Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-08-05
THE CHARGE
ABSURD
Young Murray Will be Acquitted.
An Orderly Community.
"Spite Work /"

Big Creek, Va, CNear R,chlands)
August 2.-Grtat interest is mani
Tested in the outcome of the case of
Young Murray for attempted assault
on the little four year Odd daughter
of Jess Luster.
The majority of the leading citi-
zens regard the case absuld aud ,ih-
celous. The fact that il could h We
occurred i'm ten feet OF u ssw-mill i'm
actual operation, and nearl v wher.
men were working at the drift mouth
of coal mine and i'm full view of
both. and the fact that the child
made no ontcry, looks very peculiar
TO say the least of it.
The whole thing appears nonsen-
steal, and there are many who be-
lieve that it rs mere "spite work."
and that the boy will be acquitted
when his case comes up for trial.
There has been enmity existing be-
tween the father OF the child and the
boy, young Murray, for some time,
which leads the public to believe
that the action taken in haying the
young man arrested was done purely
for spite.
IL the report that several men saw
the said attempt at rape, and did not
interfere, and in fact did not men
ton il for several days after, is true,
then the said men should be taken
up and prosecuted instead of the
boy. do not believe there is u Jury
TO be had in Tazewell county that
would convict young Murray on the
epidence of men who state that they
stood short distance away and
watched the attempt without inter
fering. If the men did see what they
report TO have seen then they should
suffer rs much for the crime as young
Murry, If not more.
The Seaboard Coal Company de-
serves much praise for the order
which prevails on Big Creek. Mr..
Ii. J. Ayers, General Manager of the
Com pany was determined al the out
set to enforce the law and punish
criminals, and as Il result he has one
of the most peaceable mining camps
in the Southwest coal field.
At first there was a reckless disre-
gard of the law. At one time some
armed toughs attempted 10 raise
racket with the Compauy's Store
Manager, Mr.. S. +. Lowell. and sur
rounded the store 6riug guns and
throwing rocks and other missiles.
Mr.. Ayers promptly had three or
four policemen and Justice of the
Peace appointed, and as Il result the
offenders were punished To the full
, limit OF the law.
Jim Pruit, who Was taken to Jail
last week by the Seaboard Police,
was about the last of the malefactors.
People OF this section rejoiced when
they saw him marched Off, ns he has
been an old offender of honest citi-
zens for several years past. lie Is
r now being held awaiting trial for the
: cutting of the Pack boys at Raven,
and the community generally ex-
, poets TO see him go down to Rich.
9 mond for a few Years, The jury that
; sends him around the bend will be
!. discharging their duty to the full OK
{ tent, and doing good act For thi,
s part of their county.
g The work on the construction o
4 the n. & w. branch railroad from
e Richlands to the Big Creek coal fiel,
d will begin this week and will b,
y pushed rapidly TO completion. There
e are already two operations ready t,
: ship coal on Big Greek as soon as tn,
3 railroad is completed the Senboar,
Coal Company, incorporated and tn
Richlands Coal Company, incorpor
ated. Both these operations AR
e pushing their plants to speed.
is completion, and expect soon To b
y shipping a large quantity OF Goa
d There are also other operations con
Il templated near the two above men
,e toned, and within years time W
Is expect to see no less than hal
In dozen large operations on Big Creel
st This coal is as good as the best il
Il this section, aud these new compan
Dr. are expected to be very successful i
their undertaking.
4 CoRREsPoNDENT
n,