The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-19

plot of ground was surveyed by a deputy
surveyor Of King and Queen county, an
officer appointed by the court. THIS
ground was assigned TO me by the inspec-
tor of King and Queen after he had
consulted the Commonwealth Attorney
and the Judge of his county, ana mad beeh
advised by them TO grant the assignment
After renting this ground planted ABOUT
six thousand bushels of seed oysters. In
the fan OF 1895 / began 10 market these
oysters. In taking these oysters from the
bottom, l employed a number Of men,
among them were twenty-five negroes
from King and Queen county. These
negroes were paid from s. TO s. per day
TO each boat working man and boy.
They knew my boundary lines as Wen as
7 did. Since the extreme cold weather
in February, finding my oysters mueh
weakened from cold and too much fresh
water. | concluded 10 abandon work on
the beds for the season.
THE TROUBLE.
A few days ago | heard that these ne
groes from King and Queen county, VINO
had been employed by me, were taking
nv oysters. / Immediately applied TO a
magistrate for warrants for their arrest
and obtained warrants for five men whom
/ had reason 10 believe We're in the crowd.
When an officer attempted 10 execute
these warrants he was both resisted and
abused and on his return OF the war
rants endorsed them:
Attempted to execute within warrant
and was resisted and abused 10y an arIheu
force of twenty-five negroes
The magistrate then drew warrants IN
the name OF the Commonwealth for the
whole body OF twenty-five men for the
resistance Of officers and placed them IN
the hands Of the sheriff to execute. In
attempting to carry out his orders the
sheriff met with riotous resistance, being
driven back by an armed force Of nifty
negroes, who we're, as they themselves
expressed il, blood thirsty
The sheriff applied to Governor Tyler
for company of troops 10 arrest the
men and was told TO summon posse OF
citizens TO go with him, and then II he
failed the Governor would send troops.
MARSHAL TREAT
A posse of sixty men was gathered last
night at o'clock when, behold Mr. Nor
gan Treat steps from the train and is
met by friends OF Peter Rowe, the negro
leader, and they, after a conference. sent
Mr.. Treat TO ask the sheriff TO hold on
long enough to allow Mr.. Treat TO see II
he by any possible means can keep these
negroes from being arrested and carried
10 New Kent for trial.
In The Times II IS said that the Com
monwealth's attorney and Judge OF King
and Queen county have told these negroes
10 20 and oyster on these grounds TO
make a test case OF it." Probably they
told them TO resist arrest, and to carry
shotguns to make the resistance. With
this statement staring me in the face
how can | be blamed for wanting this
case to be tried i'm a county where there
is no prejudice, when, by advice of the
Attorney General, that county has
Jurisdiction?
AS to the statment that occupy more
ground than 1 pay taxes on, namely, 81
acres, il seems that there are Is acres
OF ground belonging 10 the State adj
joining my lines, TO which l have no
right. nor do l claim It. These negroes
have been told ~ go by Judge Dew,
they say to oyster on these 13 acres, "or
as near to them as they can get"
Instead of longing on these ID acres,
where oysters are scarce, these negroes
deliberately went to longing on my bed
of 81 acres. where they are plentiful, ana
which they knew were mine. because
they had worked for me there.
Therefore, / think before Mr.. Treat
makes any more statements as to the
case and my business II would be proper
for him to ascertain the facts.
In view of the fact that l am paying
into the treasury OF irginia Vneary $3.50
annually as ground rent and taxes on oy-
sters. Il feel as II am entitled 10 pro-
lection by the State.
GEORGE W. RICHARDSON.
West Point, Va. March Is, 1893.
MILITARY WILL NOT GO.
For three days Captain r. A. Williams.
OF the Howitzers. has had his men In
readiness to obey the Governors orders
on short notice. The artillerymen have
been expecting Ia be ordered out at any
time. They will not have TO go now. for
the negroes will quietly submit TO the
civil officers. Captain Williams succeeded
Captain John A. Hutchinson about a year
ago. He has long been In service and Is
popular with officers and men. Mr.. VII
liams Is the assistant auditor Of the At
lantic Coast Line. and Is one of the most
efficient officers the Howitzers ever had.
Eiks' smoker.