Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-15

Norfolk, Va, June 10. 1899.
To the Board of Directors of the Board
Of Trade and Business Mems Asso-
citation OF Norfolk. Va:
Gentlemen-Your communication of
date the 7th instant received, in which
you state that Messrs. McNair and Will
lard have appeared before your board
and made Il statement as to their re-
cent grievances and petty prosecutions
by parties living near and surrounding
their factory" and their failure ito re-
ceive proper protection from the au-
| thorities of the county," and in which
you suggest that l take proper steps
TO protect these people from the petty
annoyances and prosecutions that are
now. from their statements, annoying
them to the extent that unless they are
abated. they will be obliged to move
their mill and works to some point
where proper police protection will be
AFFORDED them and justice be done to
them" and in which you also state that
YOUR object in addressing this commu-
nication lis to focter the industries that
are in our midst, and to encourage
| others to locate here" etc.
II WAS not q little surprising that
your letter should have peen published
IN the Norfolk papers at least twelve
hours before the original reached me
through due course OF mail.
In reply thereto. I beg to say that
neither Messrs. McNair and Willard.
nor their counsel. nor any one else rep
reSenting them, have ever to my
knowledge. appeared in the County
Court of Norfolk county, and stated
their grievances" and asked that
Justice he done them" Had they done
i IN laa cnf oil
that they would have received PROMPT
ana courteous consideration at the
hands OF the court. In such Il case,
however. the records alone OF the cour,,
rs you can appreciate. would have to
speak for the actions of the Judge.
would also suggest. in this connection,
mat IL there We're pending in the court
any matters for adjudication or settle
ment. affecting the rights or interests
ol thcse gentlemen, or any other per-
sons. 1t would be highly improper for
| the Judge TO discuss such matter or he
subjected to EN-PARTE statements
touching the same pending the decision
or action of the court
But as these gentlemen have never
appeared before the County Court. and
are not now. so far as l am aware.
seeking redress through that medium
of course, could have no official state,
ihent 10 make, even were it proper so
to do.
But speaking now unonicially. and AS
one who also feels dcep interest i'm
the material welfare of this; entire com.
munlty. and desire to aid as far "a
possible in the protection and en-
couraSement OF industries in this local
ity, and in order to show tina: the coun.
~ officers who have been so generally
assaiied through these statements puh
lshed within and without the State
are not wholly responsible for the
petty annoyances" so peculiar to the
factory Of Messrs. NIcNair and Willard
l would respectfully state that severa,
months ago, certainly some time last
year counsel representing the Chcora
NILS. of which Messrs. McNair ana
Willard are the proprietors. approached;
me, either on the street or in nv Office
ana stated that Mr.. McNar was fire.
quently annoyed by boys and other
persons who trespaSsed upon his prem.
mi intcrfrrrd wirfr ri1u pYnUt0ves
&C, ana desired to know whether
could not appoint n special police OFF,
Ger with special reference 10 this pro
perty.
l told him that the court had already
appointed Il competent and efficient Of
iicer in that immediate vicinity. who
liVed only a short distance from this
factory, and that I felt assured that ,,n
would readily respond whenever called
upon to perform his duties: but that
the court had no authority under the
. NV 10 appoint special Waterman for
this property at the expense of the
county; that no such power existed
either under the county or municinoi
laws. l suggested. however. 10 tbla
gentleman. that if his client. Mr. Nc
Nair. would send to the court m i+s
next session. the name or names of ono
vi more OF MS own employees. whom he
would recommend as discreet and trI,st
Ipt
police authority upon them to make ar
rests. NC. and that this would meet
the necessities of the case more effectu-
aliy than could possible be done in any
other manner. This gentleman fullv
agreed with me as to this. and said he
upon this suggestion
Several terms of the court having
passed without hearing further from
this matter. I called the attention nj
MI. McNnir's counsel to the fact. and
ne, ne sald that he had promptly advised
his client to act upon my suggestion
nut could not say why he had failed m
DO So | again assured him thot tho
court would gladly furnish Mr.. ATcNair
this means Of protection. But nj no
Tune has any application been made TO
the court or to the Judge out IF court
for such an appointment. and Mr. NJ
Nair's own failure to act upon the sug-
gestion ms above stated and unon tho
advice of his counsel in this matter. has
alone resulted in the appointment
or special officers for his factory.
\ In view of the facts must say that
was more than astonished when there
anpeared. few days ago. in the Nor
folk Landmark. statement by this
gentleman rejecting very generally
upon the officers of the county and in
other respects hurtful TO the community
al large. Recalling the facts as above
stated. called upon the counsel of Mr..
McNatr to go with me 70 tho landmark