The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-01-22
SOUTHERN RAILROADS
Vice President AxteIl, of The C. & o.,
Gives An Encouraging Report.
RICHMOND WANTS TIE CONVENTION
Shc IL Anxious TO Entcrtain the Next
state Gathering, OF Democrats
'rowina Sentiment in Favor of
observation-disclosures Men wiiI
Not Carry stim.

Observation-Disclosures Mcn WtiI
Not Carry stins.
Richmond Va, jan. 21-(Specfal)-
MIR. Decatur AXtell, second vice prcsi-
uent OF the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
way company, I'm letter written for the
state, gives most encouraging re-
port or the condition OF railroad business
IN the South and especially In Virginia.
he does not conflne what he says TO his
own company, but speaks OF the improy-
eu business of others. Mr.. AxteIl argues
,hat last year was not wholly bad I'm
business, and he takes most hopcrul
Wow OF the future. The figures he gives
or the increased tonnage of railroad
business, ana the increased trade In Vir-
gina coal Is certainly very gratifying.
WANTS THE CONVENTION.
Richmond VIII certainly ask for the
honor OF entertaining the delegates to
the State Democratic Convention this
year. / mas been four years since the
oody met here. and our people are an
NOUS Tor The convention. i the basis
OIL representation is reduced one half.
as Is talked about, the convention could
mcct IN the Academy of Music The EN-
position Hall is too large unless tho
number of admissions limited That hall
seats l2OO0 or $4,000 people, ana It would
be next to Impossible for the body to de-
iipcrate over matters that shall come
before IL with thousands of spectators
present.
IN FAVOR OF COEDUCATION.
There is a growing sentiment IN vir-
Elnin among persons engaged In cduca-
tioh. college president said to me the
other day he did not think the day was
1ar distant when the doors Of the JJpi-
vcrs!ty of Virginia ana other big institu-
,iois OF learning would be thrown open
10 poth sexes. II is known here that
the heads of one or two big institutions
where only males are now educated are
seriously considering the advlsabllltv of
admitting women.
j. IL. Gray. stalwart colorcd man.
~ IN trouble here. He Is charged with
practiclns the profession of n physician
without n license He was before the
folice Justice this morning. 1t devel-
oped that Gray has been practicing on
patients and charging fees for some
time All went we'll until patient died
soon after taking one of his prescrp-
mons. ana Gray was asked to give n
death certificate which he snid he could
not DO. The Board of Health learned of
the matter ana caused bis arrest The
justice fined Gray $50 and he took an
| appeal
THE BAGGAGE AGENTS.
Tine baggage agents continued the
work of their convention to-day. The
oniE important public question they de-
c.ucu was To refuse to carry corpscs as
baggage Dead bodies must travel as
| passengers.
General Edgar Allan returned from
washington last night. He was not
| buEblng over with political rossip no
he usually is after II few days sotourn
IN the Capital Ci;y This was due 10 the
rae that he has been wrestling with his
sixth attack OF grip
Judge Edmund Waddnl. Jr., Hon Jas
- Brady, Hon. George r.. Bowdeu. ana
Hon. Park Agncw are all IN Washing
ton ana rumOY has It that they will do
tefmlne before they separate who are TO
get the choicest plums to be given 10
Virginia by the Mckinley admlnistra-
| don.
Governor O'Ferrall continues to i'm
prove. All the time that he has been
sick he has been forced to neglect the
work OF his office TO some extent. but
not entirely So He has been able to
pass upon acquisitions and such o,her
matters. To-day ne resumed almost all
his Office work in the capitol.
DIVORCED BY THE CHURCH.
The Iicnrico county authorities to-day
succeeded IN bringing to light some facts
OF most sensational nature. The rcvc-
lations show that some of The negroes OF
the county have been getting their
church to divorce them as well as marry
them.
Some of the most ignorant negroes
have gotten 1t into their heads that the
co!ored parson who ties nptinl knots.
generally for promises TO pay, has also
power 10 sever them. This idea has Sc
riousiy intcrfcrred with the divorce bust
ness nj the new county cour;-hous..
These startling facts were brought out
by the arrest Of Paul Mayo and Ella
| Woodson to-day for serious crime.
Paul. in order to have the warrant
against him withdrawn. went to Cierl:
samuel =. Waddul and applied for a H.
censc to marry the Woodson woman.
1t developed that he had been married
once before. and that he had been de-
serted by his wife while serving n term
in jail. His wife had married again.
| through the agency of the church. he
said
When asked to explain this peculiar
condition Of affairs. Mayo said that The
church To which he belonged had d.
vorced his wife and fired him out of
the church. He said that as he had