Bridgeton pioneer., 1903-05-21

Capt. Lee on board his own boat and
had conversation with him regarding
some stalking up of his own grounds.
Witness said that Lee seemed to be in
hurry.
Capt. Alonzo Bacon testified that
he was Superintendent of the State
Oyster Commission and as such officer
made the complaint against the de-
PENDANTS on February 4th The COM
plaint was made upon information
received.
The State here rested it's case and
Mr.. Potter opened the defendant : s
side. He told the jury that the de-
fence was denial of dredging for
oysters on Capt. Allen ground on the
29th OF January, also denial of tax
ing any oysters therefrom.
Capt. Uriah S. Lee, one of the de-
fendants, was put upon the stand
He said he lived at Leesburg; that he
was 81 years old and that he had been
in the oyster business since he was 9
years old. Witness said he was the
owner of an oyster boat, named
Stephen R. Lee,' and had an inter-
est in twelve or fifteen oyster grounds
in the cove. On January 29th, the
day of the alleged offence, witness
said that he and the other two de-
PENDANTS were upon the ''Stephen R.
Lee," and that they went out into the
cove to stake up some of the grounds
in which he was interested. No
oysters were taken, as the dredges
were broken. The reason he was in a
hurry. as testified to by Capt. Boyle,
was because he wanted to get all the
stalking done as he was due down in
the James river on February 1st.
Witness said that he owned oyster in
terests in the James river and deals
heavily in Chesapeake oysters
Frank B. Lee another defendant,
testified that he was 25 years old and
had been oystering since he was 16
years old. He has been working with
his father, Uriah S. Lee, the last wit
ness. His testimony corroborated that
of his father. Witness denied being
on Capt. Aliens ground at ALL Three
other boats were in the cove at the
time the "StepEen B. Lee'' was there
These boats were within hailing dis
tance all the time. Witness told of
meeting the watchboat "Cypher" in
the cove and that they beckoned her,
and Capt. Boyle located the grounds
for them to stake up.
Harry Sutton, the third of the de-
PENDANTS, was sworn. His testimony
adduoed no new evidence. Witness
said he was with Capt. Uriah Lee
and Frank Lee on January 29th They
we're aboard the "Stephen R. Lee. -
We're not upon Capt. Ed. Allen s
grounds, neither did they take any
oysters.
John Sharpless, sworn. Lives at
Leesburg; is in the oyster business
On January goth started on board the
1.-Two Bills" for the cove: saw the
Stephen R. Lee," and was close to
her all the way out into the cove.
Was within hailing distance of the
Stephen R. Lee" but saw no one
heave dredge from her. While in
the cove saw Capt. Hilton's s boat, the
Golden Light" but she was more
than mile distant. Had gone into
the cove on that day to stake up some
oyster grounds.
Samuel Lee Lives at Leesburg and
has been in the oyster business about
80 years. Is cousin of Capt. Uriah
Lee and owns oyster grounds in the
cove. On January goth was in the
Grove aboard the 1.-TWO Bills' in COM
pany with Capt. John Sharpless. Saw
the "Stephen R. Lee' in the cove
but saw no dredge cast. Was at no
time more than half mile distant
from Capt. Uriah Lees boat and could
have seen if dredge had been cast.
John Chance, sworn. Lives at
Leesburg: is in the oyster business !;
is captain of a vessel, and has grounds
in the cove. On the goth of January
was aboard the vessel 1.-TWO Bills. !"
Saw the "Stephen R. Lee" in the
cove on that day; she was not more
than hundred yards distant; no
dredge was cast from the Stephen r.
Lee. Saw sloop about mile and
half away which might have been the
Golden Light this sloop did not
get within half mile of the "Two
Bills" or the "Stephen r. Lee.''
Capt. Lilburn Cox. sworn. Lives
at Leesburg, is in oyster business,
was in the cove on January 29th and
saw the Stephen R. Lee" there but
saw no dredge cast from her. The
Stephen r. Lee' was close to the
sloop, the "Two Bills. +" The two