Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-08-11
PEEP INTO OUR PAST.
Some Interesting "reminiscences Of Rich
mOnd Forty Years Ago.
MAYOR TATE AND ms DIARY
How lie Predicted the Fate OF bnd
Prisoncrs-EIrxt Letters Carried
,..r.-coutuin Anderson and His
Cof1in-Our Officers I'm the Long Ago.

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Many years ago. Joseph Tate was Mayor
Of Richmond for a considerable perios'
IN, was a lawyer OF very fine attainments'
and the author OF Tate's Digest, Voi-
ume OF legal lore, which has been OF ''s'
US, 10 the profession ever since IL was
| issued from the press. In those Gays
some thirty men called the Nght Na'c"'
commanded'lF Cap tain John Is. Preh'iSs'
preserved the peace from sunset 10 sun
/ rise. and half dozSn men called uaS
| officers. and styled respectively. oy cur
| tesy. "captaius," looked after the peace
| and morals OF the city from sunrise 10
s,,nse, Prentlss succeeded George r.
/ Myers In command OK the night watch
and was in tGrn succeeded by Buri'l
Jenk,ns. Many years after loslsB hls
place as captain OF the night watch, Myers
WA authorized by the then Postmaster
General. by consent Of parties to whom
letters were addressed. 10 withdraw them
for personal delivery by himself. lie WAS
permitted TO charge cents for each letter
50 delivered. This Initial SYSTEM OF letter
carrying was kept up pr seyeEa years.
Thus was George X. Myers the alpha %
the city's system q letter-carTying.
Mayor Tate was very strlst in perform
ing his own duty. and equally so in re-
curing others associated with him 10 10
the same lie performed the same duties
as regards civil and criminal cases, now
done by the Police Justice. and was ex-
oiiicio presiding justice. when he chose
10 sit, Of the eighteen aldermen com
prisins the Hastings Court he wrote
an elscant hand. and II Was his custom
10 keep a private diary Of AL eases ne
deemed of sufficient importance 10 CAL
Tor comment. The tough clement Of his
day, though smaller in number than now,
were more pronounced ia their devAtTy.
II was his Honor's custom 10 enter In
bis diary his oIAlion Of what would In
future be the fate Of some Of the more
prominent Of the rough element, VINO
were in the habit Of constantly failing
into the hands OF the police. his com
uents Were free on al who were brought
under police supervision There were
four young, ani excessively roshy, citl-
zens. named Joseph King. wilson Powell
John wade. and John tBslD English, Tor
whom hL1 Honor predicted dismal late.
Years afterwards the three nrst-named
there while serving a second term, his
offence being the stealing Of trunk Of
John Tyler Jr., from the Exchange Hotel
English was oSten in Jail. the last time
for killing "A sailor at Rccketts He al
legged seif-defence. and the jury gave him
the benefit Of the doubt ard let him 20.
one time three no less sl.tiDguish-
"a persons than AssOciate-Justice
Daniel. OF the United States Supreme
Court: John HamV1en Peasants. editor
Of the WhlC. and william +. Richie.
junior editor Of the Enquirer. were
brought before Mayor Tate FOR Par that
thay might intend committing a breach
Of the peace The misundeTs landing be-
tween these gentlemen occurred on the
sidewalk Of Main street. in front u
what is now he Merchants National
Bank one II the witnesses OF the event
was giving his version OF the
affair. when Judge Daniel said. II never
heard a greater perversion Of the truth
or D. - told In a court Of Jus
tice IN my life" Mayor Tate looked over
70 where one OF the day officers was
standing and quietly said. Captain
Page. collect W cents from Judge Daniel"
II was paid instantly During the
progress OF the examination. AMI shortly
after the happening 81 the above incl
1tnl. 'ilt tI4lDT ~ Ail' " me- III MS
qyiclt. nervous way. denounced another
witness for economiz.s the truth even
more emphatically than Judge Daniel did.
In his case. however Captain White was
called on - do the collecting. The old
law Of Virginia fixed the cost of using
ernuha.igef expletlve % p cenN but no
body hears OF any such fines being col
lected nowadays. The difficulty between
the three gentlemen named was after
wards amicabiy arranged. Mayor Tate's
diaries. which comprised three or four
volumes, were presented after his death
- JoseSl Mayo. ESD, then Prosecuting
Attorney for this city, by Mr.. Ben. Tate
and may he now in existence. They
contained much curious and valuable
matter about Richmonfs old-timers.
Captain Robert Anderson. Of Yorktown,
WHO may be dimly remembered by some
Of Kchmonds older citizens was as
well known here as in his historic home
Indeed II f. believed Richmond was hls
home before he ever went 10 yorktown
10 live. Henry Anderson. a brother or his.
was for many years notary pubic ana
commissioner IN Cbancery in this city
and lived and died here Robert And-r-
son was an eccentric. but noble charae-
ter. or abundant means, in fact the
wealthiest man In hts vicinity, he abound
ed In hospitality, and was no
niggard in the distribution of his wealth.
The latch string Of his door was always
on the outside During his OFT recurring
visits to this city he always stopped at
the b6arding- house 6f Mrs. Ring. whose
hosiery. If 20 ii may be called, was
situated on Bank street. near the site
Of Skaters Building, the custom-house,
National Bank Of Virginia, etc. His first
wife was the widow Southall. mother Of
George W. Soutkall, Alexander Southan.
and Miss Matilda Sou.hali. The two
brothers were noted lawyers Of their Sec
ton. but passed away years ago. Years
after the death Of his wife, and when
quite well stricken n years, Captain An
dsrson married again. During the active
years OF his life his special lad was rum
ming Cor Congress, and this FAD he In
dulged in every time an opportunity
occurred and at 80 small cost To himself.
He was a personal admirer of Henry
Ciav and knew most OF the eminent
Virglnians Of his day. 1t Is said he was
a graduate Of william and Mary COL
lege: al any rate, the place seemed
second home 10 him. for lie was there
onca or twice a week during all the long
years Of his stay at Yorktotn. Mr.. VII
liam c. Alien, Of this city, relates that he
was once invited by Anderson 10 visit
him for the pNrpose Of adjusting some
accounts that were I'm a tangle. lie was
so warmly welcomed and so pleasantly
entertained. as TO find little leisure 10 do
much work. After. however. finishing up
the accounts. he was about TO take his
leave with many thanks 10 his host. when
The latter reminded him that he had not !
pregerted his bill for the work done.
Allen replied. Il have no bin. Mr. Ander- |
son. 10 present. | am really OF