The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-29
NORFOLK NEWS.
Mahone's Naughty Negro Preacher-Re-
prehcnsfve Conduct of q Rcvenue-Cutter
On,cer-Rrief paragraphs.

NORFOLK. October Special. The
trial Of Rev. j. ". Armistead, tine pastor OF
the Zion Baptist Church in Portsmouth
who was arrested Saturday night for sedu-
cing young mulatiO girl named selma
Whiting under promise of marriage. was
conducted by Mayor Baird in the Polio,
courtroom of Portsmouth this morning
Rev. ArmstrOn. is one of the signers
10 Nahone's preacher circular. aud his nam,
heads the list. lie is also an active poll
tician. and represents negro ward IN the
Portsmouth Council Chamber. only the
witnesses and favored few were admitted
To the courtroom this morning when the
trial commenced. The Rev. Armstead was
represented by Captain X. 4. Marshall and
"A negro LAWYER named Reid. while the
girl had Judge l.. X. Watts 10 assist in
the prosecution. over five hundred negro
men and women being around the outside
of the Mayors office during the trial. most
Of them members Of the arrested pastor
congregation. Selma Whiting told in con-
else way how the parsOn used 10 talk 10 her
in -unday--chool every sunday. and how
finally he betrayed her under promise Of
marriage.
Letters from the reverend to the girl were
read i'm court. the endcaring terms used 10y
the preacher causing considerable amuse-
mcnt. The letters clearly displayed the
parsons relations with the woman. and
after the evidence was all IN he was sent on
10 the Corporation Court for trial. The de-
fcn-e attempted 10 prove that the girl was
an improper character.
Considerable Indignation il expressed
here M the action Of the officer, Of the reNe-
nue cutter LOttie Morrill,. who were sent
Thursday afternoon 10 rescue five men who
were lashed 10 the ma-ts of the schooner
4 al. oil
Cape. The revenue cutter went out
Thursday night and returned at an
early hour Friday morning without
the men. and their captain reported that the
weather was too thick 10 see the vessel. I'm
the meantime the liic-saNers could see the
five seamen plainly from the shore. but
could not reach them on account Of the
rough sea. The men remained until noon
Friday without food or water. and dropped
one by one from exhaustion into the
sea. Yesterday morning one man
alone remained in the rigging. and desp,-
rate attempt was made by the life-saNer, To
TO reach him. but the sea was too much for
them. and he died some time during last
night.
Mr.. James Hawthorne. an aged and well
known citizen. was run over by a street ear
saturday night at late hour and died an
hour later from his injuries. Two of his
ribs were broken and one Of his legs, and
ne had terrible wound in his stomach. \
corOner's inquest was held over the body
Yesterday. and the jury brought in a YER
diet generating the street-car company
from all blame.
4 colored woman named Bette Ray was
smothered 10 death 10y smoke az two O'Clock
SUNDAY morning in her house in Morris
court. The womans house with two others
caught on lire. and after the flames were
cXtingIishcd her dead body was found on
the bed. She had retired in drunken stu
por and had slept through the heat and noise
Of the fire.
The police are still hunting for Belle
Brown. the pretty scNentcen-ieaf-old glrl.
who ran away from her home IN ashing-
ton on the 10th Of October. and i supposed
10 have came 10 Norfolk. II i, thought she
was here on the day after she left home
but since that time no clue whatever ha-
been obtained Of her whereabouts.
Congressman Julius Caesar Burrows adj
dressed a Republican meeting tonight III
Mechanics Hall on the tariff and other sui,
iects, which are not connected with TIM
campaign.
The Democrats will hold big mass meet
ing tomorrow night. and viii be addressed
by Hon. Gilmore \. Kendall.
Although Norfolk gave Harrison ~ ma
iority last year. the Democrats are betting
that Mex inney will carry the town by ~
this time. and can find no takers.
\ large delegation of Norfolk and Ports
mouth Democrats went 10 l.awrencesiile
Brunswick county. to-day. 10 attend th'
barbecue and listen 10 speeches 10y ,olOne
Il. +. Beirne and Robert Taylor scott. The
Democratic nominee for Attorney-General