The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1904-02-26
Richmond Letter.
RICHMOND, Va, Feb. p, 1901

The weekly meetings OF Lee Camp,
| &. ", are usually tranquil, and the
discussions are confined to ex-parte
descriptions Of some battle or skirmish
in which some war worn veteran has
participated; but, last Thursday night,
there was a llvliness about the proceed
ings which doubtless surprised "Marse
Robert" as he hung over the Com
mander's chair, a silent witness TO the
scene.
Hon. John f. Rlxey, Congressman
from the Eighth District, occupied the
centre Of the stage, with the "spot
light" la Mansfield, lighting his
face.
BE it remarked that Lee Camp, in
Its wisdom, some time ago passed reso-
lutions condemning Mr.. Rixey's much
talked about bill to admit Confederate
veterans to National Soldiers Homes.
which bill, by-the-way, has not passed
and is not likely TO. Mr.. Rixey, whom
all Nirginians know as sincere and
earnest man, addressed the Camp and
explained his bill.
About six years ago Robert Austin, a
Richmond policeman, was murdered
on Broad street, about daylight, by
some unknown man, supposed TO be
negro thief whom he was pursuing.
Several negroes were arrested shortly
afterwards and held until their records
could be looked into. Among these
was William Ferris, who admitted to
the detectives that he knew who com
mitted the crime. The detectives.
however, were satisfied that Ferris was
talking idly, and, after lying in Jail for
some time, he was released. Ferris |
was recently arrested in Suffolk, charg. |
ed with some petty crime, and confess.
ed to some fellow prisoners that he
killed Austin. He will be brought /
here for trial, as matter Of course,
though the Richmond detectives think
that, with the negro's love Of notoriety,
Ferris is simply Boosting, and that
they are as far as ever from the cap.
ture Of Austin's slayer.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan will
lecture in this city tomorrow night.
1t will be the third occasion on which
the distinguished Nebraskan has spok-
en- in this city. He first spoke here in
1886. when he addressed what was
perhaps the largest political gathering
ever seen in Richmond and again in
1900 when he delivered an address at
The Academy Of Music by invitation
IF the General Assembly. Mr.. Bryan's
.heme will be THE Value an Ideal"
md he will probably have as many
people to hear him as the Academy
will hold.
The land grabbers, who haven't been
heard from in this neighborhood for
ome time, have begun so vigorous a
earch Of the Henrico land books that
ir. Walter Todd, the newly elected
reasure, has published a warning to
he taxpayers. These enterprisIng gen.
lemen have a considerable force al
york in the treasures office, and have
lready filed applications for a number
( valuable pieces Of property.
In Newport News there is an inter
sting contest between the labor unions
nd the contractors employing nom
MON labor. Some time ago the coun-
] asked for bids for repairing a mark
house, and stipulated that the work
lould be done by union labor. On
Dening the bids, it developed that the
west bid was that Of a contractor EN-.
oying nOn-union labor. The COM
ittee declined to entertain his bid
I'd awarded the contract to a higher
oder who employed union men. The
'rties whose bid was the lowest have
'clared their intention Of taking the
after to the courts, and the Supreme
'urt will probably have to pass
ION il.
JEFFERSON WALLACE.