Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-01-12
INDICTED FOR ARSON.
Northumberland's Special Grand
Jury Indiets Chas. X. Lewis.


across the Lancaster and Northum-
berland bills on his way to Heaths-
vile court on Monday last. Num-
berless vehicles of all description
except the automobile-were en-.
countered or passed, and the typical
sold time darby" With his household
and yoke of steers sometimes reduced
TO one), blocked the way in many a
defile.
The old county had awakened
from winters nap aud long rest
from criminal trials, and those who
were not summoned as jurors hurried
over to discuss the momentous sub
jects, discount the jury's evidence
and tell what must be the result of
the trials. AS noted in these dis
patches before, the case of Chas. II.
Lewis was to be weighed by special
grand jury upon number of charges
of burning. Mr.. Lewis has been a
citizen of much moment to Northum-
berland county aud the Potomac river
country. His first advent to the pub
lie eye was when, through the aid of
several influential lawyers of the
Northern Neck, he was given by the
Legislature of Virginia a grant for
the Hog Island flats, consisting of
many hundreds of acres of valuable
oyster grounds in the Potomac, at the
mouth of Coan river. Such a howl
was raised over this that portion of
the counsel nullified, and others of
the fraternity took up the popular
cry of the oystermen and petitioned
the next Legislature 10 undo the work
of its predecessor. This was speedily
assented to, and thousands of dollars
which Lewis had invested in plant
ing upon the Island flats were swept
away without compensation from the
state that had made a mistake in
sowing and forced one of its subjects
to reap the whirlwind. The ground
was upon undisputed testimony
proven to be natural oyster rock, and
the myriads of tongmen but exercised
eirprerogatives when they swarmed
upon it after the action of the second
legislature. This launched Chas. r.
Lewis into prominence, and no doubt
was the beginning of life which
leads to his present predicament-a
life which otherwise might have been
Il useful and, probably, brilliant one.
About the time of the Hog Island
affair Mr.. Lewis was known as
capitalist, operating certainly the
most extensive business enterprises
ever seen in this section. His town
of Lewisetta, at the junction of the
Potomac and Coan rivers, grew from
a barren land fiat into extern
sive and progressive proportions al
most before the people of the county
were aware it. Large oyster pack
ing houses, canning factories, shops
and various enterprises were built;
a line of passenger steamers was
put upon the Potomac river to
ply between Baltimore and Washing
ton, and among its number was the
palatial steamer "Potomac," now
owned by the Weems Steamboat Com
pany, and built in Philadelphia by
order of Mr.. Lewis. Fishing steamers
were also numbered among his per-
sonal effects; sail vessels galore were
at his command to dredge and take
oysters from his extensive grounds.
The town and community were pros
porous and as phenomenal as the
magic cities of the west.
The day of Universities dawned, aud
the long running flood began TO ebb.
His setback on the Hog Island grant,
as noted, was probably the first; then
depredations upon his other oyster
grounds came, and several persons
were shot, it is claimed upon these
private grounds. Lewis was ar
raigned for the shootings, bat
good counsel cleared him of the
charge. His property began to be
mysterionsly destroyed by fire; his
employees would strike, and this re-
markable man, with pistol or gun in
hand, would quell the disturbance.
Even constables and sheriffs were
oatwitted aud sometimes bluffed by
him. His goods were seized and |
attached in Virginia and Baiti-
more. His person was likewise
put in legal duress, and, until
the present time, he invariably
escaped by physical proves or tech
incalities of the law. But now he is |
behind the bars of Heathsville Jail.
and though he has able counsel.
the outlook for him is gloomy.
The grand jury of Northumber-
land, after sitting an entire day,
brought in true bill charging him
with burning the canning factory of
L. IL, Fallin, a prominent business
man, and neighbor of Lewis, on Coan
'iver. The jury is still sitting, and
may continue for several days, anu it
s more than probable that other in
.ictments for arson will be found.
The following compose the Jury:
edwin Bronn, jr., foreman, w. j.
snow, Robt III. Blundon, G. G.. /
Thos. L. Blackwell and
henry Myers.
SECOND DAY.
The special grand jury sat until
$50 p. m, when 1t brought in anoth-
r indictment against Chas. r. Lewis
or burning the canning factory of
!. W. Courtney, at Mundy's Point,
n night of August 81, 1898. Hen
y Howard, a negro, was jointly in
Icted with Lewis. On the charge
burning barn and contents.
Cpress farm, belonging to Con-
ressman w. A. Jones, and re-
ewing the insurance thereon, the {
lry could not agree and so was dis
harged. Another jury was impan-
elled Wednesday to consider this and
Their cases.