Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-05
NEWPORT NEWS.
An Interesting Question Arises
Over Jim Crow Car Law.
May Be the Subject of an Important Io,s
Case A Cow Thief May Suffer Life I'm.
prisonment-ono Negro Accuses Anoth-
er of Murder.

Newport News, Va, Aug. 4.-Tho
question as to whether n white Off
Ger, having in charge a negro prison
err must ride in the white or colored
coach, may be made the subject OF nm
important law case.
The question arose Thursday after
noon. when Conductor James II. Bal
ley. of the Chesapeake and Ohio, was
'aKlnS up tickets on the west bound
train. just out of Hampton. He found
in one seat of the white car Mr.. S. S.
Baker, guard from the penitentiary
and Sam Evans, a negro OF Elizabeth
CITY county. whom the officer was talk
one year.
You will have to take that man in
10 the negro coach" said Captain Bal
ley to Baker. The two are personal
friends.
Il won't ride in that coach" said Mr..
Baker. adding that he had been in
structed to ride I'm the car for whites.
He would not alter his determine
zion, even after Captain Bailey pro-
iuced copy OF the law and read II
train ct Newport News. He lodged
the prisoner in the Jail and then began
n dicker with the company as TO how
the offlcer was to get to Richmond with
his prisoner.
1t is needless TO follow the ncsotia-
tons through its various stages. They
resulted In a peremptory order being
sent from Richmond to the train OH
Gals In Newport News to require the
officer and his prisoner 10 come back
to Richmond in the coach for negroes.
or TO select some other route than the
Chesapeake and Ohio.
They went in the coach for colorcd
citizens.
It is now "up to" Mr. Baker. He
said yesterday that he had not made
bring suit for damages. lie Is think
Ing OF doing so.
a section OF the law passed by the
last General Assembly requiring sep
arate cars for the two races, provides
That the provisions OF this act shall
not apply TO employees on railroads. or
persons employed as nurses, or officers
in charge OF prisoners" 1t is claimed
that the last half-doZen words gave to
Mr.. Baker the right to ride In the
white car with the negro.
The case, should 1t be taken into
court. will be interesting. but i'm
portant only az deciding whether an
officer shall go into his prisoners car,
or vice versa.
COW THIEF SENTENCED.
In the Corporation Court this morn
~ was sentenced to serve four years
in the penitentiary for stealing two
cows from G. II. Sprinkle. of this city,
on the oath of May. This probably
means that Kelly VIII spend the re-
mainder of his life in the State prison
Under comparatively recent law of
the Legislature, five years is added to
mans second term in the peni-
tertiary. For n third offence. no mat
ter what time is set in the verdict. the
nrfs
assumption being that three peniten-
tiary offences stamp him as "incorrIgi-
ble." Kelly is said to have served SEN
fences from Richmond and Prince
George counties.
ONE ACCUSES THE OTHER.
Walter Jordan and Grant Webb, the
two negroes charged with the murder
of Mary cambridge. have been brought
together at Denbeigh. and Jordan ac-
cuSed Webb of shooting the woman.
Webb denied 1t, but Jordan insisted
that the other did the shooting. al
though he tried to prevent him from
abusing the woman.
SENATOR MAYNARD HERE.
State Senator Maynard, the Congress
sional candidate from Portsmouth, was
In the city yesterday, looking over the
field in order to see how the people
over here stand in regard to his candi-
dacy.
While here, Mr.. Maynard had n long
interview with Mr.. w. c. Kelly, one OF
the two candidates from this city. to
ascertain what MIR. KelIy's attitude to-
ward him before the convention would
be.
The Portsmouth man Is confident OF
winning out In the contest. and expects
TO get some delegates from this side
OF the river.
Mr.. Maynard was accompanied by
Mr.. Harry Wool, who is taking an
active part In the canvass In favor Of
the Portsmouth aspirant