The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-27
BY "CITIZEN.,

biography of Miss Elizabeth L. Van
Lew. Her history is not conplete until
chapter is added as to the appoint
ment of George z stephens. Il mu-
latto. through her influence. as sheriff
OF Essex county. who ran away fugi-
tive from justice. dcfaulter and en-
bezzler OF public money and county
funds
Miss VanLew was G spy" and
traitor" in Richmond. Va. during the
Civil War. am giving her no false
nppellation. because In her own hand
writing she says Of herself: III am
entitled to the name of spy because
| was in the secret service, l accept
II willingly. but IL will hereafter have
to my mind high and honorable
eignihcation. For my loyalty to
my country have two beaut.tul
names Here am called traitor;
farther North a spy instead OF the
honored nome of faithful'" II has
been written of her that she was tho
mos, important spy Of the rebellion.
lnasmuch as her work merited General
Grants tribute; You have sent me
the most valuable informa ton received
from Richmond during the war"
woman who smiled her vacant smile
into the faces OF those who. as she
passed. Knocked az Crazy Bet. tbs
woman who dared walk Richmouds
streets while IN her hand she held for
tho Federal Army a key to Richmond's
defenses"
General Grant fifteen days after his
entrance into the high oaice as Prosi-
dent appointed her postmistr.ss Of
Richmond for her loyalty to the Union
which she held for eight years.
Her biographer says: Her salary
during office had becn spent without
regard for the morrow--chietiy in
charities TO the negro race. character
ized by her neighbors ae 'pernicious
social equality doctrines and prac-
AT. any rate. through her po,i,icaI
influence and affi!intion George z.
stephens. the whereabouts OF mis- birth
and residence unknown and imported
here, was appointed by General Canbv
sheriff OF Essex county. Miss Van.
Lew does not appear on the official
bond, but 1t was contemporaneous his
tory at the time that by her innu-
ence and political affiliation. the two
Misses McFall became surcties for
Stephens. 1t was always stated and
accepted as correct at the time thet
the Mcfalls were either aunts or nieces
OF MISS NanLew. 1t was certainly
contemporsneous history and current
rumor. But since tho June article
In Harper's appeared. on inquiry, spe-
eiaiiS oy the writer Of this article
this relationship is denied. They were
however, close friends by political az
hlation, II not b. blood II there is
no blood connection the writer of this
article who fought out the legal battle
ana was close observer OF the stir
rims times and logic OF events has
lobored under misap prehension.
II was stated and believed at thy
,ime that stephens. pet of Miss
.ahl-ew, got the appointment through
her influence. and the Metals went,
on her bond at her request.
AT court of quarterly session for
Essex on the 10Th August, 1869. the
bond (olack and tan bond), executed
by George L. Stephens as Sheriff of
Essex, and James Turner. j. d. Harris.
A w. Trabue. NJ A McFau. Ievinjo
j, McFall and a. y. Johnson as sure
ties was entered of record and Ger
tihed to the Auditor of Public Ac-
counts. The order shows that the said
stephens. appointed by Ma General
Ed r. s Candy. commanding First
military District of Virginia, qualified
In the Circuit Court of the CITY OF
Richmond, Va, in penalty Of $4,000.
stephens was indicted into office as
Sheriff OF Essex at once He and his
white deputy, Johnson. at once went
on TO collect taxes from the wealthiest
taxpayers OF the county, and In few
months absconded. 1t was believed
that the white brother" Johnson. got
the larger portion of the revenues,
and the "colored brother" stephens.
held the empty bag At that time
under the old Constitution. we had no
County Treasurer. but tho Sheriff col
lected the taxes.
The Commonwealth's attorney. n,
present the Judge OF the Twelfth Ju-
dici5l Circuit. Instituted proceedings
In the County Court against Stephens
and all his sureties. Commissioner II.
w. Danserfeld settled the account
and found balance due of s5.a4512,
subject 20 credit of s9i4S0 Tho
County Court rendered Judgment and
Stephens's 'sureties Appealed The Cir
cult Court affirmed and tho sureties
appealed to the supreme Court. OF APP
peals. The Supreme Court affirmed.
See McFalls and ais. vs.. the County OF
ESSEX, 10 Va iS7. All OF The sureties
were nsolven except the McFallz,
who resided in Richmond City Pro.
ceedngs We're instituted in Richmond
city Circuit Court 20 enforce the lien
and sell the property. and these
Misses McFall he'd to pay the penalty
Of relmbnrsing Eissex county. and he
offered up as vicarious ntonement
anu SdCTinCe on inc DOnH lor the
others. And, worst OF all, was TIE
gall and shameless temerity &C these
sureties to DENY that any ohicial bond
was ever executed by Stephens, and
that there was no nreof that they
we're suretis.
In the language of President lie wis
delivering tile opinion, 1T Is lastly
urged that there is no proof that the
plaintiffs In error We're 'sureties OF
Stephens, or that an ofI'cial bond was
executed at ALL This was overruled
and Judgment affirmed McTan and
elH w. County of Essex, 40 Va. 40