Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-12
THE VA. & c. R. R.
pEreRseuRo's INTERESTS TO BE
DILIGENTLY PROTECTED.
The Bright Tobacco Market - An Owl
Gees Through the window of an En-
sine-Cab--coiored Gambling Case.
uvr,<nonaonco % ,ao R,cnmOnd Dispasch.l

fCcFroepondence 70 the Richmond Dispa'ch'l
Pxrxnsruso. Va. March u.-At meet
ing Of tho Board of Governors OK the
Chamber Of Commerce held last evening q reso-
lusiou was adopted requesting she cosnmlstoe on
the Virginia and Carolina railroad TO use an
dflirenco IN seeing that tho commercial Interests
a Pessrsburg are protected in the matter OF tho
building of the railroad. This action was taken
m vscv Of the fact that under tho net passed at
tne late scssion OF the General Assembly tho
ssrms for The building o. the FIRST twenty miles
a ttks road from the city OF Petersburg win ex-
x,are on the 7ih day OF May next. Failure 70
cHnpiy with these forms viii result In the for
frtttirc Of the franchises Of the company ana ne
oeSs'tate n sale for the protection OF tho none
tary interests OF the city. The committed Of the
Chamber consists Of Mossrs. James i. DAlton
(shsirmanl, r. c. Scott and Simon Seward.
Tho Board Of Governors also passed a resolu'
e3pD requesting n meeting OF The Committee or
6rsebt Tobacco for the purpose of replying e
numerous letters that have been received from
the growers OF bright tobacco relative 70 The
market here
AN gSoNEERs SURPRISE.
The engineer on the north-bound mail and pas'
pnneer train on the Wilmington and Weldor
railroad mot with rather startling surprise last
night While his train was at full speed the
front window OF his cab, through which he KEEP
his eye for dangers ahead on the road, was SUD
denly Cftlfnc0 ana ms itleH WAS
eaahet by the splnters Of glass that were driver
against t. He was for the moment stunned ano
dnxed by the occurrence. and his nfst impression
was that some one had hurled stone thr9ugt
the window. Subsequent investigation, now,
ever. showed that the accident had been caused
by q hinge owl, whose limp and stunned ooay wa
found lying upon tho coal in the tender Bnhdec
by the headlight Of the engine the blrd nae
Down towards the light aud had struck ana gone
through the cab-wlndoW. The owl has fully re
covered and Is nov held IN box.
VALIDITY or CITY ORDINANCES.
Tho continued case Of r. G.. Walker tcolored)
charged with permitting gambling with CARDS II
his house on Washington street, was disposed o.
IN the Mayors Court this morning Thomas ~
Watkins, Esq, appeared as counsel for the de'
PENDANT and raised some very interesting iega
points based upon the statement that the Ordi'
nance under which Walker was being tried was
ultra tiUes and invalid, and WAS IN itself oppfes-
sive. Walker II the proprietor OF Dai-tOoln
and not OF an ordinary or place OF pupic enter
ta'nment. Tho fact that gambling was per,
mitted was not denied IL was also admitted
that he levied and received. contributions from
those who played cards In his establishment tOi
the rent OF his table and room. But the room
NOT being public one and tho amount OF money
staked being very small the offence did not come
under the statue which imposes fine oil only
ESQ where $50 or moro is lost or won at one SIT
ting. -
On the other hand, the ordinance imposes n
, 6ne Of from $50 10 $500 for gambling Tor any
amount without specifying that the place snail
be n public one The Legislature, Mr. Watkins
declared, had delegated no such authority 70 the
Common Council. and the ordinance was, there
fore, invalid. Decisions OF the Supreme Court oil
Virginia and OF other States were read to sustain
this view.
The Mayor said he had long Ind serious doubts
ss 20 the validity OF this and other ordinances
under which be had often imposed nnes, put IN
order that tho city might have the opportunity
70 yindcate Its rights In the matter nc Woulu
gra fp that tho
might be appealed 20 a higher court ana the pro
per test be made there.
AN INTERESTING CASE.
An aged colored couple appeared before the
Mayor as plaintiffs in a suit for the recovery OF
cow. The animal had been stolen, and IN visit
ing the market they identified the horns of the
COW In the possession of one Of the butchers, Dut
failed 70 identify tho hide. II was In testimony
that the COW was the joint property OF the nuf-
band and wife, and rs the law does not allow
either 70 testify In behalf Of the other the case,
In the absence Of other witnesses, was dismissed.
GENERAL NEWS.
Mrs. Eliza A. Mann, an aged and respected
lady, died last night at her home ON Sycamore
street.
Two negroes we're discovered last night, during
the absence Of the family, at an open window OF
the residence OF Mrs. Turner, on Halifax street.
They ran away on being seen. IL Il supposed
they were intending 20 enter and rob the house.
During an argument by counsel in the Mayors
Court this morning II was announced that one OF
the oldest and wealthiest churches in this city
was originally built by the proceeds OF lottery.
number Of our citizens are interested in the
direct-tax bill which recently passed In Congress
and hold receipts for these taxes paid TO the Gov
ernment officials.
Among the candidates mentioned in tho Dis
PATCH OF this morning for the Office OF clcrk 10
Treasurer Chidrey appears the name OF Mr.. V.
johnson. Mr.. johnson was for some years trea-
surer Of the city Of Petersburg, the duties OF
which he filed 20 the entire satisfaction OF the
people. His experience would make him yalu-
able assistant In the Treasuror's Oiiice.