The daily state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 188?-1891, 1890-05-07
it could be prevented, even if Ii. WINS
LOW and his company desired 1t in order
to enable them to get oysters cheap.
Their Position Stated Legally.


to enable them to get oysters cheap.
Their Position Stated Legally.
As evidence that the oys. ermea be-
lieved they owned the beds, 5. T. BECK
WITH, as attorney, At the request of the
sheriff of Hyde, as he states, wrote to
the Governor, on Feb t, 1899, and said:
These Ocracoke oystermen, as time
honored custom, have recognized the
right of each particular body to oyster
upon certain rocks, conceded by all to
each without interruption, until these
people have concluded that they are
prop-ietors Of the public oyster grounds;
that for so long a time THEY HAVE DE-
PENDED AGAINST THEIR NEIGHBORS AND
UNMoLESTED HAVE OYSTERED UPON and
adds, 'they believe from the depth of
their hearts that they are grossly wrong
ed people"
Lieutenant Winslow's Statement.
After the Governors letter had been
sent to the people at Ocracoke he re-
ceived letter from LIEUT.. WINsLow
who stated his side Of the case-that or
Monday, January eth, employees of
his company were driven from the lsbors
assigned them and fled to town for pro
lection; that an employee of the com
pany WAS driven from the island by
threats Of personal violence; that the
mail carrier was threatened with assault
Ii his boat carried anyone connected
with the company-that he was served
with notice not to take OlSters; that his
employees could not traverse The high
ways lii safety, and slept at rights behind
bolted doors; that he complained to the
magistrates and they would do nothing
worthy Of the name; that while attempt
ing to take oysters he and his employees
were assaulted by forty men with armed
guns, and even at this the magistrate
would take no action; that he got
warrant, but the sheriff could
} get no help to take the cfanders
: therefore he appealed to the Governor
The Governor had already sent his let
ter calling upon the people to submit to
the law and allow the courts 10 pass
upon the question.
2 The Attorney Generals letter.
.. Upon receipt of LIEUT.. WINsLow's let
ter the Governor referred 1t to the At
> torney General, who wrote, under date
!, of Feb. Sth, to LIEUT.. WINsLow as fol-
. lows:
Your communication of the 4th inst.
!. to His Excellency, the Governor, in re-
lation TO recent occurrences and the
. present situation of affairs on Ocracoke
. Island has been referred to me. | have
. caused copies of your letter and the ac-
y companying exhibits to be forwarded to
: John H. Blount, Esq, Solicitor of the,
e first judicial district, in which Hyde
u county is embraced, with the request
y that he, as soon as practicable, proceed
- to that county and vigorously employ
,, all the powers of his office for the pur-
= pose OF restoring order, and the
% protection of persons and property.
Before the receipt of your letter, the
Governor had been informed of the
lamentable state of affairs at Ocracoke
, through other sources, official and unof-
Ia fetal, but the information was so def
q clent 10 some important particulars that
# he was advised by me that it would not
, be prudent for him to resort to the ex.
n traordinary powers conferred upon him
4 by the laws In extreme cases until all the
facts were known and all other proper
~ means had been invoked to secure
ts peaceful enforcement of the law.
,e The matter has given him the greates
. concern. He is fully aware of the seriou.
N condition of things. For two or three
p. days past he has had the matter under
n. constant consideration, aud he has no
rs abandoned the hope that the people o
is Ocracoke may be induced to submit t.
at the operation of the laws without th,
w employment of force and the sheddin,
ne Of blood, perhaps.
n With this view he has responded to
7, numerously signed petition from til,
Il, citizens OF Ocracoke, IN which they sc
foith their grievances acd aek his pro
10 lection; that they must submit hem
W selves and their rights to the courts an
na their process; that continued defialce 0
ho the officers Of the law and the employ
ov ment Of lawless methods can only resui
l. in their injury and perhaps destruction
jd He has entrusted the delivery Of th.
20. reply to gentleman who is represente
~ to be man of frmness and prudenc
w. and who possesses the confidence
a5 these people. He has also request ID th
an sheriff Of Hyde county to make anothe
,at effort to execute the process IN his hard
NJ by the usual means, and be has grea
,d hope that this will be successful. ShOll
~ this fail, and the local authorities ca
~ upon him, it will be his painful duty t
n+ see that the law is vindicated and ii
he ptIoouS duu piOpOlty VI luC pSOpic pL'
hlo tected at whatever cost.
or In the documents forwarded by Il
or- Sheriff of Hyde county, and which We
III only received night before last-it "
an not stated that, that, or any other offic
IN had made an effort to execute the II
raS cess issued to him. In telegram fro
'e;r him last night and in your letter receiy
rod rod this morning that statement first a
~ pears. Prior to this the Governor H.
o5a been advised and had determined 70 el
ore ploy the means [ have hereinbefoIe
rod cited to restore order, and had dispatch
on his messenger. | have advised him
nm. await the result before proceeding vi
ron greater force
onr The Governor can only see that {
,bts laws are ENFORCED. Tne contentious
and rights of property are matters for I
@ ftor judicial department of the governme
1au Very respectfully,
h;. THEO. T. DANIDsoN,