Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-12-08
SUITS AGAINST STEAMBOAT.

OF TINS week in argument of case of III
Stafford Murphy VS.. Md, Del. and Va.
Railway Co. Monday Judge Wright
held Spotsylvania court for Judge
Mason, who is sick. Next week, after
finishing Heathsville regular term. J Judge
Wright viii go to Warsaw to hear the
suits of DR.. Segar and A. w. Barron
against the Steamboat Co.
In the Murphy case Mr.. Murphy tes-
tined that while en- route from Freder-
ieksburg to Carriers wharf on August
18th last, after paying his fare he
started down stairs to look after his
horses. At the head of the stairs the
negro porter was standing guard while
the purser was taking up tickets in
another part of the steamer. After
getting down few steps, the porter
caught Mr.. Murphy in a rough manner
and told him he could not pass. Mr..
murphy informed him that he had paid
his fare. Murphy pulled loose and
passed on. Later he thought he would
go back and explain to the porter as he
didn't wish to get him into trouble. He
told the porter that he Murphy might
have been wrong in passing and that
he would explain the matter to the
purser as he did not want him (tl e
porter) censured The negro said that
didn't make any difference to him that
he had no right to go by, to which he
(Murphy) replied that it mattered little
with him what he (the porter) thought
about it, and turned on his heels to walk
away, and as he did so he heard the
negro say, Cd it, if you had been
any gentleman, you would not have done
1T. " He Murphy then turned and
struck him in the face. The porter fell
back one or two steps and caught him
self on the banisters. In delivering the
blow ne (Murphy) had descended the
steps one step, and in attempting to
ascend, slipped and fell. As soon as ne
fell the porter rushed up the steps.
grabbed him under the right leg, and
went over on top of him, and struck him
(Murphy) several severe blows. The
chambermaid interfered and he (Mur-
phy) got on his feet, and turned around
to defend himself and found that several
persons had hold of the porter. He
then went down stairs and got his pistol
from his grip. When he came back he
saw Capt. Long and several other Off
GERS of the boat coming down in the
saloon from the pilot house. Captain
met him and charged him with being
drunk and disordorly. When he at
tempted to explain to the Captain he
(the Captain) said he did not want anv
explanation from him, and used good
deal of vile and abusive language, but
finally took him in the pilot house to
hear his statement of the affair. After
ne had gotten through the Captain in
formed him (Murphy) that he was in
fault and pulled out pair of handouts
and told him that he would put the
handcutfs on him. Later the Captain
apoiogized and said he was very sorry
Tor what had occurred and offered to
discharge the negro if he said so. He
(Murphy) replied he did not employ the
negro and had nothing to do with dis
charging him. The Captain again apol-
ogized, and invited him to take dinner
with him, but he Murphy refused.
Capt. Archie Long testified that as
soon as the disturbance took place be-
tween the porter and Mr.. Murphy that
the former came to his room and said
that man had tried to pass him when
the tickets were being taken up; that
he tried to prevent him from doing So
and that he had been struck bv the
man; that he, Capt. Long, went with
the porter, but before doing so nut 2 |
pair of handouts in his pocket. as he
expected to see drunken man: that as
soon as he entered the saloon he saw
Mr.. Murphy approaching him: that he
did not use the handouts. because Mr.
Murphy was not drunk, and denied that |
he had accused Murphy of being under
the influence of whiskey and acting dis
orderly, but admitted that he would |
not allow him to make statement
and told him that he knew that il was
ms tault that the disturbance had &C.
Cured between him and the negro Dor
Ter. de said he took Murphy up to
his, the Captains, room, and apollo
greed to him, sent for the porter and
offered to discharge him; that he did
not threaten to put handouts on him
but said that he could do it.
The negro, Bob Richards. who COM
mitted, the assault, testified that he
was at the door; that Mr.. Murphy
came by and showed him out on the
freight deck; that he told him that he
wasn't any gentleman; that Mr.. Muir
ply went around the deck and came
back again; that he still remained at
the door, and Mr.. Murphy wanted To
repass; that it was then Mr.. Murpbv
asked him If he said he was no gentle |
man, to which he replied that he did
that he showed Mr.. Murphy down ON
the fioor and went and informed the
captain.
ouartermaster John Muir testified
that Mr.: Murphy played crap with the
negro deck hands while on the boat
that day. Three negro deck hands
testified that Mr.. Murphy did engage
m game of crap as stated bv Mr.
Muir
Mr. hunter Bowie, of Washington.
'estifed that Mr.. Murphy was not in.
and Mr.. James San ders. of
y warsaw, stated that he was present
Vhen the alleged game of crap was
aid to have been played, and that Mr..
Murphy positively did not take any
part. Is agrr' M -, - WY
MR.. Murphy stated absolutely that
lie did not play crap, and in this was
ustalned by Mr.. Robert Brown, of
Vestmoreland. The trial has created .
great deal of interest throughout this
ntire section. Many ladies were pres
mt during the entire trial.