Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-31
PETERSBURG.
LIBEL cAsYs-THREE or THE DEFEND
ANTS PLEAD GUILTY.
An Interesting Forgery case-Rars volumes
Sold-Business 0uilook-Death
Of Former Citizen,
tcorre.popdenceo Of the Richmond Dispstch.l

Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispstch.l
JANUARY 80. 1888.
In the Hastings Court to-day the pro-
secutions against Mr.. K. Z. Barham, edi-
tor and proprietor Of the IRdcr- Appeal,
and Matt VI. Lewis, j. G. Kennedy, and
J. Smith (colored), indicted for Libel,
came up for trial. The three colored
defendants were a committee appointed
by an assemblage of colored citizens TO
prepare resolutions cOndemnatory OF the
official action OF Mayor Jarratt IN the
matter OF the negro Ridley, who commit
ted an outrageous assault upon lady OF
this city. These resolutions, signed by
this committee, were published in the
advertising columns of the Hdcr-AP-
Dcai--Mr. Barham being sick at home at
the time, and unable to read and decide
as to their character. They were deemed
a gross reflection upon the mayor,
who swore out warrants against the
several members OF the committee for
libel, as well as against Mr.. Barham for
permitting the libel to be published IN
his paper. Ridley was the man whose
conduct caused so much excitement IN
the city at the time, and which resulted
in the calling out of the military 10y the
mayor TO prevent any breach oil the
peace. He was sentenced to eight
months Imprisonment in jail and to pay
a fine of $50. From this decision he took
an appeal to the Hastings Court, where
the Jury affirmed the mayors decision
When the cases against the three CO.
lored men we're called this morning they
all plead guilty, at the same time stating
that while they had no intention Of re-
/ necting mon the private character OF the
MAYOR. thew believed it to be their night
10 critcise his official actions. The jury
rendered q verdict of guilty and imposed
fine of S25 in each case, with costs
Some of the jurors were at first IN favor
of fining Lewis, who they thought was
the instigator, 800.
In Mr.. Barham's case the jury imposed
a fine Of sd. There is still another OF
these libel cases-that against w. w.
Evans, a member of the Legislature from
this city charged with publishing libel
lous articles in his paper, ~ Lanccf,
about Mayor Jarratt This case has
been postponed until future day OF the
term of the court.
One Of the most interesting cases that
has been tried IN our city for long time
will be called in the Hastings Court to-
morrow that of Mr.. I. A. Palmer,
charged with forging the name OF Iheo.
Crowder as endOrser upon a note Tor
/ 300. Suit was brought against Mr..
/ Crowder rs endorscr on this note, when
/ he declared in court that his name
thereon had been forged. Hence Mr..
Palmcr's arrest.
Henry Gill Ccolored) was found dead
in his bed this morning. He was at
church last night in apparently good
/ health. and 10 one had heard OF his
complaining.
At the sale of the library of the late
/ Robert b. Boiling at auction to-day some
rare books were offered all bringing
good prices. Burke's History of Nir
/ qinia tour volumes), published in Peters
burg in 1915, brought S25 Stith's Nir-
! ginia zone volumel sold for -, and Other
works in proportion.
The general business OF the town con
tinucs good, while the receipts of pea
nuts and tobacco are very large for the
season-those of peanuts almost unpre
cedented. Our tobacco-factories are al
hard at work, and shipments-both do
nestle and foreign-are uncommonlJ
heavy.
Information was received to-day o.
the death in Washington of Mr.. Samue
4. Marks, eldest son Of Mr.. Samuel H.
Marks. of this city. The deceased had
been resident OF Washington and al
employee in the Treasury Department
for many wears. ROBIN ADAIB.