Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-12
NEWPORT NEWS.
Trouble About Freehold s""r"se
md the New school-liouses.


NEWPORT NEWS, VA, November
u.-tspeciaL)-A bomb burst In the
Council Chamber last night when the
canvass Of the vote in the school bona
election Of last Tuesday brought out the
possibility Of the election having falled
10 accomplish the desired end. 1t VIII
be remembered that the Council, some
weeks ago. ordered this election TO de-
termine the will Of the people in regard
to an ordinance providing for an issue OF
bonds 10 the extent of S35,OoJ TOT tne
purpose of erecting a SD'OO school-pullu
ing in the heart of the city; $1,000
building IN the East-End, and So'Vp
school for the colored children IN
Rockets. Before the bonds can be Is
sued. three-ffths Of the registered free-
holders OF the city must vote IN faVoT
and two-thirds Of the qualined voters,
who anpeared at the special polls, must
also vote in favor thereof. The election
hooks for the seven wards show total
freehold vote OF 192 for and IS against
The books of the Commissioner OF the
Revenue have not been made up since
last February, and they now snow
total freehold registration in the city or
22S. When the City Clerk compared the
list of registered freeholders with the
names on the electiOn-bOOks last night
II was seen that only rs had voted aye.
The other seventy-four persons VINO
signed their names in the freehold column
were not freehOders. according 10 the
books Of the Commissioner of the Reeve
nue.. although they may prove their right
TO have voted as such by showing deeds
If any. that they have received since last
February. Three-ffths Of the entire
freehold vote would be 1S7, and before
the election can be recorded as having
been carried In favor of the issue nineteen
more OF the persons who are not regis
tered as freeholders on the LANDLORDS,
and whose names are now recorded IN
the freehold column OF the electon-books,
must prove themselves freeholders be-
yond any question. In the Fifth Ward
for instance eleven persons voted as free
holders who are known not to be such.
The wives of several Of that number own
property. and one of the men Is property
holder in Bloodhed. which Is situated
lust outside of the city in Warwick
county. ...,.--,.r,
GAS-PI4ANT FRANCHISE.
Another surprise was sprung on the
CITY Council, and the usual crowd OF spec
tators. last night. when the Newport
News Gas Fuel. and Power Company. a
new organization. made application Tor
a franchise 10 operate a gas-plant withn
the city limits The officers Of this COM
many are: Mr. l. Eugene White, of
New York a large stakeholder in the
Old Dominion Land Company president
Mr. NJ. V. Doughty Of this city vice.
PRESIDENT Postmaster Irwin Tucker, sec
rotary. and ex-Mayor W A. Post. trea-
surer. The capital stock Of the new
comrany must not be less than $4,000.
nor more than 5000 The company
agrees to commence work on its plant
within four months after the granting
of the franchise and complete the same
within eight months from the time al
lowed for starting the work. The matter
was laid on the table until tho next meet
ing when the franchise Will, IN all
probability. be granted At present the
entire city is lighted by electric-ligh;s.
operated by the Peninsula Electric-Light
and Power Company.
The Coroners inquest In Bloodheld yes
terday afternoon over the remains Of
Josephine McElroy. who was shot Mon
dav night by Burrus Latte resulted in
verdict being returned to the effect that
the woman came TO her death from
bullet, discharged from a weapon In the
hands Of LATHE Justice Ford gave Lat
tie an examination. and after hearing
the evidence, decided TO send the prisoner
on to the grand jury Of the County Court,
Judge Baker =. Lee latte was once
Baptist preacher IN Norfolk.
A WANDERING LUNATIC.
The police found an old man wan
dering around in East End yesterday
afternoon who when questioned, acted
so queerly that he was confined I'm the
city Jail A commission Of lunacy--com-
posed OF DR.. w f. Greasy. Police-Jus-
tice J. ID. G.. Brown, Justice Harris l..
Moss and Justice w. Il. MOss-eXamined
the man this morning. and learned that
his name Is Samuel Cline: that he came
here from South Chester. Pa. and ~s
wife and son living at that place. Up
TO two weeks ago. when he SAYS he was
taken to hospital FOR physical treat
meni. his mind is very clear. but since
that time he can account for none Of
his movements. without giving contradic-
tory statements He says he slept at
his home I'm Chester. last night. and saw
his wife and son, and was positive that
his house is not more than three miles
from here He was remanded to Jail.
and will be held unti the Chester police
can be communicated with.
Shortly before midnight last night
County Officer c. ]. Phillips arrested in
Bloodneld negro by the name of Edward
Heron alias Ed Wesley, who is wanted
I'm Norfolk for assault and battery. COM
mitted upon a white gentleman in that
city several night since.
The Newport News Medical Society
held it's regular monthly meeting last
night In the Office of Coroner y. r. Gary.
DR.. Jeffrey read paper, entitled, Same
Natural Labor"