The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-05
ALLEGED WHITE
CAP ARRESTED
Joseph Arthur, Of Bed,,orI, Arrested
in Lynchburg as Party to tie
Outrages in That County
fsneciol Dispatch to The Times

LyNCHBURG. VA, Feb 4.-Mr. Jo-
seph Arthur, whose home is near Bells
Postoffice, Bedford county, but who for
several weeks past has been employed in
a store in this city. was arrested on Main
Street Saturday night by the police. on
white-capping outrages which have
occurred during the past year in the
neighborhood of Goodies. Bedford county
Mr.. Arthur was seen in his cell this
said that he had nothing to say for pub
LEGATION except that he was entirely limo
cent of the charge, and denied having
anything to do with the affair. Mr.. Ar
thur is tall. good-looking and well-dress-
cd. He was taken to Bedford City this
afternoon for a preliminary hearing.
Detective J. e. Hatcher, of Richmond,
who was at the Arlington, and who
caused the arrest of Mr.. Arthur, was seen
and stated that he was Il native of Bed
ford county, but was now engaged as SUI
perintendent of the American Detective
Agency of Richmond, which for some
weeks past has been working up the
white-capping cases. Personally. Mr.,
Hatcher said that he had been in the
neighborhood of Goodies working openly
for a fortnight, and had received notice
to leave or he would be hanged. The de-
tectiye stated that he expected his assist
ants arrested nine men implicated ycster-
day and that five or six more would be
arrested to-day, and he hoped that all
would have q; hearing this afternoon be-
fore three justices of Bedford City. He
added that confessions of guilt had been
made by some of the men, all OF whom
are young and well-connected. TO this
latter Mr. Hatcher attributed the diff
Guilty in having these men brought to JUS
tice.
Two of the men arrested are Mr..
Hatcher's own cousins, and he says that
many of the alleged whitecappers are
connected with leading officials of the
county He wrote this morning, asking
the Governor to appoint d prosecuting
attorney is the event that they are sent
on to the grand jury.
The first outrage took place on the 9TH
OF April, 1890 when Sol. Leftwich, col
ored was taken out of ms house and
whipped Another. a little later. was the
entering in the night time of the cabin OF
Reuben voolfolk. colored. near Bellevue,
and filling the house with shot from guns.
Reuben was whipped and a twenty dollar
Winchester was taken from him. Other
outrages occurred almost monthly. chief
amcng which ray be mentioned that
when Mr. Thomas White was abused at
his home by crowd of disguised men
and his guest Mr.. Woodbridge. OF Rich
mond. was also ill-treated; when Pepton
Galloway colored, was taken out and
beaten; when Mr.. Bennett Joplins. agent
of the Norfolk and Western Railway and
Justice of the peace. was fired at as he
was retiring. by a mob. with a voliey, and
tie windows of his house were r'ddled.
In addition to these the whitecappers are
charged with sending on January 18th,
this year. Il threatening letter to Mr..
Thomas West. one of the supervisors of
the county. for having offered a reward
for their aDprehension. and for unlawful
rassemblage" and starting to whip Mr.. B..
Wilkes Jon1ing. Of Bedford Servings. Mr..
Hatcher claims that Mr.. Arthur is the
rineleatiar of the, gang. who started out
first with the idea Of havine. a little boy
icfr fun but which gradually developed
into lawbreaking Of the most serious
character.