Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
RIPARIAN RIGHTS.
JUDGE eRookE's DECISION IN THE
SWIMMING POINT CASE.
Status Of the Various Claimants Defined
The Shooting Of Henry Williams JUS
tifiabie-T. w. white Acquitted.

NORFOLK. VA. December A-tSpe-
clal. )--To-day the decision Of Judge Brooke
In what IL known az the Swimming Point
Flats case." involving property OF I'M
mense value, In all said TO be about $780,
90, was rendered. The main question at
issue was the riparian rights OF the
owners OF the property along the river
front In Portsmouth from the North
street wharf around the swimming
point" front TO the Naval Hospital pro-
perty. The Judge decides that all Of the
swimming point claimants have riparian
rights-out to the port warden's ine--ex-
cept Nicely. the riparian rights OF which
after property are, he says. held by the
heirs Of Woolf, who formerly owned 1t.
NO SUCH RIGHTS.
OF the North-street claimants. he de-
cldes that the Seaboard and Roanoke
railroad, the Waverly Land Company, and
Nicely have riparian rights, but that the
others, as well as the city Of Ports
mouth lin regard to Its streets have no
such rights. To whom the riparian rights
OF the ends of the streets belong he does
not undertake to say in this decision.
IN SELF-DEFENCE.
County Coroner DR.. f. +. Truitt held an
inquest at the county Jail yesterday on
the body of the negro Henry Williams,
who was shot to death by the constable
while resisting arrest at Pugh's Crossing.
The evidence proved that the deceased
fired on the officers first, and then fought
them ferociously. The officers acted en-
tiretxt I'm self Defiance The IsGnaraIn
having no friends. the body was placed
in the hands of the jaier to be buried at
the expense of the county The merchant
Levine, who was beaten ana robbed by
the negro. Is suffering very much. but on
the road to recovery, the doctors think.
MAYNARD NOTES.
The United States steamer Atlanta.
having had a new crank-shaft put in and
machinery repaired and bottom over
hauled, has left the yard and dropped
down, and Is ready TO proceed on her
cruise.
The United States steamer Alliance,
which has been at the yard since last
spring repairing boilers and engines and
being generally overhauled and refitted,
is now ready to sail. She has been as
signed TO the naval apprentice squadron,
and goes from here to Newport, prepara-
tory 10 her winter cruise with the APP
prentices.
ACQUITTED.
Ex-Pollceman T.W. White, arrested on
the charge OF arson at his residence, on
Brewer street, has been acquitted of the
charge and discharged from custody.
United States Civil-Engineer A. @. Men
ocal, in charge of yards and docks, has
returned to the yard from temporary
duty in Washington.
The preparations for the merry Christ
| mas celebration In this section of Vir-
ginia seem to be as elaborate and festive
as usual. Great crowds of country people
are in the two cities to-day. and the
streets are gay. business is brisk. and the
stores and markets crowded with buyers.
BURNED TO DEATH.
A 2-year-old child of Mr. Charles Merkle
on Bermuda street, was burned TO death
| on Saturday night.
Carpenter d. w. NJ. Nash, of Ports
mouth, has been detached from the United
States receivIng-ship Franklin and or
| dered TO Mare-Isand yard.
| The steamer City of Norfolk and the
| steamer William -. Rogers. the former
| on the Norfolk and Portsmouth ferry
| and the latter on the West Norfolk ferry
| both broke their shafts on Saturday night
and were taken to Newport News to-day