Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-29
BRADLEY CHARGED WITH
=. TRYING T0DEsTROY DAM
President Of James River and Ia
- -. nawha Power Company Is
Placed Under Arrest.
IRON WORKS CLAIMS PROPERTY
Its. Officials Decline to Make State
hncnt or to Engage i'm Controversy.
-. G;pnmonwcalth's Attorney Says No
Ono Had Right to Destroy Dam.

.
Charged with attempting to destroy
the concrete dam Of the old Dominion
Iron and Nail Works across the James
River, A J. Bradley, president OF the
James. River and Kanawha Power Com
papy, was placed under arrest yester-
dy by Detective Sergeant j. r Willy,
of headquarters. The warrant was
issued at the suggestion OF Common
yealth's Attorney George T. Wise. after
Bradley had appeared before Judge u.
c. Richardson. in the IiuStin.s Court
as. bondsman for two negroes said to
have been employed by him to drill
holes In the dam. Bradley was hailcd
for his appearance in tho Police Court
this morning.
Officers Of the Old Dominion Iron
and, Nail Works declined last night 10
make any statement in connection with
the arrest of the negroes or of the
president OF the power company. The
matter Is being prosecuted by State
and city authorities, they declared.
1t was authoritatively stated that the
company was perfectly confident as to
its title to the property on which the
dam, is built. The company has owned
1t for number OF years. il was said
and. as for its being built surrcHi-
tlously, that would be impossible in
a dam, which required months to con-
struot. officials declared that they
would make no statement. since they
did not desire 10 become engaged in
any. controversy that might arise.
KNEW OF NO CLAIMANT
TO OWNERSHIP OF LAND
SO far as could bc learned last night.
no Elimination had been received by
thee Dominion Iron and Nail Works
that anyone questioned its ownership
OF tho land. linn diately after the
discovery of two negroes drilling holes
in the dam the police were requested
to make an investigation. Tho negroes
were placed under arrest. and their
triaI was continued yesterday by JUS
tice 'Crutchfcld in the Police Court
unfH October 6. In their inquiry the
police found n quantity of dynamite
in 1.-The home of Arthur Davis. o2l3
Short Porter Street. who, with Bonnie
Hockaday, was arrested while drilling
holes in the dam.
When Justice Crutchncld refused to
bail the negroes yesterday Bradley
and his counsel Immediately appealed
to Judge Richardson. The men were
oafled In the sum of $500, and a short
time later the warrant for Bradley's
arrest was issued. Considerable sur
prise was expressed yesterday at tho
methods adopted by the company in
10 ehof' 70 70 optain what II claims
to own, but which has been in use
by the Old Dominion Iron and Nail
Works for number of years
During the procedure in the Hust-
tnEs Court, Commonwcalth's Attorney
Wise In reply to W. p. de Saussurc.
counsel for Bradley. said that n man
had no more right to blow up his own
dam than no had to burn down his
own home. In statement 10 the
press. Bradley said he would not
admit the company intended to destroy
the dam by blowing il up. That NAV
not nave been our intention" he said.
BRADLEY SAYS OLD DOMINION
TOOK POSSESSION OF PROPERTY
In his statement, Bradley charged
that. the Old Dominion Iron and Nail
WORKS had. with knowledge afore-
1houEht, taken possession of property
which, did not belong to it and had
constructed this dam. He told of the
purchase by the James River and
kanawha Power Company, of certain
property. islands and shoals in the
James River from the American sure
" and Trust Company, of Washing
ton' trustee OF John r. Mclean. This
deed Is on record in the Chancerv
Court.
ne said the two negroes had been
hired by him. Nnd had bored Tho
NOES in'ihe dam at his direction. The
-titIe 10 the property. which was
acquired TO develop power plant.
perfectly clear he asserted. and
those who built the dam knew ,bey
were taking property which did not
-.oelonE to them, he charges No move
was taken, he said, before i, had been
July considered. and he had acted
upon legal advice. He simply wanted
20 remove the encroachmcnt, and If
.the;o zig Dominion Iron and Nail Works
NOT 90 so. his company claims
the right to do 1t.
bradley said he would institute suit
: aRsinst the Old Dominion Iron and
NAH Works for ejec,ment. and that the
Two negroes would sue for damage fnr
me false Imprisonment.