The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-17
A VICTIM OF
AN EVIL REPORT.
A Shakesperean Wrestler Comes 10
Grief in Newport News.
NEGROES BRING CUBAN WIVES.
Five Married Members OF the Eighth
Immunes "A Banquet To Judge
Blackstone - The Magic City
Will Honor st. Patrick.

NEWPORT NEWS. VA. March Is
Special.-The train bearing the Eighth
Illinois Regiment, OF colored volunteers
pulled out for Chicago just after noon TO-
day. The decentralization OF the troops
was witnessed by an immense throng oil
negroes. The men were brought ashore
on a barge which made two trips, bring
ing six hundred at a trip. They were
at once formed into their respective COM
panies and marched TO the train. The
officers travel In Pullmans. the men IN
tourists sleepers. Colonel Marshall, and
those officers having their wives with
them. occupied the finest sleeper attach
ed TO the train. The Cuban women, VINO
had married the enlisted men, five in
number. attracted much attention.
A WORRIED TRAGEDlAN.
j. Prescott Leach, Of Boston, dIainslc
reciter, Shakcspearean wrestler MID
eyed meek-mannered smooth OF tongue.
and victim of tragical trouble, came here
from WILLIAMSBURG 10 entertain the pubic
with an evening with the immortal bard.
and is now holding n lonesome matinee
in the inspiring purlleus Of the city jail.
II Is not known where the troubles
of J. Prescott Leach began. They are i'm
memorial. He says he was born 10 them.
But they took an acute form al VII
Harrisburg some days ago. He was 10
give a recital there, hut finding the il
cense too steep. he gave his landlady
a worthless check instead, and. taxing
unto himself a dollar in change there
overfrom he hied him hither, holly pur-
sued by an evil repor toching said
check.
PASTURES NEW.
Arrived I'm the magic city Of the Pc
ninsula. j. Trescott Leach set forth seek
ing what he could devour I'm the way ~
engagements. and when the story Of that
worthless check was published. be wa
I'm the midst Of an interesting deal with
the Ladies' Aid Society Of the First Pres
byterian church. which. had IL gone
through, would have enabled him to lee
turo or recite under its auspices. But
the ladies. seeing the evil report became
frightened. and said that they would
have naught to do with such a man. The
pain of the knowledge Of this decision
was spared the tragedian. who was nab
bed before he got a chance to keep an
engagement, which he had with some or
them. at which engagement he was to
learn his fate. Before he was arrested.
however. Leach offered his Newport
News landlady a check for his board
bill. The landlady had also seen the evil
report. and was shy Of the check. In
forming the Chief Of Police Of tbe tender
there. which tender she emphatically re-
fused.
Presumably. the man Of trouble will he
held for the Williamsburg authorities.
He may also be prosecuted here for beat
ing his board bill.
Leach gave a recital. he says. several
weeks ago I'm the pariors Of the Jefferson.
I'm Richmond. also at the Cumberland
Street Methodist church I'm Norfolk. and
the Park-View Baptist church, in Ports
mouth.
a JURTST HONORED.
The Newport News Bar tonight gave
delightful Informal banquet al the War
wick. in honor OF Judge John W. G.
Blackstone. Of the Eighth Judicial Cir
cult. OF which this county Is a part. The
affair was confined strictly TO the legal
fraternity. and was characterized by
wholesale and wholesouled lavishness. both
as regards the material and the imma-
terial man.
The Newport News Division Of the
Ancient Order Of IIbernians will do honor
to the memory Of the good St. Patrick
by giving a great banquet at their hall
tomorrow night
Twins Senators arrived at Hampton
to-day in good trim. They will begin
practicing Immediately.