Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-10
JAMES CITY CASE
AN IMPORTANT LAND SUIT NEARING a
DETERMINATION.
The Evsdence All Tn and Decision Daily
Expecsed--The Site Of Whale Tewn
Observation-Disclosures Negroes
,corespondencs Of ne RIoamosa p,sDa.cA.l

tcorrespondence or tue Richmond Dispstchl
NywBExSH, March IT, The case OF Bryan
vs Spivey u ais. cana up at the late term
of Craven Superior Court, and the evidence
and papers were submitted 10 his Honor
Judge Conner for decision.
The Judge took them for mature cousid-
srstion and his decision is expected daily.
This case is more familiarly known as the
..yames City case" as It involves the pos
session Of tho entire domain upon which
that town rests or rather upon which it
wrestles
James City is situated just across the
Trent river from Eewberno and in full
view from the southern front of the city.
IL takes the lame from its founder, who
was Rev. MIR, James, who during the war
was connected with the Freedman's Blu
reau with the Federal army and who began
the settlement in 1862 or 1883.
NEGRO souArTERs.
The population (nearly two thousand) is
composed entirely Of colored persons.
Rev. James seemed to have colonized the
refugees. OF contrabands as they were
called. upon this spot independent OF any
claim TO the ownership Of the ground.
Here an immense concourse Of these poo
pie were congregated IN rude huts, cabins,
and almost any continuance "a substitute
for homo, and lived IN unalloyed enjoy
ment OF q recently attained freedom.
The end OF the war found them there,
and so did this mornings sun when ~
arose-tbat is, they or their descendants
aud accessories.
wHoLEsALE MARRYING.
Mr.. James finding that when in slavery
these good people enjoyed very lax ma'ii-
monial relations TO each other. ana as ne
came down TO teach moral ideas, enloine91
upon them the propriety OF each and
every couple related as man and wife ana
those who desired to be so related should
be Joined in the bonds Of holy wedlock IN
due and ample form. This eminently
proper and important service he gracious
1y performed for the moderate contrlou-
ton Of dollar or so from each couple no
so joined together. The idea OF getting
married, so very agreeable TO most OF US,
was 10 them delight, and large numbers
of them were married by him. IT has been
said that so great was the rush for his ser
vices that he stood them in long rows and
read the services TO "a great many par at
one and the same time. IL was not lnire-
duently the case that mothers ana daugn-
tiers, fathers and sons were launched fortn
on the delightful voyage Of married life at
the same instant
A DARK COAMUNlIf.
A quarter Of century has wrought
many changes in the inhabitants OF the
town. but no change in their color. They
are still dark. But there has been great
improvement in their manners and Gus
toms, but up TO the latest reports but little
improvement in their politics.
In an important contest for the seat IN
the State Senate some years ago the com
mittee TO whom the evidence was referred
reported 10 the Senate that while James
City was a stencil in the nostrlls OF decen-
-cy, vet the committee was of the opinion
that there was not evidence of Sufficient
intimidation TO justify the returning
board in throwing the whole precinct out.
POLITICAL WOMEN.
On this occasion think there was only
a few men driven from the polls by women
with garden-poles or weapons OF that
character because the men were supposed
TO be going 10 vote ticket not OF the
straight Republican stripe.
The land upon winch this town Of rather
romantic origin is situated was part OF
the estate known as Claremont, owned ana
occupied by Governor Richard Dobb
Speight during his lifetime and by his an
cestors long before him.
At his death il descended to those who
brought suit for possession OF their pro-
perty.
TEE LAWS DELAY.
The case has been delayed hearing for
a number Of years from various causes
known only to those who are familiar with
the intricacies of the law. The case has
attracted much interest and concern by
both white and black IN this section.
COLOR or TITLE.
The laws of North Carolina give to per-
son after "seyen years quiet possession
under color of title" a title, but the laws
of no State that am aware of give title
for any number Of years possession under
a title of color.