Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-07
IN THE OLD DOMINION
WORKING CoNvICTS ON PUBLIC
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BUSY.
Special Correspondence of The Star


become operative. The first detachment of
convicts was put to work in Washington
county. and the courts have begun to send
men to the public works instead of TO the
penitentiary. A feature of the law is also
being enforced which has created some
thing OF a stir among the idle. loafing
classes. and they are standing in terror of
having to do actual work. The law pro-
vides that prisoners confined in city and
county jails for misdemeanors can be made
to work on the roads during their terms of
imprisonment. Heretofore 1t has been a
notorious fact that with the advent of fall
many whites and blacks, too lazy to work
commit some trivial offense and spend the
winter months it, Jail. to be fed. clothed and
cared for at the expense of the state. In
this way the state has bee nforced to ex-
pend many thousands of dollars under the
head Of criminal charges. The new order
Of things will result in an enormous saving
to the state, for the men will have to work
on the roads for the duration of their terms
and will receive nothing for the time except
food and clothing. That 1t will have the
very beneficial effect of driving from the
state many undesirable and dangerous peo-
pie is the belief Of the authorities.
The enforcement of the law is not with
out hindrances and objections, however, as
the taking of the prisoners away from the
jailers reduces the fees of the sheriffs and
sergeants. who get so much per day for the
feed and keep of the prisoners. They make
protest against the law. preferring to fat
ten their pockets at the expense of the
state. Gov. Swanson. however. is upholding
the authorities in seeing that the law Is
strictly enforced in every particular. and be-
fore the end Of the year it is expected that
at least five hundred Jail birds will be
doing their first work for many years. The
farmers and country people will get the
benefit Of the improved highways.
Reports from Buckingham county say
there is some excitement in that section
because of the presence of Mormon elders.
They have been working among the igno-
tant. poor class OF whites. but their sue
cess has not been marked. The elders
are having a rather strenuous time in the
county. The best-infcrmed farmers express
their contempt for the elders. and DO not
hesitate to say that they will be roughly
handled in case a visit is made to their
homes. Indicative of the spirit which per-
vades the men Of that section is found in
the experience of a couple Of railroad men
who were there recently. The men went
to farmhouse and asked for accommoda-
lions for the night. The lady Of the house
was indignant, and informed the men that
they had best lose no time in vacating, for
the husband and father, man of six feet
four inches and built along the same gen.
erous lines as his height. would return in
a few moments. and that she would not be
responsible for what happened to them.
The men were upset for the time being,
and as they were turning to go the head
of the house came up. The callers explain
ed who they were and had good laugh
over the incident. The chances are that
the elders will have a tale to tell If they
oiy 1opcv IN hot inf
The city is threatened with a milk famine.
The dairymen are loud in protestations
against the express companies for the ruin
Gus charges made for bringing milk to the
city, the dairymen saying that the charge
is cents a gallon for bringing in cans
from the farms along the roads close to
the city-a distance ranging from five to
twenty miles. Within the last few days
the price Of milk has been advanced to 8
cents quart, and even at this price the de-
mand cannot be supplied. the dairymen de-
clining to ship here, and receiving lit
tie in return after paying the express
charges. The matter will likely be brought
to the attention of the corporation commits
sion for correction. The drought which fol-
lowed the rainy season reduced the milk
supply, and lately there has been no at
tempt at butter making. all the cream be-
Some weeks ago Bushrod Elmore and
Bernard Mcneil of this city began their
career as 'road agents." They held up
Powell Brothers at their store in King
William county and got a small sum Of
money. Gilmore is fifteen and MCNEIL is
seventeen. The boys were caught the day
their crime, and they at once
confessed, saying they did not think any
thing would be done with them other than
to give them lecture and let them go.
They were taken to King William and
placed in Jail and later were Indicted by
the grand jury. Their arraignment in court
was followed by a plea of guilty and
full confession, the case being submitted
to Judge Claggett B. Jones without jury.
He sentenced both to, the reformatory till
they shall have reached the age of twenty
one years, saying that but for the age Of
Eimore he would send both to the peniten-
tiary.
The supervisors of Loudoun county have
established a cattle quarantine for that
county. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad
Is alleged to have brought number of cat
tie from Cincinnati and the west which
were affected with the cattle tick. The cat
tie were driven to point In Maryland, and
in that way some Of the cattle in Loudoun
county were infected. Gov. Swanson has
issued proclamation directing that no
cattle be shipped from the county during
such quarantine until they have been ex-
amined and released by the state veterin-
arian.
James Hitter. a negro. is in the county
Jail charged with stealing large quantities
of copper wire. He is an expert electrician
when it comes to handling live wires"
The man has but one arm having lost the
other member while getting wire-and ex-
perience about handling wires when
charged. He climbs a pole and with a
saw with wooden handle he cuts the feed
wire, making dead" the wire he desires.
Then it is easy for him to throw" the
copper wire for the full distance between
trolley poles. He is said to have been en-
gagged in the business for some time.
Preparations are being made to handle
an enormous crowd at the fair and horse
show. which open here Tuesday. The
grounds for the fair are in good condition,
and already more than a thousand head of
cattle and horses have been entered. There
are some fine racing stables here. mostly
Virginia horses. The cattle is the finest
the city has seen in it's history. All bust
ness is to be suspended here Thursday in
order to allow the people Of the city to take
in the fair and to help make it a success.
The horse show opens Tuesday night, and