Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-08
NoTTOwAY COUNTY.
An Interesting Case In COurt-PoIift'
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
NoTTowAY G. f., April 7, 1888.
The Circuit Court of our county COM
menced its spring term on March 2sth,
and has been in session since then. The
docket is unusually heavy. The case of
Bucg as. McCulloch has been on trial for
five days, and will likely engage the at
ten.ion of the court for two or three days
more. This case involves damages to
the amount of $4,000, and has been Of
great interest to the people of the county,
not only on account OF the high charac-
ter of the parties, but because OF ITS
novelty in legal aspect. Lawyers say
that it is the first case Of the kind ever
tried in Virginia. The facts are about
es follows:
MIR. McCullooh and Mr.. Bugg, who
live at Blackstone, in this county, had a
personal difficulty on the 9Th OF June,
1887. 1t occurred on the street Just as
persons were going to church, and at the
time created great excitement in the
usually quiet town OF Blackstone. Mr..
McCulloch soon after the difficulty had
Mr.. Bueg arrested as lunatic, and the
examining justices discharged MIR.
Bugg, but the grand jury indicted
him for sending a challenge, and
he was convicted for that Of
fence. As soon as he was acquitted OF
the charge of lunacy Mr.. Bugg instituted
a suit against Mr.. McCulloch for mali
cious prosecution in swearing out the
warrant OF lunacy, and laid his damages
at $40, 600 Mr.. Bugg claims that this
charge against him has entirely destroyed
his business prospects; has prevented
him from getting employment, and that
it was maliciously made by the defend
ant. Mr. McCulloch, on the other hand,
saws that the character OF the attack upon
him and conduct Of Mr.. Bugg on the
occasion of the difficulty justified him
in believing him TO be lunatlc. About
forty or fifty witnesses have been ex-
ahmed, but the case has not been given
to the jury. Counsel submitted their
Instructions to the Court on Friday.
Judge Hancock heard the argument
upon the instructions and adjourned the
court until Monday. 1t is expected that
the argument before the jury will begin
either Monday or Tuesday.
Captain p. W. Mckinney, of Farm
vile. and Charles +. Goodwin are for
the plaintiff. aad Judge W. II. Mann
and G. S. Wing represent the defendant
A large crowd has been in attendance
during this trial.
About thirty chancery DEGREES have
been entered, and many common-law
cases disposed Of.
Fourteen coupon cases were also heard.
Judgments were rendered for the Com
monwealth in twelve OF them.
The business here is so much greater
than usual that Judge Hancock has been
forced to postpone the opening OF his
court in Brunswick until Thursday.
John NJ. LaDgston was here on Thurs
day and sroke to his colored fellow citi-
zens large number being on hand TO
hear him. Hon. W. +. Gaines, the pres
ent congressman from this district, Was
here, but he employed his time inquietly
walking about the court-green, seem
ingly a disinterested spectator.
The town of Crewe is rapidly building
and quite a number of lots have been
sold to people in the county as we'll as
elsewhere. When the railroad-shops are
completed and work begins it is claimed
that the population will reach 5000
The company Will employ some 800 ope-
ratiyes in its workshops. The streets OF
the town are being graded. and a beauh-
full map Of the place has been made.