The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-29
A. J. BRADLEY DEMANDS
PROMPT HEARING ON
DYNAMITE CHARGES
Arrest Follows Postponement of Case
of Negroes Who Drilled Con-
crete Dam.
NAIL WORKS COMPANY
TO FIGHT TITLE CLAIM
Controversy Over Ownership of James
River Bed Probably VIII Get Into
Civil Courts--virginia n. & p. Conn
pany Interested.

Following argument as to con-
tinuance OF the case Of Arthur Davis
and Bennie Hockaday. two negroes
charged with attempting to blow up
the Belle Isle dam. and with having
dynamite In their possession in viola :
tion OF the law. in police court yes
terday. warrant was served on A ]
Bradley. president of the James River
and kanawha Power company. charg-
ing him with attempting to blow up
the dam,
The charges against the TWO ne
groes will be heard on Saturday, Oc-
tober g. with Gilbert X. Pollock as
counsel. They were bailed Tor their
appearance on that date with Mr.
Bradley as surety. and Mr.. Bradley
was hailed for his appearance this
morning, Lawyer Pollock furnishing
the bond.
While the defendants in the case
yesterday stood ready TO proceed with
the hearing, the commonwealth pre-
ferred a continuance. Counsel for
the Virginia Railway and Power com
pany were on hand TO take care OF
the interests OF the Old Dominion Iron
and Nail works. a subsidiary of the
Virginia Railway and Power com
pany. They declined 20 commit them
selves 10 statement. preferring 70
await the hearing OF the case. 1t had
been believed that the case would de-
velop into a criminal cause of some
extent, bat Developments indicate that
the case may resolve itself into All
interesting civil litigation.
AS stated in The Virginian yester-
day. the two negroes were arrested
by Detective Wiley, who caught them
in the act of boring holes in the con
crete dam connecting Belle Isle with
the southern shore of the river. IL
was shown by the admission of 4. j,
Bradley that he had engaged them TO
do the work on the presumption thai
he had right to remove obstacles
from his own property. Mr.. Bradley
holds deeds of transfer indicating that
the James River and Kanawha Power
company have come into possession
OF an old estate which embraces a
portion of the bed OF the river at the
poin. under controversy IT is under
this claim. as stated exclusively in
The Nirginian yesterday, that Mr..
Bradley takes his steps.
Acting under the old adage that
possession is nine points of law the
Old Dominion Iron and Nall works
officials announced last night that the
dam would be closely guarded day and
adjusted by the courts. This com
pany by no means yields the point
that the dam is not on its proper
foundation, On the contrary. Of
ficials. while they will make no formal
statement. declare they have not gone
beyond their legal rights.
Interest in the case became intensi-
fed yesterday. when the warrant had
been served on Mr.. Bradley, although
il had been anticipated under the
circumstances. as matter of form IL
for nothing else.
Mr. Bradley stated yesterday that
he would not ask Tor a continuance.
but wanted the affair over with. so
that more serious business might pro-
coed. His counsel. W. p. DeSaussure.
stated in court that he believed his
client had = right to do just what he
had voluntarily admitted be had done.