Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-15
HAMPTON.
Much Litigation Over an lnsur.
ancs Policy for Small Amount.
Town Council scnuscs disappointment =
Fruit Crop Prospects The Peanut Crop
Threatened Easter Services Alleged
Bigamist Crazy Brief Mention.

Hampton. Va. April 14-An interest
ing case was on trial before Judge Lee
III the County Court this morning in
| Volving the payment Of a policy for
! one hundred dollars issued by the Uni
ted Order of True Reformers, an or
ganization for colored people, to Mrs.
Cant. who. until the time of her death,
last September. lived in this city and
was q member OF the local lodge, or
fountain, as 1t is called. 1t appears that
Mrs. Cant. some time after receiving
the policy-which was of no value as
| long as she lived-gave 1t to one OF her
| friends. Mis-. Morgan but a month or
| SO later. on account OF differences
which sprang up between the families
demanded that 1t be- returned, Il re-
| quest with which Mrs. Morgan refused
| to comply. The dispute which followed
was. at the suggestion of the Grand
worthy Secretary, of Richmond, car
| ried into the Hampton fountain for set
| tlement, but without accomplishing
that end, Mrs. Morgan still refusing to
! surrender the policy. which. it should
be stated, was made payable to any one
to whom the owner chose to assign II.
After the death of Mrs. Cant Mrs. Nor
SdH CdlltU upon the dTanQ
for the payment of the one numbered
dollars, but knowing that there was a
misunderstanding as to who was en-
titled TO the money. payment was re-
fused and special agent was directed
to investigate. Mrs. Morgan then
brought suit before Justice Skinner. of
this city who. after carefully weighing
the evidence. rendered judgment in her
favor and a writ was addressed to me
City Sergeant Of Richmond requesting
him to collect the money due on the
| policy. Before that could be done. how
ever, the attorneys for the heirs of
Mrs. Cant took an appeal to the Coun-
| ty Court.
CAUSED DISAPPOINTMENT.
The action of the Town Council in re-
| fusing TO grant permission to the Phoe-
bus Telephone Company to establish an
exchange in Hampton caused disap-
pointment among people who were not
familiar with the circumstances under
which the iEht for a franchise was
made. To-day it was learned from an
| absolutely reliable source that the tele-
phone company was beaten before the
! meeting 1T which the decision of the
| Councilman was announced was held.
| The gentleman from whom this infor-
nation was obtained stated that the
reason for prejudSing the case was that
the applicant had not proceeded regu-
larly In bringing it before the body,
but had appeared will, an ordinance
prepared by it's attorney. thereby ignor-
ing reference to the committee ap-
! pointed to consider and report upon
such matters. The telephone company
is home organization. all of its MEM
bers living III Hampton and Phoebus
1t offered to pay 500 for the privilege
of entering the town and $3.50 for each
pole set u3 which. 1t Is estimated,
| would have yielded the municipality q
revenue of nearly $500. Former Conn
monwcalths Attorney +. S. Collier rep
resented the company.
FINE FRUIT CROP PROMISED.
Farmers in this county say that the
indications are that the fruit crop this
season Will be the finest that the sec
llon mas mad for many years. The cold
weather has kent the buds back and
they are Just beginning to make their
uppearhnce. 1t is not thought likely
tnat the conditions will change sufT-
GENTLY to cause injury to them. SINH
ihr reports coming from York county
THE PEA CROP THREATENED.
IL is SAID by farmers near here that
the pea crop Is threatened by bugs
many OF which have been seen within
| the past week on the vines. which are
Just beginning TO show Themselves
aDoVe ground. AS there is no wav
known 10 the planters by which the
IaVases OF these insects can be checked
apPrehensions OF crop failure are en-
.erthined. one farmer said this morn
ing that there is danger of an nlnoost
tolal failure. The insects seldom make
tneir appearance so early. and their
presence at this time is puzzlInr on
account OF the fact that they are rareIv
seen III cold weather.
EASTER SERVICES To-MoRRow
Interesting programs for Easter ser-
wees in the several churches of this
city nave been arranged, and II is
likely that the sacred edifices will he
hlled TO overlooking Tomorrow morn
ing. An unusually fine musical nro-
gram VIII be rendered at the Episco-
pal Church, and 1t is said that tho
music at the other churches will excel
that OF previous years, which means
mat 1t pay the most hardened sinner
TO attend church somewhere to-mor-
row. Colnred Christians will vie with
their white brethren in celebrating the
day with praise and song. The First
BaptiSt church. on King street, and
the queen Street Church. will be
crowded by people drawn out by the
desire to hear the choirs render their
Easter selections. There will be white
people among the colored worshippers.
is FRITZ EUEWL CRAZY?
People here do not think that Fritz
Euewl. the alleged bigamist. now in Jail
at Newport News. Is crazy. Euewl, as