The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-28
A. ]. Bradley Assumes Full Re-
sponsibility for Operations
Which Alarm Police
TWO NEGROES ARRESTED;
DYNAMITE IS FOUND
Employer Claims Ownership
Through Deed From Nc
Lean Estate-Belle Isle Plant
Owners Not Warned
MIR. BRADLEYs STATEMENT.


The Old Dominion Iron and
Nail WORKS, with knowledge afore~
thought, took possession OF pro-
pcrtv which did not belong to
them. and constructed this dam.
I have deeds of conveyance, OK
amined by one of the best, II not
the best, examiner of deeds in
the city, showing a clear title to
the property extending $500 feet
along the Sout lern railway on the
south bank OF the river, and ex-.
tending bout 500 feet across the
river. embracing the bed. toward
the Belle Isle property. | secur-
ed this property on August 10,
1918. and had Ii recorded Sepfetn~
her 10. 1918. The James river
and kanawha Power company, OF
which l am president, has been
surveying the property for some
time, with the view of supplying
electric power TO any one desiring
H. This dam projects upon our
property. thus dcpreciafing its
value and taking away from us
the rights which we desire to
exercise in the prosecution of our
croachment. known to the build
crs Of 1t that II would be before
II was constructed. VIC feel that
we have perfect right TO re-
move Il.
The two colored men who were
arrested were my employees. They.
were hired by me, and paid by
me. They bored the holes in the
dam at my instance. The dyIla-
mite they Ind was borrowed from
a quarry MP the river. Arthur
Davis. one of the men. thought
perhaps the dynamite would facf-
litate the work of boring the
holes, but IL did not work. and
he took 1t hack home. with the
idea OF returning II to the quarry
from which he borrowed II. 50
there Is nothing to that, The
idea Was not to dynamite the
dam. but, tn hclp In boring the
holes.
The property was secured from
the estate OF the late John r..
Mclean. through the executor.
Edwin r. Mclean, OF Washing
ton. II had been handed down
for generations. for two humid
rcd years. and had been in the
Mclean family for over sixty
wears. The site Is that Of the
first wooden mill In the United
States. Walls of the old mill still
remain. marking the spot AZ
gaunt sentries of ante Revofution-
arv days. Wooden mills, cotton
mills and saw mills have poked
their chirnueys from this old pile.
The title Is pehfectIy clear. and
those who built the dam knew
they were taking property which
did not belong to them.
We took stems in this matter
through legal advice. Not move
was made that had not been fully
considered from every standpoint,
and by advice of counsel. do
not say that the present officers
OF the Old Dominion Iron and
Nall works or Of the Virginia
Railway and Power comnany
knew OF the obstacles. hut those
who were In authority Mt
the time the dam WIS built
Ind knowledge of the fact
that they were encroaching. ard
they did so with their eyes open.
They are not only taking power
from the james river and Kan
ewiia Power company. but from
the city. which VIC shall show MT
the proper time. And 7 might
cav right here that the destruc-
ton of the dam, or Its removal
would I'm no wise entfanger the
city's electric plant.
will not admit that we In
tended tn destroy the dam bv
blowing IL up. That may not
have been our intention. We sim
ply want the Old Dominion Iron
and Nail company to remove this
encroacflrnent, and II they do not
do so, we claim the right
to do So ourselves.
This case will be dismissed I'm
police court tomorrow, and l VIII
Immediately enter suit against
the company for eiectment. and
the two negro woriSrnen VIII In.
stitute suit for false inlprison-
mert: shall ask for no delay
I'm the hearing. but Will insist on
the case being disposed OF AT once.
NV counsel will be MFR. w. r.
DcSaussertr.
The remarkable statement Of y
\. J, Bradley. president of the Jam
River and Kanawha Power connpar
n reference to the alleged atten,
IN the part of Arthur Davis and r.
fockaday. two of his colored Ell
nloyes. to dynamite, the concrea
lam extending from Belle Isle to I
,outh side of James river, max
lear his contention that his compa
1as a claim upon the property up
which the dam is located, but dc
lot undertake TO Justify the claim TIL
Ell negroes had the right to blow
he dam Mr.. BRA dley admitted Il
hight that he had not formally no
led the officials of the Belle Il
works to remove the obstruction
he presence OF which he claims
erferes with the prosecution AZ ]
work of installing an electric Pow
plant.
did you notify the Old Don1fni
ron and Nail works people that tn
must move this obstacle T" Mr.. Bra
ey was asked
.No; they knew they wArQ exl
nS.>sr~---~ ~ n 49, Enf,fn|SA n Il an II