Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-18
FORCE NOT NEEDED.
TROUBLE WITH KING AND QUEEN
OYsTERMEv AvERTED.
CLAIM THE BED Is NATURAL ROCK.
The Leader Says They Were Told by
King and Queen OniciaIs to Take
the Oysters-The Courts VIII
Settle IL.

kilograms received from west Point
last night stated that the trouble be-
tween the officers Of New Kent county
and the negroes who were alleged to
have been engaged in stealing oysters
from private grounds near there on the
King and Queen side would be settled
quietly.
Secretary Seth Miller, OF the State
Board Of Fisheries, wired the Governor
late last night that he had Investigated
the trouble, and that it would be set
tied without force. lie stated that there
was no longer need Of the Chesapeake at
that place. The Governor also received
the following telegram from Sheriff
Woodward. OF New Kent county:
West Point. Va, March II, 1899.
ITO Governor J. Hoge Tyler Richmond:
Matter may be arranged without any
armed force. Have discharged posse I'M
til Monday morning.
"W. +. WOODWARD,
Sheriff Of New Kent"
CONFERRED WITH ROWE.
A telegram TO the Dispatch from West
Point last nisht says.
Peter Rowe. the leader Of the twenty
FIVE oystermen VINO resisted the warrant
Of arrest from being served on them by
Sheriff Woodward, OF New Kent county.
came here tonight 10 consult United
states Marshal Morgan Treat in reference
To giving himself up. Mr. Treat had pre-
vously seen Sheriff Woodward with
h's-AttOrncy Lewis, OF King
William, and they agreed that I'm the alb
nj m d 4
o. King and Queen. they would discharge
their posse until Monday morning. during
which interval IT was pledged them that
/ the oystermen would be seen and u
peaceful solution Of the trouble would be
arrived az.
Rowe will go 70 Richmond in the morn
ing and secure legal counsel lie admits
/ that he and his men went out on the
grounds. but says the inspector had told
them they were free for longing They
| say they want the law tested. and that
they have long ago expressed 10 Mr..
Richardson a desire 10 80 into court for
this purpose but that he refused. They
say they oystered on the beds on the
18th instant. anticipating that by doing
so they would get the matter IN the
courts of King and Queen whore they
reside. and on which side of tho river
the oyster beds IN question are situated.
Public opinion, while divided. seems
10 largely predOminate IN favor OF the
oystermen. This is especially true OF
King and queen county"
SIDED WITH OYSTERMEN.
United states Marshal Morgan Treat
whose home is at West Point. had long
conference with Governor Tyler yester-
day regarding the situation there. Mr..
Treat says there Is some question as to
the right Of Mr. George W. Richardson.
Of New Kent, 10 the thirty-one acres of
oyster-ground on which the negroes have
been depredating lie says Il Is claimed
by the negroes that they have right 20
take oysters ont of these waters. which
are said TO cover natural rock Mr.. Treat
says the negroes went openly and took
the oysters. wishing 10 make up n test
case.
It Is generally agreed that the men
would have been perfectly willing 10 sur
render to officers of King'and Queen, the
county I'm which they lived. but that they
would not consent 10 be taken across the
river 10 New Kent for trial Mr.. Treat
said there would be no trouble II King
and Queen warrants were served. The
negroes claim that the oyster inspector
an West Point and King and Queen coun-
~ officials. Judge. and C0mmonwealth's
Attorney tOld them NJ lne last court 10
90 and take the oysters.
THEY WERE LAW-BREAKERS
Governor Tyler's attention was called
last night to the plea Of the oystermen
that the property claimed by Mr. Rich
ardsOn was natural rock.
ct know nothing Of the merits OF such n
contention" said the Governor prompt
~ II only know those men resisted the
service Of a valid warrant. Whether they
were guilty or not was not necessary for
me to know / am determined that so long
as ] am Governor the laws shall be exc
cuted. and its officers respected by every
body IN Virginia. from the mountains 20
the sea. / am sorry if those negroes are
being wrongly prosecuted. but that is n
matter upon which the courts must pass"
Major W T.. Simons was I'm readiness
all day yesterday 10 take down the Howit-
and Calling 10 quell any possible
trouble. but force was not needed. II
seems pretty well settled now that it
will not be.