The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-04
Arrest Of q Southern Gentleman for
Chastisins "a Negro.
Washington Post. Sd.

In answer to the following telegram De-
teciye Cox was at the Baltimore and Po-
tomac depot when the train came in from
Virginia about : o'clock last evening:
"Haye policeman at Baltimore and Poto-
mac depot to arrest party on train 81.
[Signed1 W. Il. Farrar." A tall, hand
some. dark-comp'eXloned young gentle.
man. about twenty, OF a marked southern
mien, got off the train. followed by four
big negro men. One OF the negroes
sought out the detective and introduced
himself rs Mr.. Farrar, who had
sent the telegram, and said he wanted
him to arrest the young man; that he had
assaulted him on the train near Charlottes-
vile, Va. Without further ado Detective
Cox put the young gentleman under arrest
and took him to police headquarters, where
he gave the name OF VI. II. Sharp. of Mis-
sissippi. Cox telephoned for Judge Mills
and prepared to have the case tried mt once;
and a Post reporter, who happened to be
present, went 20 see some OF the passengers
who had come in on the train 10 get the
particulars OF the affair, which Detec-
tive Cox explained to be a "civil-
rights cise, and therefore within the
jurisdiction OF the District, though the
offence was committed in Virginia" A
gentleman acquainted with the facts in the
case said that little difficulty had occurred
on the train near Charlottesville, Va. and
Young Sharp had given the negro Farrar a
severe thrashing for insulting lady on the
train. The train was crowded, and n num-
Der OF passengers had to stand. among
whom was young lady, accompanied byan
elderly gentleman. Mr.. Sharp was standing
also. Seated near by were four negro men,
who doggedly refused when the conductor
asked them TO let the ladies have seats.
Finally two OF the negroes went into the
smoking-car, leaving the seats vacant, and
the youLg lady started to sit down, when
the negro Farrar, who occupied another
seat, jumped up, and, selzing the lady
roughly by the arm dragged her from the
seat. This was more than Mr.. Sharp could
see without resenting, and in his impul-
siVe southern way. seized the negro. a
short struggle ensued. The negro at
tempted to draw pistol, but his antago-
MIST knocked him down and beat him sense
less with The butt OF pistol before any
enc could interfere. From this followed
the Telegram and the arrest. Mr.. Sharp is a
slender, delcately-built young man, and
would not weigh over a hundred and
twenty pounds. while the negro was a
thick-set, muscular fellow who would not
fall short OF 200 pounds.
After some delay at police headquarters,
Mr.. U'Neal, the clerk in charge. got the
facts of the arrest, and saw at once that
Detective Cox had exceeded his authority,
bat was not disposed TO lend his aid in
completing what lie regarded as an Illegal
act by OBTAINING the young man. SO he
notified Mejor Dye OF the arrest and the
circumstances under which it was made,
and the Major at once telephoned for them
not TO attempt to hold the young man for
moment. The occurrence taking place
in Virginia, the District officers had no ju-
risdiction over it, and even il it had oc-
CURED In the city, the officer had no right
TO make the arrest without a warrant, un-
less he had seen il himself, or thoroughly
investigated the case before venturing to
take any action.
Mr. Sharp is from Columbus, Miss, anC
Of one OF the Oldest families in the state
and was on his way TO Philadelphia to en-
ter the medical college there.