The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-02-16
FRANKLIN COUNTY,

TRIAL OF TIE wUITE-I0CK CASES TWO
OF TIE ACCUSED sENTENCED-PAlNFUL AC-
CIDENT-DEATH OF AN OLD RESIDENT.
[Correspondence OF the Richmond Dtspatch1
ROCKY MOUNT, Va. February 10, 1888.
The February term OF our County Court
has lust closed, having been in session all
of last week. The White-Rock cases."
consisting Of seven indictments for assault
on the two Allies at White-Rock depot, in
this county, were disposed of at this tenn,
resulting in verdcts against two OF the ac-
cused partics-Wmttle Perduc and y. j..
Dillon-their punishment being fixed at a
fine OF 1925 and S2j respectively and one
day in Jail. Much interest was manifested
i'm the trial, which consumed TIVE
whole days Of the conrt. David Gillespie
was tried on charge OF burglary, found
guilty. and sentenced TO the penitentiary
for five years. After conviction in the
burglary case the Commonwealth's attor-
ney entered nolle prOSequi on another IN
dictment pending against same party Tor
arson. Gillespie had previously. at the
January term, been convicted oi@a ieio-
nious assault and sentenced to Tie penlten-
tiary for eighteen months, but the Circult
Court had awarded him "a new trial; and |
understand that a noLle proseqm will be
also entered in that case now.
There has been in our midst during the
last month an unwOnted activity in United
States circles. On the day OF election
negro man and white one got into dill
Guilty at Taylor's store, III this county, the
difficulty growing out Of purely private
matter, as ! learn. There has been great
effort TO make political capital ont OF this
affair. and it is said that it was to testify as
TO this matter in the United States Court
that the two Allies and Others went to Dan
Vile last fall. On their return from Whlch
place they were met and assaulted al Nnite
Rock depot. thus giving rise to The - W hite-
Rock cases" spoken OF above. Since lhat
time number Of the citizens OF the lay
lor's-store neighborhood have from time to
time been arraigncd before United States
commissioner on warrants for alleged con-
nccton with one or the other OF these dli-
ficulties. The evidence has in every ease
of which l have heard developed no ground
whatever for the charges preferred, though
in some Of the cases the parties were sent
on to the District Court at Danville.
Dispositions in the Wise-Massey contest
will be commenced in this county on the
10Th instant. Colonel George T.. Dennis
and probably other members oi the Oar
mere VIII ltIItSSul sll. -hdNHNs'
We are soon to have a telegraph-line to
this place. The Virginia Midland railway
has entered into a contract with the South
ern telegraph Company to establish line
along fbe Franklin and Pittsylyania rail-
road, connecting with the main lire from
Lynchburc to Danville; said contract TO
be completed by the middle OF April: Inc
workmen erecting the poles have already
reached here. This is mucll-needed I'M
proyement. and one that will add greatly
TO the convenience OF the businessmen
and others OF the community.
Little Andrew Edmundson, four-year-
old grandson OF DR.. Il. Il. Greer, met with
"A very serious accident last week. lie ielV
his mothers room, upstairs, saying ne was
going down little while. a few mllutes
later a heavy thud, rs OF heavy BODY iaii-
en-, was heard by several menDeIs o. the
family. but no attention was paid TO II, no
one suspecting for an instant what
had happened. A few minutes later
Mrs Tdmundson, his mother, coming
ont from her room, was hOrriiled to see III
tle Andrew stretched prone upon the noor
Of fine hall beneath, insensible and appa-
rentIy hfeless. lie was picked up and re-
storotives onplied. which soon brought him
10 his senses. Ills CoiisNi-bOhN 49,
ond no was otherwise scared and bruised.
If was feared at first that he was injured
internally, but he is now up again ana
seems TO be about WELL 1t is supposed that
he tried to slide downstairs on the balus-
ters and so fell, probably from the top 10
the bottom--a distance OF flteen OF twenty
feet or more, landing on the hard moor pc
meath. lie was so stunned by the blow that
he made no noise nor gave any evidence OF
distress till found few minutes later, as
described.
Mr.. Thomas Dudley, ST., an OLD ana
prominent citizen OF the Glade-iiill nelgh-
borhood, died at his home some time since
lie was about eighty years OF age, and was
af one time a man OF considerable wealth,
and noted for his business qualifications
and shrewdness, from which he had ac,
ouired the Soubriquet OF "Ihe Oio
Trader He was genial and hospitable
old gentleman, and one much respected.
wv CLIO.