Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-29
THE RICHMOND STRIKE.


Governor Montague testified yesterday
in the case against Sheriff Simon Solo
mon, of Henrico county, whom the Pas
senger and Power Company is trying
to have removed from Office for incompe-
tency and neglect of duty. The most
startling part of his testimony was that
tbe Governor had made the suggestion
to Judge Wickham that he remove the
sheriff, and that he had ordered troops
into the county more than an hour be-
fore Sheriff Solomon finally asked for
them.
Another sensational witness was
Robert Carroll, who testified to n con-
spiracy to kill DIR. Darlington, surgeon
of the street railway company, and two
Young office employees, Carroll Bodeker
and Arthur Gray, who volunteered to,
and did, run cars during the worst days
of the strike He overheard a gang OF
men discussing the killing of these three
men, who were expected on the next car,
and later he saw them fire on the car.
Governor Montague said he was out
of the city for week previous to his or
dering out the troops, but kept in touch
with the situation by telephone and
telegraph.
~ have uniformly acted" said the Gov
ernor. con the belief that it is better to
call out a great many troops when they
are at all necessary, preferring to awe
lawless people and prevent loss of life in
that way"
On account of the reports of the dis
orders in the city and county, the Gov
ernor said he called up Sheriff Solomon
on the 29d, and suggested to him as
delicately as he could that he was ready
to cooperate with him. Solomon re-
piled that there was no disorder in the
county. The Governor related the re-
ports of growing disorders which reach
ed his office. Mr.. Carter, of counsel for
the defense, objected, but his objection
was overruled.
Governor Montague explained that it
was unpleasant to him to have to appear
in the case, and only sense of duty i'm
PEELED him to be there. "At2:15 on the
9th" continued the Governor, Judge
Wickham called on me for troops for
the county. He did not have the neces-
sary authority, and / asked if the situa-
ton could not be handled in any
other way. He asked how. | sug-
gested the removal of the sheriff. The
Judge replied that that was a matter to
be attended to later, or words to that
effect, and thought the sheriff was acting
under mistaken judgment.
CATER the bloodshed at Vine and
Main streets | instructed the adjutant
general TO direct Colonel Anderson to
mobilize his troops beyond the city
limits for mile or anywhere in the
State necessary to preserve life and pro-
tsct property. The sheriff had declined
to call for troops, and was compelled
by duty to act on my own account.
The sheriff and the judge came to the
mansion about 10 O'Clock, about an hour
and a half after the troops had been
ordered to the county. Colonel Stern
drew up the call for the sheriff, and
| directed Colonel Anderson to report
to the sheriff. | did not inform him
that the troops had already been or
dered to the county,"
The Governor also told of another
meeting with the sheriff and the judge,
at which Commonwealth Attorney
Sands agreed with Mr.. Solomon that
there was no need for troops in the
county. Constable Eubank saw a crowd
stone a car and recognized one man,
and arrested him. A crowd surrounded
him, and he released the man for fear
the crowd would raise big row.
The trial will not be concluded before
the end of the week.
The street railway company is now op-
Grating its entire system with fairly
good service. Sixty-one of the strikers
have returned to work in Richmond,
Petersburg and Manchester
NJ. J. Neff, who came to Richmond
with the strike breakers, but who is now
a regular employee of the Passenger and
Power Company, has secured bride
from the heart of the strike region. Ac-
companied by Miss Ethel V. Powers he
went to Petersburg on Saturday, and the
couple we're married by Rev. DR.. Starr.
Neff is an industrious yonng fellow from
Texas, and is quite jubilant. 'Think
of my winning her." he said, "from one
of the strikers who was counting her. "