Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-14
FIGHTING A TROLLEY LINE.
New Jersey Lawyer brings Can
non to Bear.

PLAINFIELD, n. j.. June B.-Behind
an earthen rampant fortified with brass
saluting cannon, Count" John x. Van
Ness has taken his last stand against the
Plainield and Scotch Plains trolley line.
Scotch Plains IS the hamlet which was
advertised by the pastor OF its Baptist
church as "the wickedest town in the
world" 1t was made wicked, the pastor
said, by young men Of Planheld who went
out 70 Scotch Plains at night 10 act in
way they would never dare to act at
home. But it is not because of fears that
the trolley lines will advance the decline
Of Scotch Plains that VAN Ness opposes
the railroads progress. 1t Is because the
line has been laid out across his farm IN
a way that he says he did not authorize.
That his plan to turn loose his cannon
on the trolley wOrkmen was discovered
is due TO the vigilance and conscientious
ness Of Policeman Mccarthy.
Just as the setting sun cast red glow
over the fields through which the trolley
line has been already cut, Mccarthy
heard a thunderous shot. The Italian Ia
borers employed on the road have par
racks near Van Ness's farm. Mccarthy
thought Of fueds, and riots and dynamite
explosions, and all kinds of trouble. he
started on a dog trot 20 investigate. ire
| sound Of a second shot caused him 10
! hurry. He saw cloud 81 smoke rise
! from the plank shanty which Van Ness
! built two weeks ago on the line OF the
! trolley road just within his own fence.
! He saw Van Ness behind rampant OF
freshly-dug yellow earth. pounding ram
rod into the muzzle OF brass cannon
about a foot and half long. The cannon
was mounted on gaudy red carriage'
and was apparently quite new. AS NC
| Carthy approached. Van Ness sighted the
cannon down the incompleted trolley llhes'
, lit the fuse, and stood OF with MS arms
| folded, Napoleon-like, under MS emu. ne
fire flashed from the lannon's mouth, the
| little red carriage jumped back four OF
| i've feet and the echoes rolled from the
hin 10 the woods and back again.
| Hey" shouted Mccarthy. What are
| vou doing with that cannGn?"
| van Ness looked over at him with
| naughty scorn.
! I'm getting the range OF the trohey'
| line" he said grimly
| "Don't you know" said Mccarthy, re
| proy,ngly. that it's against the law tC
| Are cannon in the city limits?'
| THE law isn't keeping these Italians
| off my farm" said Van Ness. Il am.
| am doing II I'm my own way IL any
4 workmen attempt 20 cross this line II
| shoot them down like Spaniards."
| IT don't known anything about you o.
! about the Italians or about the trolley
| lines" said the policeman. but
There won't anybody know mucl
about them this time next week" sale
| the landowner. He then went inside nj
| shanty and came out again with al
| ancient brass-hilted cavalry sabre, whicl
he brandished conyncingly.
| But" continued Mccarthy. undaunted
81 do know that you are violating cit,
ordinance. You are under arrest. Com
10 court Monday morning at 3 o'clock"
Van Ness did not go TO court yesterda
| morning. II Is understood that he wa
too busy consulting lawyers and buyinl
ammunition 10 think about any trivia