Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-11
Strong Opposition to the System In tho
Northern Neck.
10 HSf.VlGHYS At THE POLLS,
caliets Purposciy Made Iiiegsi-Capture
~ . Matincus Crow md Attempted
Rescue-Dispatch in Demand.
tcorresporaence of the plspatoh)

thus asccrtained the general sentiment IL
tegard to the new system OF voting.
Hon John Il. Mason. member Of ih'
House OF Delegates says: II have jus'
completed thorough canvass of Stafford
pnd King George. and can tell you frank
~ that a vast majority o; the people
are openly opposed to the Walton law.
After making many campaign speeches
ard talking with hundreds OF voters.
am confident that the Democratic party
has lost a, least 100 votes In these two
counties on account OF this new law"
Judge c. III. Ashton. Judge OF the
County Courts OF King George ana star
ford. SAYS: Just az / expected and pre-
dlcied-thc Introduction OF the walton
law has cost the Democratic party a
number OF votes in King George ana
Stafford. 4 grea; many people are OPP
pcsed 10 II and viii not vote AT AL.
WILL LIKE TT.
Mr.. T. II. Beyan. Commonwealth At
torney for King George. says: AFTER
careful inquiry I find that public senu-
snent IL against the new electlon-law' ana
I'VE have certainly lost some Democratic
votes on account OF II; but nave no
doubt that the people will Ike 1t mnch
better after they try II ana become ac-
customed to the new way Oh casting '"er
ballots"
The opinions OF many others are IN
line with the views expressed by the
shree gentlemen quoted, and, as stated
IN this Correspondence some days ago.
n number OF lifelong Democrats would
not go to the polls last Tuesday because
the Walton law was IN operation.
sOFvTENED SENTIMENT.
n ia but fair TO add, however. that
n+,esday's trial Of the new law has con-
sIderably softened public sentiment in us
favor. The unprecedented quiet, peace,
and good order at every voting prec'iic.
IN the county has certainly commehusa
fhe new system 70 many who openly
condemned 1t before II was given trlal;
and some Of is outspoken enemies ad-
init to-day that the Walton mode OF cast
ing ballots proved so simple and precIuu.
ed the possibility OF using money ana
otherwise unlawfully influencing ignorant
voters that they now regard 1t as an nm
proyement on the old system MI. "H.
nam s. Brown. for fifty years clerk oi
the courts OF this county, says That the
new law proved 30 much more sHnpne
ehan the people anticipated that IL VIII
hereafter have but few enemies. ana VIII
doubtless prove quite satisfactory to the
peoplc OF King George. This beng the
f,rst election ever held here without
..sauabbles." fist-hghts rows. or "DlooHy
contentious over certain class or mar
ketable" voters. the public feel ihoep.eu
60 the Australian system Tor pilhSI.e
about such a desirable reform at the
rural precincts.
THE ILLEGAL VOTERS.
7, &c NOW the opinion Of many that n
number of the tickets thrown out e!ec-
Sion-night because they were Improperly
scratched was the work Of parties VINO
s,d NOT want their votes 10 count, ana
vet aid not want to be charged WIN
STAYING away from the polls. Ihose VINO
wer1. too ignorant to scratch the u.hS,S
nronerly were looked after and care'uly
Instructed IN advance. At some OF tlie
precincts the illiterate Republicans uIt
not vote until some Informed inehiueI ~
eheir marty preceded them ana so cloS,y
acrutlnized the ballot that the most X
sorant voter could be told how the seVe-
,oI candidates names were arranged, anu
uhethar the "top," middle or DoV
som' name should be left unscratcheu'
A DETERMINED CAPTAIN.
The county was several days ago greatly
Excited over n trouble which oVCuiiN',
between the captain OF dreugihs Eea.ei
and several OF his crew Tine Vessei WnS
fy,pg In Mattox-creek hafpor, auu
four well-dressed. respeetabie-loohlis
~hi,e men who had shipped with captain
4 w. Saunders. Of Neutrality-suspicious.
eounty. for the season. becoming dissatis-
6ed with the work OF dredging, secretly
csr,ned and started towards fredericKs-
burg on foot. Several hours Afterwards
Captain Saunders was apprised OF lhe
fact, and procuring q fleet team anu IN
assistant, started In hot pursuit Oh 'ne
6eserters. Three of them were overtaken
this Mace the fourth
being captured lust ten miles this side oil
Fredsricksburg. All were taken back 10
King George Courthouse. where the party
stopped for lunch. While there the Cap
1ain walked up the street 10 the post
ONCE. when one of the captured men dis
appeared and mahe so good his escape
mat he has not since been heard from
BY his pursuers.
NO DRAG-OUT.
Whom the facts in the case became
Known some parties ut the courthouse
took sides with the captured desertefs'
and. claiming that the Captain had n
r1sht 10 pursue and arrest free men VIII
uut a warrant. &C. indicated their dete
Ynination to liberate the men. CAPITA
Saunders claimed that they had shippc.
with him for the season; had signea
articles Of agreement binding themselyeA
10 serve him. and that under the laws
regulating the relations between the
master OF a vessel and his crew, he had
a right to make the capture. John Bar
Seycorn's influence over several citizens
intensified the determination to thwart
che spunky Captains programme. ana
cumbersome overcoats were laid aside ana
4 "knock.down-and-drag invited.
The invitation was readily accepted, but
the 'drag-out" feature of the performance
did not take place. for when Captain
Saunders exhibited his skill by eenteeiy
Telling TO the earth the first muscular
burly African descendant that particl-
pated In the interference the other self
appointed 'liberators' simply vanished.
The episode created no little excite
ment and bordered on row. but quiet
Is nearly restored. and II IL thought that
oil bad feeling viii soon die away. as II
Aas been ascertained that the Captain OF
Che vessel was In no way unkind 10 his
men.
REFUGEES.
The smallpox scare In Washington has
Driven a great many men and a number
of families TO this county In the last ten
days.
A number OF King Georgeians employed
in Washington. ID. c.. came down last
Monday 70 cast their votes on Tuesday
eor 4. i. Meredith.
RABBIT EPIDEMIC.
Hundreds OF rabbits are lying dead in
She'r beds in this section. and II is sup
posed that some epidemic disease prevails
fmong them. This causes big setback
70 huntsmen.
sheriff w. J. Rogers. accompanied by
ear william y. Hefiin. on Wednesday
last carried Tom Kelley from the county
uaii here to the penitertiary at Richmond
MIS- captain G. w. Grigsby. who has
peen helpless invalid for four years.
was taken suddenly, very III several days
40. ana her condition now Is considered
extremely critical.
me paiiy Dispatch has been sought
siter here with great eagerness for a
ss past. The habitual newspaper-bor.
49, ana oesgars almost torment the
y. Vi subscribers. and since Tuesdays
f!eetion one copy Of the Dispatch has %
'''e hsif dozen or more families.
SOME ELECTION cCpaoo,Nr