The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-12
A FUSION
PRIMARY
The Political Breach In Nor
folk County Widened.
A VERDICT ON A LETTER
John Pickens, on Trial for Murder is
Bailed in Small Sum-A Famous
Pension Swindler Under Ar
rest-Notes and Gossip.

Especial to The Times Dspatoh.)
NORFOLK, VA. July 1.-THE breach
between the two factions In Norfolk
county politics was widened little more
To-day. when the members of the fusion
committee met In Portsmouth and de-
cided to hold primary for the nomina-
ton Of county officers.
This Is the most defiant act since tho
State Central Committee decreed that
there should be but one committee, and
that George w. Jones. OF the Straghtout
faction, was the duly elected chairman
Of that committed
ISLANDER SUIT ON LETTER.
Jacob Anthony won verdict in the SLAM
der cult against the National Accident AS
ISOLATION Of New York. This suit was
based on letter sent by the defendant.
IN which the plaintiff was refused a
policy on the statement that he was ply
sically and morally unfit, and that he
was dropped from the rolls Of the asso-
citation. TIE verdict OF the jury in the
Court Of Law and Chancery is for dam
ages to the plaintiff OF $500. The letter
in the case and one received by DR.. f.
6. Hope, OF Portsmouth. were introduced
a evidence A summons was sent to
bring DR.. Hope and the letter into the
court. This Is new phase OF the law
need not always be public to be action
able.
JOHN PICKDNs ON BAIL
John Pickens. on trial for the murder
of the negro woman. Maggie Grant In
which case. the Jury was adjourned to
Tuesday, was hailed in the Corporation
Court this morning The amount OF the
bond Nis $500. and the bondsman is DR..
". K. Wood, Of Berkeley The Jury
could not agree. and the bond is for "a
email amount. hence the inference is
that the case IS not a strong one against
the accused. There is the testimony OF
the physician in support OF the conten-
ton OF the defense that the defendant did
not kill the woman. She would have
died a natural death soon without the
blow he struck with a lamp She died
:our days afterward.
PENSION SWINDLER CAUGHT.
sydney Webb the negro pension swim
dler is caught. He was brought hero to-
day. having been arrested In the county
by Constable N. L. Halstead. This is the
prisoner who escaped from Deputy U.
8. NJ. Bland Of Richmond. who was
bringing Webb here for trial In the United
States Court for all sorts of pension
swindles practiced on the negroes. He
was engaged In collecting money from ne
groes on the promise of getting pensions
for them from the government. He would
promise pension for anything and for
any amount His range was from $3.50
to $50. He induced one old woman to
sell her COW, as a last resort. to put up
money for the expense Of the great sub
sidy he said she would get. When brought
here for trial on May 7th by Deputy
Marshal Bland. on the Norfolk and West
ern train. Webb jump off on the wrong
side of the train at the station here and
escaped over the Campostella Bridge to
u ,lel.a
Dor was In demand, expecting to obtain
enough money to pay his way to dis
lance by, train. But before he could get
away he was suspected and watched
and finally arrested when the proof was
secured. He is fifty years old and smart
and dangerous The government officers
have about forty cases against Webb.
Webb was preparing to go north to set
tile in Brooklyn to be near DR.. Hilles.
of Plymouth Church.
SAILOR SHIPPER ARRESTED.
Vance Mccarthy. the sailors boaruing-
house keeper. was arrested here this
morning, charged with exacting Sc for
shipping Emmitt Moss. a negro sailor.
This is an infractlon Of the government
laws and is subject to fine and imprison-
ment Both the city and the United States
officers are on the alert to break UP the
practice Of changhang sailors from this
port and the practice and the perpetra-
tors of the offenses it includes and they
are ready to. arrest the men engaged in 1t.
81 CONDUCTOR .ECKLES RECOVERING.
r. S. Eckles. the conductor OF the Nor
folk and Western Railway, who was seri-
ously injured In the recent collision near
Petersburg Is able to walk about his
room. He got out OF bed for the first
time yesterday. Both of his arms and
one rib We're broken and his family was
anxious for the preservation OF his life,
That Is assured now. He Is still In the
hospital at Richmond and has the best Of
care and attention. This news is from
his son. young attorney here, who re-
ceives daily messages.
LARGE POTATOES AND CROP.
This has been the most successful po-
tatoe season in the history Of the Eastern
Shore OF Virginia The acreage was
large the yield up to the average and the
prices satisfactory to the farmers, The
farmers OF Northampton county are in
fine spirits. 1t Is stated that some OF
the Younger farmers of the county have
realized more than $4,000 on their Irish
potato crop, Daniel Fitchett, of East
v,lle. brought to the Landmark Office
yesterday a box containing eight Irish
notatoes, which weighed from one and
a half 20 two pounds each. They are
smooth and OF beautiful quality and they
are representatives OF the greatest yield.
the highest priced and largest potatoes
ever grown there.
For Stuart's Monument.
Secretary w. Ben Palmer, OF the Vet
eran Cavalry Association, which Is col