Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-17
STUART ORDERS RELEASE
OF AMMUNITION CARRIERS
Hauling Shells In Motor Truck fol
Legitimate Purposes, Is
Statement.
CAME HERE FROM CONNECTICUT
Three Men Arrested Near Lakeside
Are Freed and Proceed on Their
Way to Newport News With Fifty
Cases of Three-Inch Shells.

After discussing over the long dis
| tance telephone with Federal officers at
Washington and with officials of the
Newport News Shipbuildng and Dry
Dock Company yesterday afternoon.
Governor Stuart ordered the release OF
the three men arrested early yesterday
morning by Sheriff Webb w. Sydnor.
of Henrico County. when he found
them in possession Of a large. sus-
picious- appearing motor truck on the
Brook Road, almost opposite the gate
to Lakeside Park. Investigation showed
that the truck was loaded with fifty
cases OF three e-inch brass-cased shells.
which were consigned to the Furness-
Witty Co.. at Newport News
While those in authority would make
no statement, the suggestion was made
in other quarters that the trip was in
Treality in the nature OF test Of the
value of motor truck for carrying
army supplies.
Early yesterday morning the police
had the truck driven to the Capitol
Square, where II was held for several
hours pending conference with the
Governor. At that time the contents of
| the truck were unknown, because OF
the fact that the men arrested when
1t was found declined to discuss with
the police their mission They were
placed under arrest about o'clock
yesterday morning, and held in the
Henrico County jail until ordered re-
leased by Governor Stuart. They gave
their names as James Rickard. Walter
Luckett and Edgeconbe Bennett, the
latter two being negroes.
WARRANT SWORN OUT
ny PROHIBITION AUTHORITIES
Operatives Of tho state Department
OF Prohibition had visions of making
| a capture of a large quantity Of liquor,
and caused search warrant t. be Is
| sued. Sheriff Sydnor then opened the
| cases and found they contained the
! ammunition. Papers were also found
showing that the Shells were being
shipped from the American and British
Manufacturing Company. OF Bridge
| port, Conn. The police then ordered
a military guard placed around the
moving van until they could have a
conference with the Governor.
Investigation showed that the am
| munition was being transported over
| land from Bridgeport to Newport News
although no statement was made as to
why this method OF shipping was
adopted. The men later said they knew
! nothing OF their mission beyond the
| fact. that they had been summoned to
the munitions plant last Tuesday and
given tho shipment. Rickard said that
his father conducted a transfer busi-
ness In Bridgeport. and had been en-
ployed to transport the shells.
LEAVE AT ONCE FOR
NEWPORT NEWS WITH LOAD
AS told in The Times Dispatch yes
terday morning, the truck was dis
covered by citizens shortly after mid
night. They Immediately advised
Sheriff Sydnor OF their find, and he
communicated with Federal authorities
and at once started an Investigations
| The officers were busy for several hours
| before the mystery was finally cleared
| up. Immediately after their release
the men filled the radiator tank with
water, and in less than fifteen minutes
had disappeared from the Capitol
| grounds.
No motor truck more completely
| equipped for a long trip ever came
into Richmond. 1t is powerfully built,
with large searchlight for night
'aNeiihs' anu mas neaHy canvas SIDES
that completely close In the body. Be-
cause of the bad condition OF the roads
between Cichmond and Washington.
the men were far longer In reaching
this city than had been expected
| 1t was said last night that the
Bridgeport company had followed In
structions In shipping the shells over
land because only about thirty miles
per day could be made by freight ship
ments on the railroads, while the motor
truck had been expected to make in
the neighborhood of zoo miles.