The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-21

Striking Hon. John r.. Masscy-He Pleads
Guilty, and is Fined for the Offence-1he
Court-Room Crowded-Captain Wise and
General George j. Hundley Have Words
That Lead 10 Their BciER Brought Before
the Court-No Difficulty Apprehended, and
They arc Discharged-Capiain Wise Cham
pioning n Colored Offender, Who is Re-
leased on Bail.
The attendance at the Police Court yes
terday morning was the largest seen for
some time-in fact, numerically consider
ed, il was a fine house. An attractive pro-
gramme always draws. and yesterday it
had been advertised that Captain John :.
Wise would appear in the character OF de-
fendant on a charge Of having assaulted
Hon. John Z. Massey, who contests the
right IL CAPTAIN Wise to warm the seat OF
congressman.at-large for Virginia IN the
Forty-eighth United States Congress. This
was enough, aud Africa turned out in
force. and nearly all Of the space In the
saw-dust arena outside OF the bar was
packed with sable statesman, who came
out 10 look upon the proceedings Of the
Court. Mr.. Massey's friends were also
present, and although largely outnumher-
ed, they were none the less enthusiastic.
The irate contestants came into court
promptly-General George J. Hundley ac-
companyiug Mr.. Massey as counsel, and
Captain Wise representing bi. own case.
HEARING THE CASE.
Police Justice ID. G. Richardson is out OF
the city, and in consequence Justice Il. III.
Isbell occupied the bench. The case being
called General Hundley asked for a contin-
uance, assigning as a reason that he was
very busy taking depoSitions for Mr.. Mas
sey in the contested-election case, and that
he had but few days within which to COM
plete bis labOrs. He also claimed that some
OF his witnesses were absent.
Captain Wise announced his complete
readiness to proceed with the case, and said
he acknowledged that he had slapped Mr..
Massey in the face and that he would do It
again under similar circumstances, even
though Mr.. Massey were hundred and
fifty years old and were in church.
General Hundley urged continuance,
intimating that there might be necessity
OF binding the parties to keep the peace in
order to prevent further trouble.
An INQUIRY.
Captain Wise said that he ''wou;d pledge
his word and honor rs a gentleman not
under. any circumstances to again strike
Mr.. Massey"
Mr.. Massey at this point interiected the
remark "Tbe honor OF rhGt gentleman F"
CAPTAIN Wise asked what it was that
Mr.. Massey had said, but no one volunteered
10 enlighten him, and General Hundley
having renewed his previous suggestion
with regard TO Il continuance and the p'a-
cling Of the parties under bond, Captain
Wise said that he saw the gist OF the matter,
and that in order TO further insult him IL
was necessary TO bind him 10 keep the
peace. He suggested that the bonds be re-
quired between himself and General Humid
lev, and not Mr.. Massey and himself.
WAKING THE WRONG CUSTOMER.
At this General Hundley arose, and, adj
dressing himself To Captain Wise, remarked
in cool tones that he had, as Mr.. Massey's
representative. endeavored at all times TO
treat Captain Wise courteously, but that he
would neither seek nor shun a difficulty
with him, and intimated that he did not
consider the courtroom a proper place TO
adjust difficulty, and expressed a readi-
ness 10 accommodate Captain Wise il he
desired il at any time, and in such manner
as would be pleasing 10 the Captain. Cap
tain Wise said he had heard that threat
ened men live the longest" TO which Gene
raj Hundley replied, "Then | shall Outlive
you, for it is you that have threatened me-"
The Court interfered and broke up the
colloquy, after which Captain Wise was
FINED AND DISCHARGED,
the Justice stating that he was only charged
with assault, and TO this charge he had
plead guilty. and that he would therefore
fine Captain Wise IS and dismiss the case.
The parties then commenced TO leave the
room. hut Captain Charles III. Epps, OF the
Thi-d police-station, had been an eye-wit-
ness of the proceedings, and had heard the
words between Captain Wise and General
HundIey. He therefore swOre ont war
rant for the arrest of the parties, charging
them with intent to fight duel. The two
gentlemen appeared before the court, ald
in answer to questions from same IL became
apparent that no immediate breach OF the
peace was contemplated. The parties were
discharged without recognizance; after
which they adjourned to General Hmdley's
law-oftice, where the taking OF dispositions
i'm the contested-elcctIon case was resumed
and kept up for the balance OF the day,
while peace reigned in Warsaw.
AFRICA II The WAR.
Before the parties left the courtroom
another difficulty occurred. The court
room was crowded, and it was with great
difficulty that the efficient janitor, William
c. Wilkinson, could keep the entrance to
the lar free from obstruction. Presently
coIored mau named J. Wesley Jones, en-
plOyed in the custom-house, got in the way,
and Mr.. Wilkinson ordered him in quiet
way to stand aside. Jones felt aggrieyed.
and resisted the officer and used insulting
language TO him, when Mr.. Wilkinson took
him into custody, and started with him to-
wards the prisoners pen.
CAPTAIN Wise seeing the affair, thought
the officer had exceeded his authority, and
ordered him to desist, but Wilkinson paid
no heed TO this, remarking TO Captain
Wise that il he resisted him in the dis
charge Of his duty as an officer OF the court
he would arrest him.
Captain Wise said he would report the
conduct of Wilkinson 10 the Board Of P0-
lice Commissioners, and with that the
affair terminated; aud when Jones's case
came up it was continued until to-day and
the defendant bailed TO appear, Captain
Wise going his security.
These proceedings, and what grew out
of them, caused great deal OF excitement
at the time Of occurrence.
RICHMOND PERPETUAL BUILDING, LOAN,
AND Trust CoNPlSY.-At the annual meet
ing OF the stockholders OF the Richmond
ID e.,a4uol Ruil6in~ orp and Trust Conn