The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-09
espondence OF the Richmond Dispa,ch.l


ROCKY MOUNT, VA, January 5. 1883.
Our County Court has been in session since
Monday. and from the present outlook Will
consume nearly the entire week. This is a
regular grand-itry term, and the jurors
seem unusually dilligent in ferrctting out
and bringing TO the light irregularities OF
various kinds. Already they have been in
session several DAYS.
\ large number Of presentments have
been made for gambling, betting on elec-
tons, selling liquor on Sundays, and other
offences more or less grievous. Three in
dictments have so far been made for yiola-
lions OF law in connection with the late
election, and there is O. prospect we hear,
Of further developments in that line.
Those indicted so far are \. +. Holland,
Brown Aliens special taX-collect0r, for
issuing blank taX-receipts; Il. c. Martin
lcolored), an active worker and organizer
among the negroes; and one William Lind
sey.
The indictment against Holland was af-
forwards Withdrawn, however, under the
following circumstances: wednesday
morning, when th4grand jury were called
into court. before retiring to their room
for deibtratiOn, some members OF the jury
represented that they had been under 4
misapprehenSion rs to the number necessg-
~ TO concur in making an Indictment. In
view Of this state OF things the attorney for
the Commonwealth expressed his willing
ness for reconsideration. Under this
new deal the indictment against Holland
hung fire. five (all Republicans, as | am in
formed) voting against returning Il true
bill. l understand from the best authority
that the Jury, though divided in their SEN
timeDtS in the fir.t instance, finally agreed
unanimously to indct Holland.
The indictment was made on the evidence
Of james G.. Saunders, the Roadiuster
county chairman. IIisteStimony, as ] learn
from one who heard il, was direct End I'M
cUivocal, and to the effect that said Hol-
land delivered to him Saunders about four
hundred blank taX-reccipts Tor future Use.
And vet this indictment was withdrawn, as
above shown. Strangely enough, the grand
jury, while Withdrawing the indictment
against Holland, declined to take similar
action in the cases Of Martin and Lindsey,
indicted for similar offences, and, rs am
tod, on less direct and poSitiYe testimony.
There were certainly great frauds pTac-
ticed in this county by the Coa.idonistS at
the November election, and it is 10 be
hoped that the authorities may be able 10
Get at the "t'uc inwardness y OF the mat
ter.
The " White-Rock cases." as they are
called here. which from their quasi pOliti-
cal nature have excited much interest,
have been continued to the next term.
Some time in November two men by the
name OF Attic, father and son, were severe
" beaten ut White Rock depot, in this
county. They were returning from the
United States Court in ID mville, whittier 1t
is said they had gone gratuitOusly for the
purpose OF making charges before the
grand jury there against certain citizens OF
the county for alleged election frauds.
Just as they aliglited from the cars on their
return they were assaulted and roughly
handled, the weapons used being sticks or
clubs. Though 1t was in tie night, they
claim to have recognized some OF the par
ties, and five persons were indicted for
participation in the row.
The court, which.is still in session, was
engaged a large part OF Yesterday in try
Ing the case Of David Gillespie, for ieloni-
Gus assault He was found guilty and
sent to the lenitentiary for eighteen
months. This is his second trial for this
offence, former verdict OF twelve months
in the penitenlIary having been set aside
by the court. He is notorions desperado,
ard there are now pending here two other
indictments against himAOne for burglary
and one for arson; besides there are in
dlctments against him in Floyd county.
Within the last twelve or eighteen
months quite n flourishlng tobacco trade,
on small scale, has been carried on ut this
place. Ii is reported that new firm will
soon establish itself, and with the two man.
ufacturing establishments now here, our
little town will be prepared to manufacture
large part OF the tobacco grown in the
county.
1t is stated here. on what seems to be re-
liable authority, that Major Mason. the les
see OF the Franklin mines, near this place,
will soon start furnaces there for the man.
uiacture Of IRON. These mines were origi-
nally leased TO Major Mason. and by him
sub-let to the Pennsylvania steel Com
pany. This company undertook to ship
the ore TO their works IN Pen1sylya-
mia. but after spending some $4,000
or $50, 900, abandoned the work more imam
a wear ago. Since then but little has been
done, though after the Pennsylvania COM
pany abandoned the enterprise Major Ma
son again took charge, and work mas heen
carried on on a very limited scale. II Is
sald that while the ore Is OF sufficiently
good quality to work with profit where
raised, It will not pay costs-oi transporta-
ton TO distant point, and, indeed. II
would seem strange that such could be- the
case under any circumstances, however
fine the ore, considering the great weight
and character OF the material.
A little child OF Mr.. =. u, Dillard, Com"
attorney for this county, was
very seriously burned from falling into !