The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-03-07
SOME REFLECTIONS
Upon Public Roads Including a
Speech by Mrs. Grundy.
FEATURES OF MAGISTRATES COURT

King George. Va. March 4th.
To The Free Lance:
While our people have been de-
MED their usual freedom of social
intercourse this winter by reason OF
rough weather and impossible roads
they have not been without compen-
sation.
Many incidents. some of them of
startling features, that excited deep
interest throughout the county. and
others OF more local nature, have
furnished abundant material for
fireside conversation.
First came the postOlfice trouble
at our county seat, which excited
general surprise and intense inter
est because of the good and long
established reputation OF the accus-
ed and the high esteem in which he
was held in the whole community.
Then came the highway robbery
+ by two masked bandits of merchant
and postmaster. J. g. Weldon. and
/ this was followed in due time by a
burglary in the same neighborhood
that separated a young man from
his cash savings OF nearly hun
dred dollars.
Then came the triple murder of
sailors on the POtomas off Colonial
Beach
To all this have been added. by
way OF variety. several spectacular
warrant trials. which came at con
vcnient intervals and attracted large
crowds
SO your readers will see that our
otherwise duh winter days have
been full OF topics for crossroads
and sireside gossip.
There was no abatement of eX-
citoment and interest allowed at
intervals between these incidents
for each day brought a new
edition Of the same story each
claiming in turn TO be the only au-
thoriZed version.
This continued until il aroused
The wrath Of Mrs Grundy. prasi-
dent of the international congress
Of gossips. and caused the Old lady
20 cry out. Its a sin and a shame
how some people will lie. They say
Buck Weldon was heldup, when the
truth is the poor man was knocked
down and had to get up. brush his
clothes and pursue the robbers un-
der his own steam. The lying done
in these cases. says the old lady.
would shame the - himself
Speaking OF bad roads and the
many ways in which they bring loss
to a community recalls an incident
which occurred here few days ago.
AT meeting Of the Sons
and Daughters of Moses. a society
Of colOred citizens, quarrel arose
between two young Bucks who were
rivals for the smiles and favors OF
a fair and fat young damsel OF
sweet sixteen, more or less. ne
quarrel was quelled at the hall, but
as he bellies ana beauX were re
turning home the procession came TO
a narrow pass in the road. when
thc line Of march was broken ana
all became not only sadly mixed up.
but firmly stuck in the mud. II
was Door-land mud and warranted
10 hold like royal glue. The TWO
Aforesaid rivals found themselves 10
getner and then and there in the
pitch dark and held fast by the
mud. like two tomcats tied by the
tails and slung across cloihesline.
thcy had il out. According 10 the
evidence AT a subsequent court triai
they Fit fout and fought. while
Dystanders. including the fat bone
OF contention. shouted encourage
ment to their favorite with oaths
ard imprecations; brass knuckles
ratified and pistols cleaned in the
murky darkness. Such was the up
roar that neighboring citizens were
aroused from their midnight slum-
hers and the wild denizens OF the
forest were startled; coons scamp
cred away to the tall timber ana
night hawks sped away on swift
wings to their distant hollows'whlie
the wood nymphs ceased their
dance in the forest aisles
All this. and more, was broushs
out In the testimony Of a cloud ol
witnesses at a trial before justice
Baker q few days after.
A crossfire of five warrants was
the aftermath OF the tragic scene
and IL was evident at the trial thar
each witness had been coached ana
carefully trained TO recite his piece.
/ To the fair maiden who had caused
/ the rumpus. and who was the only
female witness. was assigned the
role of expert in profanity ana
right well did she perform her part.
she had canned and kept in not
storage for a week all the oaths
and vulgar words that Jared ana
nolluted the midnight air during the
fiobt between her lovers and reeled
them off with apparent accuracy
and with a fluent ease that "ouiu
shamed a pirate sailor
Even the lawyer. detailed FOR me
prosecution. was shocked by lne
Iurid recital and begged her 70
ease up. nh. hv
this outpour of profanity by the
m4ek and gentle daughter OF
Niosas, was relieved by the next
witness. who proved to be the stage
manaoer and star witness OF the
trial. He launched out at rapau
sneed and when his stream OF ora
tory reached high tide huge "asS
Of gesture swept a half smoked smoked
cigar from the fingers of an oiiicla,
and caused the attorneys anu
bystanders to dodge and fall oack.
MANY other comic incidents occur
" @. tbts trial but time and space
forbid recital. at. %
such was the direct conflict Oh
evidence that the justice must nave
been puzzled in forming his JUG
ment in the several cases. he
found one acquital and four coh'io-
tons. ,.s g., the
Nav of costs and fines amounted 10
goodly sum, nearly enousn ~
Grade the twin hills at the soutneIn
approach to our courthouse OF ou''O
. ap bridge over Pine Hill stream.
Moral: Repair the roads ana ie
ducs the costs of litigation.
U'O0 LOCKER On.