the first witness exam
ined was Mr.. Samuel B. Witt, who had car
ried the note from Mr.. Knowles to Mr. Cur
tis demanding an explanation.
Mr.. Witt being sworn, testified about as
follows: We were employed to repre-
sent Mr.. Knowles before the Committee on
Light, in which there was controversy be-
tween the chairman (Mr. Curtis) and Mr..
Knowles, who is the superintendent OF the
gas-works. I went to see Mr.. Curtis i'm
order to sec ii the matter could not be ar.
ranged without long contest before the
committee. Mr.. Curtis said the matter
would have to 60 before the committee. I
left him, agreeing to meet him at the COM
mittee-meeting this evening. No idea Of a
duel ever occurred to me. I was acting as
Mr.. Knowles's counsel, and was surprised
and greved when saw the matter had been
distorted into personal difficulty.
In answer 10 a question OF the Police
Justice rs to whether he (Witt had not car
ried note to Mr. Curtis from Dir. Knowles
demanding an explanation OF or an apology
| for his (Curtis's) conduct on Saturday, he
said lie had, and thpt Mr.. Curtis had re-
fuse:a to make any apology ~"
Qiestion by Police Justice What, then,
was your idea as to the result OF the refusal
of the apology?
| Answer: That the whole affair would be
settled by the committee.
| Mr. Wit said he did not have e copy OF
tue note.
Mr. Curtis being called upon produced
| the note. The note was addressed to Mr.
Curtis and signed by Mr.. Knowles, and de-
manded that an explanation Of the conduct
OF Curtis on Saturday last be made. Mr..
Knowles states in the note that he believed
all differences to have been settled as Mr.
Curtis had agreed some time previous, in
the presence OF AIessrs. Ben. Il. August and
W. C. Adams, not to interfere with him
again in the discharge Of his duties, and con-
cludes By repeating the demand Tor the ey-
PLANTATION.
Mr.. Ben. r. August testified rs follows ::
On Monday morning. when | reached the
corner of Tenth and Main streets OH my
waY down town, friend stopped me and
stated that very serious difficulty had oc-
Cured at tEci "aSworks on Saturday last
between MessrS. John II. Knowles and John
4. Curtis, and that Mr.. Knowles had writ
ten Mr.. Curtis formal note by Mr.. Samuel
b. Witt demanding an apology or m cNp'a-
nation OF his (Curtis's) conduct on that oc-
casion; that Curtis had sent q verbal reply
to the demand and positively refused to
make any explanation or apology. The
gentleman said that he believed that a
serious difficulty would he the result. and
suggested that we immediately procnrc 4
warrant for their arrest. | told him That
this was Il very serious matter and that 1t
was not advisable to act hastily about 1t,
and that ! would take time to consider 1t.
Just at this time another friend came NJ.
and the conversation was repeated TO him.
/ told him that had notice for Mr. Cur
It's, and that was Just going down to serve
il. He said lie would accompany mc, and
we would tall; the affair over together
with him. We walked together down
the street. but upon arriving at the
Old Market l informed him that
III had determined to consult Maior
John Poe, Chief OF Police, and there
lore it would not do for me TO have any
communication with Mr.. Curtis or Mr..
him conidentialv OF the difficulties tina,
had occurred between the two gentlemen
and OF the note THAI had passed. Major Poe
told me thar he believed it to be my duty tt
relieve him from the bonds OF confidence
and permit him to procure warrant Of ar
rest, and that if | did not, and anything
serious should occur that ! would certain
Iv regret it. ! told him all right; that II he
thought this best that | would do aS he >llg-
ec>tcd, aud go ahead.
In answer to Il question by the Police
Justice aS to whether he believed breach
Of the neacc was likely TO have occurred
witness answered in the aflirmative-.tha
he believed this from what be knew to have
occurred previously.
Tue Justice asked him if he believed there
had been bad blood between the parties,
and he again answered in the affirmative
but from explanations made to him since
the arrests or Monday he thought the
affair would probably be settled without
further trouble.
After the examination OF the witnesses
the Justice informed McsSrS. Knowles and
Curtis that rs It seemed that no breach OF
tho pcace was now likely to occur he would
discharge them on their personal pledges a>
Gentlemen TO commit no breach OF the peace
in relation to this matter. Each gentleman
cave the assurance desired, and, accompa-
MED by their friends. LETT the court-roon
4 meeting OF the Committee on Ll-ht
will be held ut the upper gas-Works lh!s
evening at j o'clock, when 1t Is stated that
the differences as To the management OF the
pns works that exist between McS>r>.
Knowles, the superintendent, and Captain
Joan 4. Curtis, tic chairman. Will he con-
sidnrnd The members OF the committee
are JOHN 4. Curtis. chairman; Lewis ~
CrcnShaw, Jr., james ii. Goddln, W. y,
Gentry. William II. Scott, l.. Wagner ahC
c. II. BarkSdalc.
PINAFoRE At TIE THEATRE LAST N!lilif'-
We have had something TO say on Il lo'iMEtI M
occasion on the subject OF !uuicio"7 p''i
hosting and how the brilliant shoW-calu